Xalen remained quiet. Suddenly, he was glad he had decided to speak to Nandi. It might not have been her intention, but she was making him feel much better about his failure back in the forest.
“Don’t you worry, though,” she said. “I can teach you how to use that sword.”
Xalen took a look at Nandi’s weapon. “But you’re a metaton user. How could you possibly show me the sword?”
The girl rolled her eyes. “Please. I’m a Mordered. My people are trained in all manner of weapons as children. I may not be a sword expert, but I know much more than many of the sword users here, I guarantee you that much.” She leaned in close, gazing into his eyes and sending a nervous chill running down his spine. “But it won’t be easy. There simply isn’t enough time during the day. We will have to meet under the cover of the night in the training fields.”
“I never liked easy anyway.”
The girl got up. “Good. I’ll see you tonight in the west training field, then.”
“Hey, wait up.”
“Yes,” said Nandi.
“Why are you helping me?”
She remained quiet for a moment, before finally saying, “You helped me, remember? Now it’s my turn.” She turned and trudged off, calling after him as she went. “Don’t forget to get there on time, Whiz Spark. I don’t like waiting.”
“Yes,” said the young Alioth under his breath. He looked away as his eyes travelled to her swaying hips. “I hope I haven’t just made a big mistake.”
ΩΩΩ
Beatrix dodged yet another lazily set up flame shot. Her second opponent, a frail-looking girl with two metaton arms, screamed loudly as she released two volleys of lightning, as if the sounds would make her attacks somehow find their mark. Beatrix threw her sword directly at the girl’s left metaton. Her arm crackled and fizzled. Before she could even figure out what had hit her, Beatrix dashed up and stomped on her foot. She followed that with a knee to the ribs. The girl crumpled to the floor, writhing in pain. The girl’s partner, the flame user, wrapped his arms around Beatrix’s waist. He huffed loudly as he attempted the squeeze the life out of her. Child’s play. Beatrix took hold of the man’s arm and twisted, simultaneously she crouched, throwing the man over her. His back slammed the mat first, followed by legs, and then his head.
“You’re right,” said a voice behind her. It had the roughness of a male voice, but underneath it was a suave tone that could only be feminine. Sure enough, Beatrix turned to the sight of a tall woman staring back at her. She had a brown blouse, and similarly colored leather pants. Where her left hand should have been, hung a slim metaton. Beatrix had never seen one like it. Usually they were silver, but this one was as black as a dark hole in space. Even the cables that ran down it were jet black. Besides a grimace, the woman’s wide eyes and penetrating gaze were hard to read. “I still fail to see why you sent for me. I have better things to do, and I don’t like being interrupted.” The woman turned to Jesemiah, who held his hand up to his nose, attempting to suppress the blood that was poring freely from it. “Isn’t that right, Jesemiah?”
Jesemiah bobbed his head. “Yes, yes. Your time is very valuable. You are a great, amazing ruler, who is wise beyond belief.”
“You forgot mighty gorgeous.”
Jesemiah bobbed his head once more. “Yes, yes. Gorgeous.”
Jesemiah was apparently a monumental behind kisser. There were many words that could be used to describe Sophic, but gorgeous certainly wasn’t one of them. She looked to be in her early sixties. Her eyes were a bland brown, and her skin was as leathery as one of the old boots Beatrix would wear during her hunting trips back on Palek. Her hair was a mop of dirty strands alongside empty patches of scalp.
“Beatrix shows promise,” said Gavin. “She will make an excellent addition to the group.”
The newcomer didn’t look as convinced as Gavin. “She wasn’t bad, but it’ll take a mighty better performance than that to convince me she’s worth my time.”
“I’m not asking for your time,” said Beatrix, staring the woman down. Who did she think she was? Beatrix had not asked nothing from her. For all she cared, the woman could go back to hiding in her room.
“What did you say?” asked Sophic. The tall woman walked onto the mat. She stood inches away from Beatrix, attempting to stare her down.
