Song of Thieves Duology Box Set by N A K Baldron

Author:N A K Baldron [Baldron, N A K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aconite Cafe
Published: 2020-03-31T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

TWO MONTHS PASSED WITH SHAYA and Akio attending their lessons under Sword Master Takumi-each day grew hotter, and a metamorphosis occurred inside Akio. His skin darkened from constant exposure to the source-light, making him look far more like his father than his mother, which in turn increased the frequency of their arguments about Akio's decision to stay in Shaya's service. Beneath his skin, Akio's body grew hard as stone. Takumi's constant pressure to push Akio further during their training sessions had given him a level of endurance unimaginable to him just a month previous. Now he was capable of sparring at full speed with blunted swords for nearly twenty minutes before needing a break.

"ALL THEY DO IS FIGHT." Akio parried, then thrust his sword at Shaya's chest, who managed to parry at the last second with the pommel of her sword.

"Have you told them how you feel?" Shaya asked, doing her best to slip the sword under Akio's guard but he was prepared.

Months of training changed Akio from a young boy into a competent swordsman, thanks to the constant tutelage of Takumi. Today was a sparring day between Shaya and Akio.

"You must learn each other's weaknesses like breathing," Takumi had told them. "Only then will you be prepared to fight side by side and protect one another."

And so, for the past three hours the two of them sparred in Takumi's courtyard. They'd grown close, and the stiffness of formality gave way to the warmth of eternal bond—the kind that only young children can develop and foster throughout their entire lives.

"I think my parents hate each other. Every time my father returns, my mother will disappear with her friends to drink, and when she does come home, they argue late into the night."

Their bout ended with a draw—Akio's sword at her throat, while Shaya held hers at his armpit.

"But, have you spoken to them together about how they're affecting you?"

"No," Akio said.

Why is it that everyone's solution is to talk to the other person?

"I wouldn't know where to begin," Akio said.

It felt great to have someone he could speak to about this, but the fact it was Shaya kept him on guard. And while she was his Thief Lord, that didn't mean he had to listen to her advice on how to deal with his home life. Not that he had much of one.

"From what you've told me," Shaya said. "You and your father get along well. Why not try to explain the stress you are feeling to him?"

"I'll try, but—"

"No buts about it," Shaya said. "First Sworn Akio, I order you to speak with your father when he next returns."

Akio snapped to attention and bowed. When he rose, he could see a huge smile on Shaya's face, and she began to chuckle softly to herself.

"It's not a matter of life and death, but I think it will be good for you to speak with your father."

"I'm sure you're right."

"I'm tired of training," Shaya rested her hands on her hips.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.