A Blink of an Eye

by Troy A Hill

  Seren gasped and looked at me. “You’re not alive,” she said.

  I grinned and shrugged. Made sense to me. But did this in any way explain why I wasn’t good at magic in general?

  “Be careful though,” Gwen added. “Until you learn your limits, it will be easy to pull too much or too often.”

  Seren nodded.

  “Let’s start,” Gwen said. “Lay your hand on mine and watch with your mind. First, we clean the wounds. They aren’t deep; one or two passes will do.”

  Together, they waved their hands over the bird’s injuries, white light glowing softly. Their little patient fluttered a feather now and again, but otherwise laid quietly, as if he understood they were helping.

  “Excellent, Seren,” Gwen said. “Now on to that broken bone. Bones are difficult to mend, but we should be able to manage with something as small as this bird.”

  “Is that why the goddess had to heal my fingers?”

  “I did what I could for you,” Gwen explained. “Your fingers were quite the mess. I’ve found it best to get the bones lined up, and encourage them to heal faster, but not pour large amounts of energy into the break. Remember, we’re using our own energy to heal with. Bones take a lot to mend.” She pointed to the bird’s wing.

  “His are so small, you should be able to manage though. Move your hand in the direction it should align. We’ll go very slowly to cause the least pain.”

  They stroked their fingers in tiny movements, over and over. The bird chirped once and flinched, but didn’t try to escape.

  “Very good,” Gwen said. “How do you feel? Tired?”

  Seren shook her head and smiled. “Not at all! It feels wonderful.”

  Gwen lifted an eyebrow. “Well, then. We’ll keep going. A few more passes should do it. That’s it. Nice and gentle.” Gwen slowly removed her hand. “Seren, you did all of that on your own.”

  Seren laughed with joy. I smiled. Perhaps she had found her skill?

  “The bone feels whole again,” Seren said, as her hand hovered over the wing. She raised the small bird up before her face.

  The bird flapped his wing, as if giving it a test go. His eyes were bright. He was ready to be on his way again.

  “One moment, little bird,” Seren said. “Let me close up those scratches on your other side.”

  Gwen nodded. “The same as setting the bone. But this time, focus your energy on the soft tissues. Ask them to knit together. Start with your own energy, and let The Lady take over.”

  Seren stroked her fingers over the scratches. Bit by bit, they closed over. They were almost gone completely when the bird suddenly hopped up, gave a joyous chirp, and flapped into the air.

  Seren laughed and watched him pump his wings furiously to catch up with his flock. “That was amazing!” she said.

  “Remember what I said, dear. These were small injuries and didn’t take much out of you. But healing requires you to draw from your own life force. You can draw too deeply.”

  Seren let her arms fall and looked at Gwen seriously. “What happens if I do?”

  Gwen’s tone was quiet as she sat with her hands folded in her lap. “When I healed your father after the attack of the shapeshifter, the effort to clean out the lycanthrope’s curse took most of energy I was able draw. Your father’s wounds were deep. He would have died if I hadn’t given my all. But I put too much of myself into my efforts.” Gwen gave me a guilty glance. “Mair shoved energy into me to make up for what I had stolen from myself.”

  I gave her a grim smile.

  “The same can happen when you channel regular energy,” Gwen continued. “You can become too tired to know where you draw your energy from. You can pull your own energy and exhaust your life force. I’m not worried about Mair,” she said. “She has had centuries of experience with her undead nature. She’s already had to learn limits. But you must be careful.”

  My mind flashed to when my demon had broken free in the forest with Onion Breath and the Hunchback. And again when the shifter had attacked Bleddyn in the cave. I was so stretched for energy, she had almost made me turn on my friends for their blood. I might know the limits, but my Demon didn’t. I wanted to avoid ever getting that close to them again.

  Bleddyn was sitting in his chair by the fire when we walked into the keep at Caer Penllyn. The kitchen girls were just setting out the evening meal on the table in the otherwise empty great hall.

  “How did your practice go?” he asked.

