“What instrument did you pick with Senri? That way, when I hear rumors of a new music prodigy, I’ll know who it is.” Nevyn stepped closer, elbowing her side.
“Flute and don’t expect me to be amazing at it. I just want to be good enough to play for the festival. I don’t need to be great at everything.” She elbowed him back, harder, causing him to grunt and step out of her reach again. “Sometimes, I’m allowed to be passable. It’s not like anyone will die if I’m not the best flute player who’s ever lived among the Andinna.”
“The seriousness of Mave Lorren,” Luykas muttered, leaning toward Varon. The mute priest nodded in agreement.
They continued stretching, and once they were done, they separated into their pairs. Mave stood just close enough to Luykas so they could wrap their tail tips and hang on. She didn’t touch him yet, though. She didn’t want to open the bond fully until she had to. Nevyn and Varon, in contrast, were standing with their shoulders touching and their tails hooked.
“How many times have you two done this?” Nevyn asked, tilting his head to the side.
“Once,” Luykas answered, glancing at her. “With just us training, there’s no reason to use the bond except to throw each other off.”
“Oh.” Nevyn looked toward his lover. “This is going to be bad, love.”
Varon only nodded, a smirk forming.
“Let’s get started.” She didn’t want to wait around anymore. Mave reached out with her tail and grabbed Luykas, closing her eyes as everything assaulted her. The second heartbeat was strong and fast, his emotions flooding her.
“Pitiful,” Nevyn muttered. “The fact that they killed a sorcerer together amazes me.”
“Fuck you,” she growled. “Just need a minute to adjust.”
“Same,” Luykas grunted. She could feel his tension and attempts to get through the flood as well. It only compounded the problem.
“That’s the problem. You two aren’t used to each other. You’ve been bonded for what? Six or seven months? More? And yet, you two can’t handle a simple touch. The fight must have distracted you. Dying is a good motivator, but you didn’t use that success to continue working on it. Instead, you added months of separation. You’re back at square one, and sparring against you is pointless.”
Mave was able to open her eyes as he spoke. Nevyn seemed a little pissed. Varon reached out and wrapped a hand around the back of his lover’s neck.
“Then help us,” she asked softly.
“I can’t. You’re coming out of it but guess who isn’t.” He pointed to her partner. She could feel him, she didn’t need to see him. “He made the flow of the bond unequal. Could take him a while to get past it.”
“He did it before,” she reminded them, baring her teeth. “He’ll be fine.”
“The problem could be fixed if he reversed whatever spell he did while he made the bond,” Nevyn told her softly, eyeing her. “The bond would flow equally then.”
“He made the bond with me without my permission. He’ll live with the inequality of it,” she snarled.
“Is he close to coming out of it yet?” Nevyn looked back to her partner. “Yes. Good. Mave, I agree with you, but if you want this to be successful, you’ll need to do two things.” He lifted a hand, raising a finger to count. “One, you two need to touch each other more. Get used to it. Stop using the bond to shock each other while sparring and instead, accept it like you do breathing or flying. It needs to be seamless. It can’t be a fight.” The second finger rose. “Consider letting him fix the bond. It would help him, and you don’t want your partner at a disadvantage. If he dies, you’ll want to.”
“I’m fine,” Luykas finally gasped. “I’m fine. That night, we were both focused on living, which made it easier.”
“I think today is going to be educational,” Nevyn declared. “You two are obviously trying to fight it while using it. You might have meshed that night and worked well together, but I’m not sure you’ll get a second performance, and I’m damn sure not letting you try like this.”
Varon only nodded again, looking at them with hard eyes. She’d never seen the priest look anything close to angry.
“We can spar,” Luykas growled out. “Don’t need any damn—”
“Shut the fuck up,” Nevyn snapped. “Keep holding each other. It’ll help as I explain what I just saw and why it’s not what you want to do. It’s going to get you killed.”
“Stop being an ass and explain, then,” Mave ordered. She was trying not to think about the two things Nevyn wanted. She didn’t want to touch Luykas unless it was for this. She didn’t want to have the full strength of a bond she didn’t ask for. She wanted to make do with what she had—that was all.
