This I Know by A K Clark

Author:A K Clark [Clark, A K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-01T22:00:00+00:00

Besides Ilinor, I was the only other woman in training. Cicely had stopped attending after the first week. Isaias had paired Ilinor and me together but made sure he and Darrien worked with us as well. Ilinor improved rapidly. Our matches ended in ties when I grew tired. The men took turns sparring with us to keep us challenged. Thankfully I was never paired with Thad. Isaias excluded him from our training. Aside from fierce glares from him, which occurred almost daily, Thad left me alone.

I found myself growing fond of Ilinor and her grumpy disposition, which I began to realize was a shield she used to protect herself. Though I hadn’t figured out why she felt protecting herself was necessary. She began dropping her guard around me and our relationship evolved into an awkward friendship. One that came from being thrust together after our real friends abandoned us. Vero would have been proud of our newfound friendship. Zeus and Ilinor filled up the yawning void Cora’s absence left.

“Ilinor, stop dipping your arm. You’re losing your momentum.” Isaias scolded her again as she swung her sword down to meet mine.

“If you’d stop watching me, I’d do better,” she said. I laughed. Isaias had critiqued us the whole practice. His constant corrections made it hard to concentrate, let alone implement the changes he suggested. Ilinor glared at me and I held my hands up in surrender.

“I’m on your side,” I said. “Isaias, why don’t you let us work on correcting ourselves and come back over later?”

He mumbled something about insubordination before he stormed off to check on Thad and Chad. Storming off had become a thing he did around me. Zeus had taken over Darrien’s training and the two were busy sparring. I scowled at them; neither of them needed correction. They fought flawlessly, almost as if dancing around each other.

“Thank the gods,” Ilinor said before smiling at me. “You have a way with him.”

“I agree. I’m really great at annoying him.”

“No. It’s something else. He listens to you. He would never have left if I was the one suggesting it.” She cocked her head at me. “What have you done to bewitch the master?”

I scoffed. “Don’t drop your arm.” I mocked her before swinging my sword. She barely managed to block it before growling in frustration at my surprise attack. We spent the rest of practice in a fierce battle. The time we’d spent in training was paying off. Our bodies anticipated every move, flowing with an ease that hadn’t been there weeks earlier.

Isaias called the practice sometime later. We both heaved out a sigh of relief. We may have become accustomed to the training, but it still wore us out. I said my goodbyes and went to see Ivien before heading home to get some much-needed sleep.

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