Thwarting Cheaters (Artemis University Book 5)
Page 9
“Basically, it’s a get out of jail free pass,” Mel explained. “And she might need that. Which is why none of this is to be repeated.”
“Who could you not fight against?” Colton pushed.
“A whole council,” I grumbled. “And fuck knows I’m pissing enough of them off. So when they come for me, I wanted a way to not have people die to try and stop it. This way that won’t happen and I can disappear, go into hiding if needed.”
“How? How can a necklace do that?” Mr. Rothchild demanded. “You can do barriers, portals, crystals, and probably more. What can a necklace do?”
“The one thing that they won’t be ready for,” I answered, not wanting to spell it out.
“When a council comes for her, they’ll expect all of that, prepare for it, Father,” Mel cut in. “She needs to have something to give her another option. This is the best we’ve found. It will give her a miracle. An unbelievable miracle.”
Teleportation. That was what Conall Townsend said the necklace’s magic was. Interdimensional flight was the spell that scales from all the royal dragons and gems blessed by light and dark lands of Faerie as being a neutral zone. That was what I would get from the necklace.
When they came for me, I would offer no resistance in exchange for retrieving my necklace that would lock my estates while I was gone. That was the ploy. It was what was left with me to prove it was all mine and the magic would keep it all safe while I was detained. That was the “shit has hit the fan” plan we’d devised as no matter which council showed up, they played by a bit of gentleman’s rules.
And they knew I could take some of them out if I resisted so one concession was worth it. It was a good plan. Even if the necklace didn’t work, I had other tricks up my sleeves I was working on but I wouldn’t let Mel, Zack, Ray, or the others die for me.
“That’s not the only plan you have though,” Mr. Rothchild accused.
“Not even close. It’s just the least volatile and only one that won’t risk bystanders. But make no mistake, I’ll burn whatever council and all their people to the ground before I let one of them control me and my power. We know it won’t be to make flowers and help kittens.”
He shot me a worried look, swallowing loudly. “No, it won’t be.”
Wow, so it took horrible corrupt people for us to really agree on something. Fine, I was poking him because we had before, but not on much. We had on more since he learned what I truly was, but that seemed to be when he could finally take off the blinders and let the pain stop clouding his judgment.
But Trigger Rothchild was a complicated man and I couldn’t even begin to figure him out. I also didn’t want to. I had enough of my own problems and demons to deal with.
I finished the run strong, my body hurting and my lungs burning by the time I reached the dorm. We kept going to the quad where I found a bunch more of Mel’s family there. I gave her a look but then caught a sports drink someone tossed me, thanking them.
“I want you to shave off five minutes from your normal time and push for a full run like that at least once a week for the rest of the semester,” Mr. Rothchild told me after checking my time and what it normally was. “Talk to me about what else you do.”
So, I did as I walked around for my cool down, including everything I did for my core during studying. He nodded along, writing it all down in a notebook he pulled out from somewhere I didn’t notice.
“You’ve trained her well, Melody. I’m impressed. Truly,” he praised as he kept writing. “Even as an unknown and her development and growth severely stunted from the abuse you told me of, she’s not far off from your grandfather’s notes of working with others like her. I would like to speak with Dr. Salzman but I think she’s on a better path physically than most think and that’s because of you.”
“Thank you, Father.”
“Glad to hear it but I’m a bit confused why you’re tagging in,” I admitted, glancing between them.
“You’re reaching the point beyond my knowledge and experience,” Mel confessed. “Our training program as Rothchilds goes way beyond school and I left home. I’m fine to teach the brats here but you’re advance, Tams. I’m older, better trained, and faster as a dragon but you still are almost able to win a quarter of our sparring matches. You need the next level of teacher.
“Plus, you’ve surpassed me in swords. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s like an extension of you. I can’t—it’s a waste to not continue your training. I know we’ve had other things and your plate is too full but this is important. It needs to be a priority.” She glanced around the quad. “And public.”
I gave a slow nod. To show I was lethal. That was what she wasn’t saying.
“Without any disrespect, Melody is a second level trainer in our clan,” Mr. Rothchild explained. “Colton will take over as a level three. My older brother or mate are level four.” He smirked at me when I did a double-take. “Yes, in knight clans the eldest isn’t the head of the family. It’s the strongest, the best-trained warrior who takes over. So, I’m the end game boss as Melody always said. I’m the end level.”
“He also assesses people when they make the jump between levels as a double check it’s the right call and not wasting anyone’s valuable time,” Mel added. “Plus, the temperament match. We already know you get along with Colton, but a lot can be seen in sparring and sometimes cousins don’t mesh well and that won’t help in training. Father determines all of that.”
I blinked at Mr. Rothchild. “I think I might owe you an apology.”
It was his turn to do a double-take. “For?”
“Thinking you were devoid of any insight besides battles and protection. Fine, you’re clearly a strategic guru if you’ve kept the Vogels safe and had all that to deal with but if you can see that sort of interpersonal…” I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I was harsh because Mel was hurt. You really did just have too much on your shoulders on so many fronts. I didn’t understand that.”