  “Good,” Seren said. Her face was flushed with her recent victory in healing, but her voice sounded tired as she slumped into a chair by the hearth.

  “Very well,” Gwen explained. “She’s a quick learner. But she needs to build her stamina. The effort to channel The Lady’s magic takes time to get used to, and she’ll tire easily for several months.”

  I retrieved my sewing and settled in my favourite chair across from Bleddyn. “Haf came to me today,” Bleddyn said. “She said if I wanted you to have any more sweetbread, I’d have to go find more honey. Can you figure a way to magic honey out of a hive?” he asked with a grin at his daughter. “I hate trying to convince wild bees to give me their honey. They always seem grumpy about it.”

  “I’ll work on how to talk to bees,” Seren said, “as soon as Lady Gwen gets me through all of my other lessons.”

  “Can you move that up on your schedule?” he asked Gwen.

  Gwen grinned. “Perhaps we can work in bee-whispering right after tree walking, healing, enchanting weapons, setting warding glyphs…”

  “Excellent! So, tomorrow then?”

  Seren slumped in her chair, her eyes half shut and her shoulders sagging. Emlyn walked in and pulled up a chair. “Are you needed tomorrow morning?” he asked me.

  I glanced at Gwen. She shook her head.

  “Evidently not. What do you have in mind?”

  “I want to make sure you or I are at Caer Penllyn at all times. Sawyl and I are riding out tomorrow.”

  “You’re not leaving me in charge, are you?”

  “Cadoc will be in command of the teulu while I’m out,” he explained. “But I’m worried about Fadog. If he realised I was absent, he might try to outflank us and raid along the western border. You can ride out or get Gwen to take you where you need.”

  “Fadog on your mind, is he?” I smiled and poked the fabric with my needle. “You believe he’s behind these attacks?

  “It’s a good idea to keep an eye on him. I don’t give him much credit, but there is always Northumbria.”

  “Oswiu could be funding Fadog’s deep purse?” I said, recalling our earlier discussion on whether Fadog was wealthy enough to afford a wizard who could raise the dead.

  Emlyn shrugged. “Sawyl came from near the Fadog border. I want his appraisal of whatever we find on the scouting trip.” His eyes twinkled. “Meanwhile, I have a challenge for you.”

  “Am I going to regret this?”

  “Depends. Do you mind if I send you some new recruits for sword lessons? While Sawyl is out with me, they’ll be short a teacher. You only need to drill them tomorrow, right after they break their fast. They have other duties the other days.”

  “What has Sawyl taught them?”

  “Believe it or not,” Emlyn said, “the first set of meditations. No sparing, but they practice defensive parries based on the first set.”

  “I have a better idea,” I said, glancing at Enid, who had just entered the hall with her husband Cadoc. “I believe a certain apprentice of mine needs to show me how she trains others.”

  Emlyn glanced at Enid, then back at me. “In any other cantref, I’d expect a mutiny if a lady of the keep tried to train teulu guards.”

  “Penllyn men know better!” Bleddyn declared. “We only need wise guardsmen, ones who know when to salute and say ‘Yes, milady!’ That’s how I got this keep working so well.”

  Emlyn and I chuckled. Bleddyn slid his knife across his block of wood and whistled while he ignored the glares from Gwen and Se
ren. “Then it’s settled,” Emlyn said. “Tomorrow, you and Enid drill with the new recruits. I expect they won’t give you any trouble.”

  18

  Tomi

  Emlyn and I danced early the next morning, but finished soon enough for him to grab food before heading out with Sawyl.

  “Do whatever you want with the new men today,” he said. “They’re still wet behind the ears and need rough edges knocked off. If anyone gives you trouble, a run around the caer should set them straight.”

  “Any outstanding runners in the group?” I asked.

  “One. Tomi. He has an attitude which has led to a great familiarity with our outer fortifications. Everyone starts in Penllyn’s service with a run around the caer.” He winked at me. “You seem to be the only exception.”

  “I’m in service to The Lady,” I said, but bent side-to-side to stretch my legs. I’d never once had a cramp in my undead body, so the stretches were for show. “But if you want to race me around the hill…?”