Beatrix smacked her lips. Everyone else might have been scared of Sophic, but she wasn’t. She stood face to face with her. “I said I have no use for you or your time. I’ve done just fine by myself.” She pointed at her two fallen enemies. “As you can clearly see.”
“You beat two mighty good for nothings. Let’s see you try those moves again.”
The young Palek girl didn’t answer, not verbally at least. The time for words was long past, it was time to answer this woman with force. Beatrix brought her sword up.
The ugly hag anticipated the attack, keeping her hands behind her back, she moved aside. The weapon swooshed beside her right elbow. Beatrix swung again, the woman brought her leg up, kicking the girl’s hand. Her grip loosened, sending the sword to the mat.
Beatrix staggered back in shock. She took a breath, regaining her composure. The sword was her main weapon, but she was also trained in the martial arts. With a loud, “Kiyaa,” she drove her open palm toward the woman’s neck. The contact she had expected to make did not come. Instead, a fist Beatrix had not seen broke through her defense, driving into her stomach. All the air in her body left her at once. She saw stars. Against her will, she stumbled down to one knee. She tried to get up, but the pain from every breath she took forced her to remain in place.
“So?” said Gavin, a smirk still in his lips. “What do you think?”
What was he smiling at?
“She’s mighty good,” said Sophic. She scratched at her leathery skin, which sounded as nice as two rocks being ground together. “There’s a lot of untapped potential there.” The woman flashed a yellow-toothed grin. “Besides, I like her attitude. She held her ground against me. That’s more impressive than facing an army of Deargs.”
“So is that a yes?” asked Gavin.
“Yes. Have her here tomorrow at four planet cycles on the dot. I don’t like to be kept waiting.” Sophic turned and left, leaving Beatrix looking from Gavin and to the woman.
“What just happened?” she asked, confused.
“Congratulations. You just signed up for private classes with the finest trainer in all of the known galaxies.”
Chapter 9
The night was humid. A warm breeze blew through the trees, rattling the leaves off of their branches. They rained down on the duo below.
The two shadows moved over the training grounds, locked in a dance of blades.
The girl let out an over-dramatic yawn. “Are you planning on landing a hit, Whiz Spark?”
The silver-haired boy drove his sword forward, arching it at the last minute. He was sure the last-second feint was all he needed to land an attack on the cocky girl’s torso.
Swoosh!
Another miss.
A piece of wood lodged between his legs. Losing his footing, he thumped to the ground. He tasted grass as he landed with mouth wide open.
“Pheww!” He spit. The earthy taste remained in his mouth.
Nandi let out a soft giggle. “You know, I brought snacks that I stole from the kitchen. You don’t have to eat dirt.”
“It wasn’t by choice that I put dirt in my mouth.” Xalen sat on his behind. A plastic container smacked his head.
“Take the taste out of your mouth.”
Xalen shot a look at the girl. The glow of the moon caused her skin to glow a bright purple. If it wasn’t for the fact that she had been kicking his butt all over the training grounds, he might have actually stopped to admire it.
“Do you really have to throw the water container at my face?” He took a sip of the cool liquid, making sure to spit it out. Now that his mouth was somewhat clean, he continued on, “You could just give it to m
e. You know, like in my hand.”
Nandi’s hand travelled to her chin. “Naaaa. I rather like the sound of the water as it smacks your big head.” She flashed him a wide smile as she brought up her wooden practice sword. “Of course, if you have a problem with that, you could just beat me.”
Xalen took his own wooden sword in his hand. His eyes closed as he nodded stiffly. “I know you said you knew how to use a sword, but I didn’t think you would be this good.”
“It’s not that I’m good. It’s just that you suck so bad.”
“Not making me feel better.”
“We’re not here to make you feel better. We’re here to make you fight better. Now stop this pity party and get up. You’re making me lose precious sleep, so I need to make you pay with another beating.”
Xalen withdrew into himself for a minute and then nodded. Nandi was right. He was way behind all the other students. He desperately needed this extra training.