“First, the bond isn’t a fight.” The lovers stepped forward at the exact same time. “It’s a unit. Generally, it’s a unit of love and commitment. For you two, it’s not. Varon and I began to use it for combat, realizing we’re better as a pair than apart. It could help us keep each other alive.” They both drew their swords.
Mave was struck with an uncomfortable feeling at how in sync they were as they began slowly moving through sword forms, not looking at each other, but neither missing a beat. They were perfectly identical.
“Killing the enemy is the second purpose, not the first. This isn’t a fighting style that lends itself to great sacrifice. It’s a fighting style about protecting the unit as a whole. You first have to be whole, a unit. You have to accept everything the bond tries to give you, not recoil from it like it’s poison.”
Together, the pair spun, barely brushing their wings together and switching positioning. They gave identical forward thrusts into invisible targets. Then they started circling, their backs to each other. “Luykas could find bad footing, but if you aren’t listening to the bond, you’ll miss what he feels. You could step wrong and end up getting yourself killed. Or get him killed.” Nevyn stopped talking, and after one last swing, they both stopped moving.
“Do you see?”
Yes. I don’t like it, but I see.
“So, what do you recommend if we want to do this?” Luykas asked.
“From here on out, there’s no sparring between you two. If you want to spar, you’ll spar against one of us. You’re going to learn forms and drills from us while using the bond, learning how to truly be a unit. To feel each other and understand the messages you receive.” Nevyn met her eyes then Luykas’. “That’s our offer. When we think you’re ready, you can spar with us. You’ll probably lose, but if it goes well enough for you both, I’ll comfortably tell you and Alchan this is viable in the field.”
“Accepted,” Mave said instantly. She looked to her right and watched her partner nod slowly.
“You two can be monsters on the battlefield alone or as a pair. Mave, you’re one of the strongest raw talents I’ve seen with a sword in years. Luykas, you’re a genius with blending your magics with your fighting, giving yourself an edge many others will never have. The Elvasi have a name for fighters like you, don’t they?”
“War sorcerers,” Luykas answered. “I’ve been hoping to get my hands on more tomes. They have some tricks I don’t know yet.”
“It’s good to see one Andinna trying to even the playing field against some of the Elvasi’s nastier warriors.” Nevyn sighed. “Together, you two could take over a battlefield. Of that, I have no doubt. You just have to get over yourselves.”
That stung more than Mave was willing to admit. Wasn’t that the crux of the problem he described? When they touched, they recoiled, fought the bond, and tried to remain themselves. They didn’t accept the other person, and for Luykas, it was even worse than what she dealt with.
“Message received.”
“I wish you two could start sparring today.” Nevyn’s face softened. “You both just needed a dose of reality, and it’s time you got it. Let’s get started. We’ll walk you through our practice regimen. Learn it and never forget it. Even if you aren’t sparring against others, it’ll help
you learn how to move around each other and stay in sync.”
Mave felt something through the bond, a hopefulness that infected her own soul. She looked at Luykas again, finding him staring at her.
“I think we can do this,” he said strongly.
“I do, too.”
“At least they aren’t fighting me on this,” Nevyn said softly to his lover. “Get in position and copy us, you two.”
Mave stepped into place, angling so her back was to Luykas. Nevyn pointed and directed each of them into the proper spot.
“I’m following you, and Luykas is following Varon?” she asked, looking over her shoulder to see her partner focused on the priest.
“That’s my plan.” Nevyn swung his blade nonchalantly in his hand, a smooth motion she’d done countless times. It seemed to be a trademark of any warrior used to holding a sword while working. She unsheathed her right-handed morok to match him. “One day, you two will be able to do more than this. You’ll know each other and how to move together. This is just laying the groundwork.”
“You have a lot of faith in us,” Mave said, watching him. She knew she could become good at it. She had a high level of confidence in herself and knew Luykas believed in himself. He also believed in her, and she knew he was a capable warrior. They had worked together once before, and they could do it again.