He was quiet several moments. “Thank you. Nothing can ever forgive a father for failing his own daughter, but thank you for saying that and thank you for being family to my daughter when she needed it. Thank you for saving her life when we weren’t there for her.”
He didn’t wait for my reply, turning and heading to the others who were holding a bunch of gear. He was abrasive, but I was also glad right then because I wasn’t sure what I was going to fucking say to that.
What did someone say to that? At least it was a level of peace between us I didn’t think we’d ever reach. That was something, right?
I sure as fuck hoped so, mostly for Mel’s sake.
8
“Here is the set you commissioned this time, but I want to see you spar with Colton to see if it’s the right size and fit for you,” Mr. Rothchild said as I joined the group.
“How much do I owe?” I asked as I took the first blade from.
“Nothing,” one of Mel’s other cousins answered. He waved me off when I went to argue. “You order so many and you get a few free now and again. Besides, you gave us a lot of your winnings for our own use.”
I rolled my eyes. “I had tons of it. What would I use that all for? I’ve got enough still to last me lifetimes hidden away.” I stepped away and checked the balance of the sword I’d designed. It was like a fairy blade I’d bought at auction that resembled a Celtic sword but thinner, shorter to fit my size.
I’d learned a lot reading one of Ganter Evan’s journals from his estate that I inherited. He’d spent over a century working with and training young fairy warriors and had vast knowledge on how to pair a person with the right weapon. It gave me a good starting point in my training with Mel that led me to find what I thought would work for me.
I studied the hilt and noted the space in the metal I’d wanted for the crystal I was hoping to fuse there. Fantastic. I accepted the matching dagger and smiled widely. Perfect. The quality and craftsmanship were top quality.
“These are works of art,”
I praised. “Truly, you have a gift that few can rival and many must trip over themselves with jealousy.”
“Thank you. Your designs were amazing and a joy to bring to life,” he replied with a bright smile. “I’d like to work with you again.”
“Count on it.”
“Where did you come up with them?” he asked.
“That’s complicated,” Mel cut in, shooting me a warning look and giving a subtle look beyond me. Yeah, the quad was starting to get people heading to breakfast or other places as it wasn’t super early on a Saturday anymore.
“Let’s see how you do holding two blades then,” Colton suggested, pulling out a sword of his own from a case. “Mel’s been talking you up so much I’m curious to see what you’ve got, kid. She’s normally hard to impress.”
“I am and I’m not exaggerating because she’s my friend,” Mel muttered, scrubbing her hand over her head. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve trained her in other things but she’s picked up swords so fast I don’t understand it.”
I winced, shooting her a guilty look as I thought of something. She did a double-take and gave a quick nod. I caught Mr. Rothchild’s gaze before I focused back on Colton and he made it clear he needed to be filled in. That was actually pretty fair given he was trying to help me.
Though I wasn’t sure I really knew anything. I’d read several times that fairies were in tune with music and dancing like it was walking to them… And wielding a sword was called a deadly dance plus there was actual sword dancing. I wasn’t sure it was a real thing but it sort of made sense.
Maybe?
Fuck if I knew what I was doing most days.
Colton and I got into place, Mr. Rothchild calling out for us to begin. The dragon’s hits were powerful, more so than Mel’s and I had suspicion he was holding back. But it confirmed what I read that the dagger was a good addition for me. Holding a sword two-handed when fighting someone so much stronger wasn’t always a good idea given it could throw off my balance.
This way I could bear down, take the brunt of the hit across two blades and slide his sword away easier. It also helped in deflecting as I dodged since I was so flexible. I could pull off moves that Colton couldn’t dream of given his height, girth, and tonnage.
I think Mel caught on to what I’d realized when I heard her cursing from the sidelines. Now that she could watch me from an objective standpoint instead of right there with me, she could see how much of a dance it really was. I was practically dancing around Colton the way I was spinning and dipping to dodge and counter his attacks.
“Enough,” Mr. Rothchild called after several minutes. “I want to see you with Melody now. You were too cautious and solely on the defense.”
I stepped back several feet to make sure there weren’t any accidents and glanced at him. “You make it sound like that’s a bad thing. Have you seen Colton’s guns alone? He could crush me with one punch if he landed on full power I wasn’t ready for.”
“No, your prudence is an asset, especially against an adversary you’re so quick to assess in that way,” he praised. “I simply need to see more.”
“Understood,” Mel agreed, catching a sword from one of her cousins. She smiled when I gave her a worried look. “Don’t hold back. There’s no embarrassment when it comes to training, only room for improvement. We all believe that and none of us are lazy. I won’t be upset unless you humiliate me by treating me like a child and not fighting to your full ability.”
I nodded, getting what she was saying, accepting it was their way. We moved closer and waited for Mr. Rothchild to give us the signal. He did and we began… And I had my blade at Mel’s throat in three moves.
“Holy fuck,” someone whispered, several people saying about the same or whistling.
“Again,” Mr. Rothchild demanded.
We started over but the result was the same. We went a dozen times and it never took more than seven moves before I had Mel beat with my sword at her neck or somewhere that would have taken her out with her blade blocked from getting to me.