  “Ah… no. Not today.” Emlyn knew what I was capable of. I could always pull a little undead speed…

  “Use your judgement with the recruits,” he said, getting back to business. “Remember, on this field you outrank even Bleddyn. He and Rhian will trust your judgement on almost everything.”

  Enid crested the hill and joined us. During today’s session, she would be the teacher, and the recruits her students.

  “I will leave you to your lessons, then.” Emlyn headed towards the keep, passing the trainees about half-way down. They straightened and let him pass, then joined Enid and me at the edge of the practice field. Each had a steel sword from Bleddyn’s armoury belted around him, and a wooden practice sword in hand.

  “Lady Enid will lead you through the meditations this morning,” I said, “while I observe your form.”

  As I spoke, I noticed Tomi’s eyes drift listlessly around the practice field and the expanse of the courtyard.

  “Problems, Tomi?”

  “Um,” his eyes jerked back to me. “No, milady.”

  “Good. Put your practice weapons on my cloak. Use steel for your meditations.” I motioned Enid to lead. She walked towards the centre of the field and lined the men to face her. After training with Sawyl, all of the young men knew the basic routines, but I noted they were still inexperienced and sloppy.

  I retrieved one of the practice weapons, then told Enid to do the same run again. This time I used the wooden sword to tap the young men, moving their limbs where they should be. We repeated the meditation twice more. Then I told Enid to start the second meditation in the set. We repeated the process, and needed another three rounds before I was comfortable with their practice.

  “Sheath your weapons and pile them on my cloak. We’ll begin one-on-one meditations.”

  “Sawyl has us spar,” Tomi said with another roll of his eyes.

  Enid’s mouth was a thin straight line. She deferred to me. This was my practice field.

  “Excellent idea,” I said to Tomi. “You only. Bring me two practice swords. The rest of you stay to the side and observe.”

  Tomi went pale. He found some backbone, though, and retrieved two of the practice swords. He extended one my way. He crinkled his brow, puzzled, when he realised I already had one.

  “No. Not for me. Hand it to Lady Enid,” I said.

  His eyes grew wide, as if I’d lost my mind. “I’d rather not hurt her.”

  “Feel free to try your best,” I said to him. Enid’s eyes were wide as well.

  “If you see an opening, take it,” I told her. “But all you need do is defend against him.”

  There was still a tinge of doubt in her eyes. Unlike Tomi, she wasn’t cocky, nor sure of herself. Tomi shot glances at his comrades on the sidelines, jerking his head upwards in self-assured nods. They seemed to know better than to egg him on.

  “If you land just one blow on her,” I told him, “above the wrist or ankles, and below the neck, you can join us tomorrow morning for our sunrise lessons.”

  I knew the guardsmen had developed a contest. Those that I invited to join for private sword meditations gained points in their game. Afon and Gerallt, were the only honourees so far. Tomi as a mere recruit could score some major points if I was wrong about Enid’s skill.

  “But after twenty strikes,” I added, “if you don’t land one on her, you have to run two laps.”

  His gaze slid between Enid and me. He shot a final glance at his buddies, who were stony faced by this time. Tomi agreed with a large grin. I could see he thought this would be an easy win for him.

  “Salute,” I said.

  Enid raised her wooden weapon. Tomi merely raised his weapon half-way through a poor salute, and let it drop. I rapped his weapon with my practice sword.

  “Again, with respect for your instructor.”

  He glanced at me, swallowed with a nervous nod, then raised his weapon, held it a beat, and swooshed it out to his side as Enid had done with hers.

  “Ready… Begin.”

  “One… Two… Three…” I counted his swings against her. Enid concentrated and parried each of Tomi’s strikes. Tomi had speed and power but used only techniques from the meditations in his first half-dozen swings. He tried to combine a side attack to her upper outside quadrant, but as a feint to attack her lower quadrant. Enid and I had practiced just that attack while Emlyn and Ruadh were hunting the shifter. She knew how to defend against it. Her wooden weapon clacked and swooshed along his blade. Her wrist twisted to trap his downward press against her guard. She tilted and thrust forward. Tomi barely jerked back from her reversal.

