Lighter Days, Darker Nights (Rune Breaker) by Porter Landon

Author:Porter, Landon [Porter, Landon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Paradox-Omni Entertainment
Published: 2012-11-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9 – Sparring Sessions

A great noise filled the air in a small clearing between the nir-lumos wagons arrayed before the gates of Daire City. Metal met metal in a resounding clatter as the two combatants locked blades.

It didn't seem possible to Taylin. She knew she was stronger than Issacor, but the man's stance seemed to make overbearing him impossible no matter how hard she pushed. At the last moment, both disengaged and flew apart, Taylin doing so literally with the help of her wings while Issacor leapt.

The latter landed lightly and didn't miss a beat before charging forward with a series of punishing blows before the former could land. Taylin quickly found herself being forced back, unable to land for fear of tipping over from her own momentum.

At length, she had enough of fighting defensively and pumped her wings to surge forward with a sweeping blow of her own. Issacor seemed to be waiting for this and twisted aside instead of blocking or dodging. The twist became a lunge and his sword flashed in under her guard to lay flush against her shoulder.

“Touch.” he declared and Taylin sighed heavily before dropping from the air.

“That's ten to four. I thought I was better than that.” It disappointed her, but she wondered if it should. Didn't she want to be bad at killing, bad at being a weapon? But that conflicted with what she'd started thinking with in regards to herself; that she was good at protecting, good at being a bastion.

Issacor rested Faith-Be-Forgiven against one shoulder and motioned for her to walk with him toward the water barrel. He acted as if he wasn't even aware of the small cheering section he'd picked up in the form of Motsey and Rale who were being ostensibly watched over by Brin and Layaka.

'Ostensibly' because halfling clan law prohibited non-family from touching children without express permission. Raiteria had very pointedly given them permission to watch the children, which left the two only able to observe and shout for Taylin should the pair misbehave. Luckily for them, the swordplay kept the young ones entertained well enough to prevent the system from being tested.

Taylin smiled to them and offered what she imagined was a swordswoman's salute on the way over to the barrel.

Issacor noticed the motion: raising and nimbly flicking the Eastern Brand one handed and pointed to her hand. “You don't need to use two hands for that, do you?” He dipped the ladle into the barrel and offered it to her.

She waved for him to drink first. “No. I was taught to fight with a shield, and the swords they gave us were a bit heavier than this.”

“But you don't have a shield, do you?” Taylin shook her head and Issacor gave her a considering look. “Blade Disciples aren't taught to use a shield at all. But the Five Virtues Blade becomes lighter with each seal you unlock.” He drank quickly and then took Faith-Be-Forgiven from his shoulder, indicating the three tarnished seals and the two that shone like new.

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