“Get up, Whiz Spark.”
His fingernails bit into his palm. “Quit calling me that.”
“I suppose you’ll have to get up and make me.” Despite her frown, Xalen could hear the playful tone in Nandi’s voice.
“Fine, then.” He gripped his sword and jumped in for an attack.
ΩΩΩ
Beatrix pursed her lips. She was walking down a boring gray tube. Gavin trudged beside her. Unlike the air in the underground cave, which was earthy and thick, the air inside the tube reeked of cleanliness.
“Who designed these tubes?” she asked, regretting not taking the long way to Sophic’s quarters. At least with the long way she could have walked through the cave and not these suffocating tubes.
“They’re not tubes,” remarked Gavin. “They’re walkways. They were designed by an Alioth that goes by the name of Tafarus. They were meant to be used on prolonged missions on planets where the air was not safe to breathe. Alioths could remain in the walkways for days, even weeks with the artificial air.”
“That explains the smell.”
“I much prefer the air to the alternative.”
“What’s the alternative?”
“We must not forget that this is a living planet. Some parts of it are not as welcoming as others. When I first arrived here, I lost many men to the fumes down here. Fortunately, I was able to bring these walkways down here and run them through the poisonous gasses.”
No sooner had Gavin finished speaking, when they arrived at the end of the walkway. She took a step off the chunk of metal, and placed it on the patch of dirt. Beatrix smiled warmly as she took in the sight. The domed part of the cave would have been enveloped in darkness had it not been for the fire torches that lined the rocky walls.
“I see you like this place,” said Gavin, noticing the subconscious smile that had spread across Beatrix’s lips. “Not a fan of cold steel and metal, I take it.”
Beatrix gulped as Gavin stared into her lively eyes. She felt her face grow warm. This man had just met her; yet, he had a way of seeing into her soul in a way that only her father had.
“N...no,” she stuttered. “I much prefer nature.”
“As do I.”
“Er…so,” muttered Beatrix. She was eager to change the conversation. “When do we begin our training?”
“You two are not going to begin anything,” announced a sudden voice. It belonged to the leathery-skinned woman sitting, cross-legged, at the end of the room. She was so dirt-covered, that she had blended in with the wall expertly.
Beatrix staggered back. “I didn’t see you there.”
The woman rolled her eyes. “That’s obvious. If you did, you wouldn’t be wasting your time with flirtatious dreamy eyes, would you?”
“Well … um…”
Sophic huffed loudly as she hopped to her feet. “Never mind all that. Come here. We have much work to do and little time to get it done.”
“See you ladies later,” called Gavin, heading back into the walkway. Beatrix did not turn to watch him go.
The older woman sized her up. “If you’re serious about becoming a member of the Black Sanction, I suggest you start concentrating, and leave any ideas of romantic fairy tales behind.”
“Of course,” said Beatrix, slightly offended. “I’m not a child who needs to be reminded of what must to be done. I’m a Palek. A proud race of people with a heritage of bravery, honor, and tenacity.”
Sophic shrugged. “Yeah, yeah. Get your sword and attack.”
The girl unsheathed her sword, a long, thin rapier she handled with deadly accuracy.
The speed was sudden and unbelievable. One second Sophic had been standing idly by, the next she had covered ten feet and landed a kick to her chest. Beatrix looked up to the sight of black metaton coming straight for her head. She rolled out of the way. In her haste, she did not notice that she had moved directly into Sophic’s awaiting fist. The bare knuckles found their mark: Beatrix’s cranium. She met the floor once more.
“Do you know what you did wrong?” asked her mentor.
“Um …” Beatrix rattled her brains. No clear answered emerged. “You’re just too good.”
Sophic hummed. She motioned for Beatrix to follow. She retraced her steps until they were standing beside the cave wall.
“I want you to skip from here to the other end of the wall while swinging your sword to the right. When you reach the wall, skip backwards, but this time swing the sword to the left.”