  His cheeks reddened when he realised his method wasn’t working. He shifted to a more forceful, wild hack. I grimaced. With that much force, he could injure Enid or her babies if he landed a wild blow.

  “Seven,” I called as their wooden blades met. “Tomi, concentrate on technique.”

  Another wild hack from him. I stepped closer, ready to intercept a blow. Another overhead strike down at her. He was trying to bully his way to a hit. I held my practice sword in a ready stance, prepared to intercept his weapon if Enid failed to parry. His strike would still count, but I didn’t trust him to pull his blow and not harm her.

  Enid’s stepped slightly out of line, and let his wooden blade sail past her. She launched her blade back up and caught Tomi on his arm.

  “One point for Lady Enid,” I pronounced. Good girl. She had been paying attention in our meditations.

  “Ten, eleven, twelve…” his cheeks were a deep scarlet now. He launched several strikes in quick succession. I could see the confidence grow in her face. She parried each blow. Her body in the defensive stance adjusted to every hack he launched at her. Her feet slid to draw her off his attack line. She had talent. I’d have to adjust our training and let her find the sense of the sword dance she had inside her.

  Tomi tried to reverse his grip, turning the blade over after she parried. But Enid saw the move develop and shifted farther out of line. He overcompensated and almost hit his own leg with the swing. He barely had time to jerk his weapon back into his main line. But Enid was already in motion. Good girl. She slid her blade into the opening in his defensive, this time against his outer thigh as he overcorrected back up.

  “Two points for Lady Enid,” I called. Tomi surged back with both hands on the short hilt of the weapon. His swings went wild as he realised he was outmatched. I stayed close. His anger had the better of him now.

  Enid parried his attacks and landed yet another attack. I counted, “Eighteen, nineteen, twenty—HOLD!” But his weapon came in for another strike. Enid parried. I rapped Tomi’s knuckles with my practice sword. He yelped and dropped his weapon.

  “You will respect the rules of the practice field.” I caught his gaze. He knew he was in a world of trouble. “You owe me two laps today.” He hung his head, eyes at his feet, and started to step away. I blocked him. “You owe Lady Enid something more.”

  “I am sorry, milady
,” he said with a bow towards her. “My temper got the best of me.”

  “I shall trust Lady Mair’s judgement on your punishment. This is her field,” Enid said.

  “For your disrespect to Lady Enid,” I pronounced, “you will run a lap each morning for the next three days.” Eyes down, he nodded, but his face was scarlet. “Pick up your practice sword and leave it on my cloak on the way down.

  Tomi glared at me, but retrieved the weapon. His face was red, and not just from exertion. I knew what his problem was. I had let a woman, a girl, get the better of him on the field. In front of his friends.

  “Gerallt is lead officer of the day,” I said. “Tell him what you did here so he can ensure you run your laps. I’ll check with him later to make sure you passed my instructions along accurately.”

  “As you wish.” His nostrils flared and his hands twisted on the hilt of his wooden sword. Anger lurked behind his gaze, ready to spark.

  I took a step closer, almost nose-to-nose. I had to tilt my head up to look him in the eye. “Be very careful about your next action,” I said, my voice quiet and low. Only for him. “These practice weapons can leave a nasty welt, or even break bones. Do you want to face me on this field? If you don’t, get your anger under control.”

  I held his eyes. No undead powers. Just authority. This was my weapons field, and I wasn’t going to let an upstart young trainee try to control it. He stepped back, still holding my gaze. The fool swung the wooden blade at me.

  I shifted just out of line of his attack. His strike sailed by me. His arse was a prime target. My wooden blade slapped him hard.

  He bellowed and turned again. His upward swing was easy to drive to the side. I stepped inside his measure, caught his blade in a bind against my hilt, and twisted. My other hand slapped his wrist, and kept twisting. He gasped as his wrist neared the popping point. He either needed to release the weapon or I’d break his wrist. He gasped and loosened his grip.