“You said she can only beat you a quarter of the time when you spar without weapons?” Mr. Rothchild checked.
“Yes. I’m faster on a run, my endurance better as a dragon, but her flexibility is way above mine and her reflexes are faster. She’s more cautious in sparring as she’s lethal when caught but that’s only for the fights that need it, not sparring. This is… I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Part of it is years of knowing your moves even if new to working with you on weapons,” I admitted. “You’re dangerous when you grab me but we’re not doing that. This is easier.”
“You are better at sparring and hand to hand combat than swords,” Mr. Rothchild agreed. “But she is astounding at such an early stage of weapons training. What else have you shown her?”
“This is it and it hasn’t been much.” Mel held her hands up in surrender when people gave her disbelieving looks. “I swear it. We played once in the fall then a handful of times over winter break. A dozen short training sessions maybe? Probably not half of that since.”
“Sounds about right,” I agreed. “And I kept switching what kinds of swords and ordering different ones to get the right feel with what I was reading.” I twirled the one in my hand. “This was faster. I think this is finally the right one and set with the combo.” I glanced at Colton. “Can I try something?”
He shrugged. “Sure.”
“It might hurt.”
“It’s not real training unless it does, kid.”
Fair enough.
We got back into position and Mr. Rothchild called for us to go. The first time I went to block one of his blows with both sword and dagger I let out my raw magic like I would a power clap. Instead of putting my hands together to focus, I used the blades, them hitting together being the catalyst for my power.
Or at least that was what I was going for.
It worked because Colton went flying across the quad and towards the witch/warlock dorm building.
“Fuck,” I gasped, dropping my blades and quickly writing the first rune I could think of to help. I pushed my magic into it and blew wind to change his trajectory so he didn’t hit the building, carefully turning the path but also slowing it. I couldn’t get him to just drop to his feet easily but instead of crashing into an unforgiving stone building, he gently tumbled to the grass of the quad like he tripped.
“I’m good,” he chuckled before I could even worry. He smiled up at me as he rolled to his feet. “That was a trip. You’re quick on the draw there.”
“Fear does that. I thought you would be crushed into that building.”
He shrugged. “Maybe, but I’d heal.”
“Oh, well, that’s okay then,” I drawled, rolling my eyes when several people burst out laughing. I let out a heavy breath and plopped down to the ground. “Fine, but I just had like a fucking heart attack I was about to kill you. I just used a little power, I swear. I wouldn’t use a full clap or hit the gas to test. I like you.”
“The blades conducted more energy or amplified it,” Mel surmised.
“Fuck if I know, Mel. I spend most of the time taking shots in the dark,” I grumbled, flopping back to the grass, rubbing my chest. “At least I know what to do if I’m in deep shit, but fuck, I thought I really killed your cousin.”
“We’re a lot more durable than you’re used to,” she comforted. “I was more worried about Professor White’s wrath should you damage the dorm than Colton.”
I opened my mouth to say her priorities were warped but instead felt something on my forehead. I angled my neck a bit and blinked up at Darfin—one of the hobgoblin kids—before getting a kiss on my nose. I instantly smiled and realized the others were around as well.
“Colton’s fine so no more worries on the topic,” Irma told me as I sat up and snagged Darfin around the waist, pulling him onto my lap. “That was quite the battle we got to see, an impressive one. All warriors need their fuel.”
“She also went for a run we heard. She needs a break and fuel and then you can continue with your training,” Irma said firmly. She gestured to the carts and other hobgoblins. “We brought food for everyone and blankets for a nice morning picnic. Everyone come enjoy.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Damn, even the head of the family of a dragon knight clan didn’t mess with Irma or the hobgoblins if they were smart. Nice.
I opened my mouth to thank Irma for spoiling me but I realized there was more to it. She brought me food not just to be nice but when she didn’t want me in the cafeteria. “What’s going on that you want me to avoid?”
“Trash talk!” Elasha announced proudly like she was caught up with the adults.
“Ahh,” I sighed, rubbing my tired eyes. “I can only imagine.”
“Yes, well let people waggle their tongues all they want,” one of the other hobgoblins complained as she helped lay out a blanket. “We know your talents. They can say this last-minute training won’t save you and their cheating all they want. They’ll choke on their egos and reality soon enough.”
I bobbed my head but then smiled at the kids. “Well that is sad they’re so mean. I could use something to cheer me up. I wish there was something that made me happy.”
Darfin jumped up from my lap and went over to the other kids. They formed a line and as a group did the dab for me on either side, beaming at me when they were done.
“We’re so glad you taught them that,” Irma grumbled.
“I am,” I giggled, grabbing my stomach as it built into a full laugh. It was just too funny to see all the totes adorbs little hobgoblins dab as a group. I mean, someone had to be coldblooded not to love it.
Which was why all of the Rothchilds were dying, even Mr. Rothchild looked like he was losing the battle not to at least chuckle.
Breakfast was pretty uncomplicated so we didn’t have to use plates but everyone seemed thrilled with trays of breakfast sandwiches, an array of pastries, and more. I certainly wasn’t complaining. I stuffed my face, glancing up when Darby and Izzy arrived.