Beatrix’s lip parted, ready to argue. She quickly decided against it, settling for a slow, “Er … okay.”
She did as instructed, feeling like an idiot as she hopped childishly from one end of the cave to the other.
“How long, exactly am I expected to do this?” she asked.
“As long as it pleases me.” The woman sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and began humming under her breath.
Beatrix frowned, but continued the exercise. What’s the use of this? So much for the best trainer in the galaxy. But despite her complaining, by the end of the day, when Sophic finally opened her eyes and instructed her to stop. Beatrix’s blouse was drenched in sweat. Her thighs, calves, and arms were burning with the intensity of a thousand suns.
Sophic’s eyes widened in what might be admiration, but they quickly reverted back to their original size. “Be back here tomorrow at the same time.”
The girl bowed slightly. Wordlessly she walked into walkway, limping as she struggled to hold her weight up.
ΩΩΩ
He was there that night. Her father. Even as her eyes snapped open, and the boring room came into view, she could still hear his voice calling after her. She could still see the scene, as vivid as it had been in her haunting dream.
“I’m here, Didi,” said Beatrix, referring to him with the affectionate name she had used as a child.
Suddenly her father was gone. The little girl, who barely stood three feet tall, didn’t understand it. He had been standing in front of her. His sweaty face plastered between the tree trunks and yellow leaves of the bushes.
“Didi?” called young Beatrix again, though this time her voice had a tone of worry interlaced in it.
“Shhh,” came her father’s deep voice. Quite suddenly, her father had appeared beside her. His musky scent filled her nostrils. He pointed at the space between the tree trunks. “Look there. They’re coming out.”
“What’s coming out?”
“Not so loud. You’ll scare them away.”
Her father picked her up in those strong arms of his. The same arms that would come back to her, years later, dangling lifelessly from the medical carriage. But now, at this moment, they were full of life. Beatrix could feel every hair, every wrinkle as he held her close, whispering in her ear.
“They only bloom once every five cycles. The slightest movement will cause them to shrink back into themselves.”
Beatrix looked on, wonder struck, as the flowers on the tree branch opened, releasing a golden dust into the air. The petals were rimmed in a deep
blue. The intensity of the color was so high, that the surrounding darkness dissipated, replaced by an aqua glow.
“What is it called?” asked Beatrix, her voice low. She was too scared to move. Terrified to breathe too hard. She would do anything to not interrupt this moment.
“They’re called Beatrix Blooms,” he whispered, meeting her gaze. “The dust they release will spread to the winds. They will fertilize the very earth of Palek, making it righteous for farming for the next five cycles.” He caressed her hair tenderly. “So you see, my beautiful daughter. I named you after them, because just as the Beatrix Blooms look out for Palek, it will be one day your job to look after it.”
“But, Father. You’re the protector of Palek. Why would the planet need two protectors?”
Her father kissed her cheek. “I won’t always be here.”
“Where are you going?”
The man’s face grew stern. “Don’t worry about that. Just enjoy the flowers and promise me you will always look out for our planet and its people.”
“I promise.”
I promise. Beatrix was back in the drab room, the light dangling above her. She closed and opened her eyes. The voice of her younger self continued to echo. I promise. I promise. I promise.
Gritting her teeth, she threw her blanket aside and stood. The Bastion and Alioths had to pay for what they’d done.
Determination raged in the pit of her stomach as she stormed out of the sleeping quarters.
Chapter 10
That night, as they had every other night during the past three months, the shadows blurred through the training fields. A feint. A hop. A dodge. A parry.
The two shadows moved toward each other once again. The slim figure of Nandi rolled under the wooden sword that swooshed over her head. She came up on her feet, only to have the sword’s end race at her chest. A quick parry saved her from the hit. Her reward was another quick thrust of her foe’s sword. She brought up her own wooden sword to meet the attack. It was much too slow. Her opponent’s weapon rammed into her hilt, forcing the sword from her hand. It fell to the ground.
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