Part 12 (1/2)
”Let's see how fast you are,” he said instead of answering, and went on the offensive.
Somehow, the hated Archangels hadn't erased memories of my training, because I knew what to do. Every strike and move he pulled, I countered and outmaneuvered him. When I teleported and appeared behind him to land a blow, surprise flickered in his eyes.
”I guess the Guardians did teach you a thing or two,” he mumbled.
Enough with the Guardian references. ”Or maybe I'm just a good learner.”
”You were. Next time, we'll use the swords.”
Again, his wording made no sense. ”What do you mean by 'you were?'”
He shrugged. ”You must have been good, since everyone knows Guardians are weak, manipulative, and incompetent,” he snapped, and pointed at two wooden staffs. One moved toward me while he grabbed the other.
We were in the zone when Green Eyes returned. Once again, I knew the moment he appeared. He stood behind a shrubbery, shears in his hands. When he gave me a thumbs-up, I almost lost my footing.
He wasn't the only one watching us. Lady Nemea and Master Rahm were talking in low tones inside the gazebo, but their eyes were on us. The workers around the garden had stopped whatever they were doing too, and my father stood on the balcony with Sir Malax.
Master Kenta pushed me harder, probably to impress my father. The more he pushed, the more I pushed back. Soon, we were both breathing hard, sweat dripping down our faces. He threw down the staff on the ground and a.s.sumed the position, legs apart, hands raised.
”Hand-to-hand combat,” he snapped.
I swept hair from my sweaty neck and imitated his stance. Then I made the mistake of smirking. Anger flashed in his eyes.
Okay, he definitely had serious anger issues.
He rushed me. Once again, each move was familiar and I countered it. Unfortunately, he was faster on his feet. Or maybe being in a coma for six months and not exercising meant I wasn't up to his level physically. My arms grew tired and heavy, my feet sluggish. I lost my footing a few times and he landed blows and kicks to my torso. Concern drifted from those watching us.
Master Kenta smirked. ”I guess the Guardians fell short in preparing you in some areas.”
Anger slammed into me. Maybe it was his mocking tone or the mention of the Guardians. It didn't matter. I wanted him to shut up. I went on the offensive, throwing punches and kicks, attacking from different angles.
”That's enough,” he said, raising his hands in a placating way.
”Don't ever mention the Guardians to me. They kidnapped me and kept me away from my family. My mother would still be alive if it weren't for them.”
Shock flashed in Master Kenta's eyes, but his hands stayed up. ”Okay, I won't do it again. I promise.”
”You deliberately goaded me by mentioning them. Why?”
”I wanted to see if you remembered anything from your time with them. Put the swords and the daggers down, Lil.”
I frowned, confused. ”What?”
He glanced to my right hand and I looked down. A sword floated near my arm. I checked the other side to find another sword. Both were pointed at Master Kenta, ready to strike.
”I'm controlling them?” I asked.
”Yes.”
”The daggers?” I asked. He turned slowly and I saw the daggers pressed against his back.
”Just lower them,” he said.
”How?”
He shook his head. ”I don't know how the Guardians taught you to control so many at the same time. Order them the same way you order the Kris Dagger.”
The what dagger? I closed my eyes and saw their energies. Down.
The swords and daggers dropped to the ground.
Wall.
They moved back and propped against the wall of the gazebo.
”The old man taught you well,” Master Kenta mumbled, but I heard him.
”What old man?”
A frown creased Master Kenta's forehead. ”We are done for now. See you tomorrow morning.”
”We're not training this evening?”
He shook his head and couldn't meet my gaze. ”No. It is your first day. We'll work in the mornings for a few days before we add evening lessons.”
Nothing to worry about, sire, he said just before I teleported back to the castle. ”Sire” meant he'd communicated with my father. Father must have been worried about me. How sweet.
Master Kenta's words stayed with me while I showered and changed. The old man trained you well. What old man? Order them the same way you order the Kris Dagger. What the heck was the Kris Dagger?
Lunch was already laid out on the table when I stepped into the living room off my bedroom. The surprise was my father. He was already waiting for me. We hadn't had lunch together since the week I woke up. Dinner, on the other hand, was a family affair. Even Solange made an appearance.
”Your swordsmans.h.i.+p is impressive,” Lord Valafar said, pulling out a chair for me. ”You can teach our people a thing or two.”
I grinned. ”Like almost killing my trainer? I had to apologize.”
Lady Nemea nodded with approval. As usual, she was overseeing lunch without eating. I wondered about her relations.h.i.+p with my father. At times, she acted very friendly, and other times she was very subservient.
”You don't need to apologize for anything,” Lord Valafar said. ”If he's not a worthy trainer, he will be replaced.”
”No, he's okay.” He'd called me Lil instead of Lilith. Only Green Eyes ever did that. Could Master Kenta and I have met before? He'd mentioned ”the old man” training me and that I'd been a good learner. And he had ignored my questions.
Part of me wanted to ask my father if I'd known Master Kenta before the Great Battle. Another wasn't sure I should. Heck, I wasn't even sure I could trust anything the trainer said. Green Eyes had told me not to trust anyone who hadn't fought in the Great Battle. On the other hand, why should I trust anything Green Eyes said?
This was all so confusing. If there was one person I could trust, it was my father. He'd never lied to me. I waited until I was done eating before asking, ”Did Master Kenta fight in the Great Battle?”
Lord Valafar carefully put his spoon down. Lady Nemea stood from where she'd been seated behind us.
”No,” Lord Valafar answered, speaking slowly.
”Did I know him before? You know, before the battle?”