But she had her concerns.
Nevyn had faith she couldn’t relate to, even if he was frustrated at the state of them. He smirked at her comment but didn’t say anything right away. It was like he could see through her. Warrior to warrior, he knew she was plagued by insecurity—none she was willing to show him, but he saw it, anyway. He leaned in close and wrapped a hand around the back of her head, pulling her close. She dropped her connection to Luykas for a moment, letting go of him so he couldn’t feel her reaction to whatever Nevyn wanted to say to her.
“You’re scared of seeing everything about him,” he said softly, quiet enough Luykas wouldn’t be able to hear him. “You’re worried there’s more you don’t want to learn. You’re also a stubborn female, and you’ve let him in as much as you’re willing to. You’ve never been truly open to anyone, I think, and this asks for more than that.”
She nodded once. He was right about that. Keeping the bond open between them whenever they were together would let Luykas know everything about her and her about him. That was scary. She respected him more now, but she wasn’t sure she was willing to be close to him.
“He’s worried you’ll see too much of him, and you’ll hate him for it. He’s also afraid to be open,” he informed her, still smirking. “Your fears are right. There is more to him than most can possibly understand.” He teasingly tapped the back of her head.
“I have faith because both of you are focused, driven Andinna, who dedicate everything you are to whatever goal you want to accomplish, no matter what it asks of you. You’ll learn the things you don’t want to know, and you’ll adjust to them because if you don’t, there is no succeeding at this. He’ll, in turn, grow comfortable with you knowing those things about him because if he doesn’t, there’s no chance of this working.”
“Did you and Varon have this problem?” she asked just as quietly.
“No, but it’s a problem that keeps most Andinna from ever creating a blood bond with someone they love. It’s vulnerable. It’s a sign of ultimate trust. He used it to save your life, not thinking of the emotional consequences of it, and depending on how you look at it, he fucked up, or he did the best he could. This is something you two will have to get past.”
“Are we getting started?” Luykas asked from his spot.
Nevyn let her go and stepped back. She looked over her shoulder to see Luykas swallowing. Nevyn had hit the nail on the head and given her the ultimatum. She couldn’t do this without learning who Luykas truly was, and he couldn’t do it if he tried to keep whatever secrets he kept. She hooked the tip of her tail with his again, letting the bond slam into her chest again. He was confused by what had just happened. She would have to explain later.
“Follow us,” Nevyn ordered.
She matched every move he made, half a beat behind. Her partner followed Varon in the same fashion. The bond let her know they were in sync. Together, they moved through the motions. She tried to stay focused on the pattern Nevyn was showing her and knew Luykas was doing the same. When they reached the spin, she followed Nevyn and found herself giving a forward thrust to an invisible opponent with Luykas behind her. Whatever steps they had just made kept them out of each other’s way. It felt fluid like water, and as long as they followed the steps, nothing would go wrong.
They went through the simple pattern more than a dozen times. Mave finally pushed the pace to match Nevyn, and Luykas responded in kind, matching Varon beat for beat. Now all four of the Andinna were a unit.
Following the pattern, knowing where to cut and where to thrust, made it seem easy. She knew where to step and knew he wouldn’t be in her way, and she wouldn’t be in his. She wasn’t worried about getting hurt, knowing his blade was far from her.
She didn’t realize that Nevyn and Varon had stopped. She and Luykas continued, focused on their invisible fight, not changing the footwork or sword work they had been walked through.
“When they’re focused, they don’t even mind it. Look at them. Perfectly in sync,” Nevyn commented loudly.
That broke her concentration. She turned to look at him, her eyes wide. Luykas stopped as well, just as shocked as she was.
“When did you stop?” she asked, frowning. She unhooked her tail from Luykas, thinking training was over.
“Two rotations ago. We wanted to see you two in action,” he answered, gesturing between them. “Keep doing this for today. Spend more time together outside of training. Tomorrow, same thing, and the day after that. Maybe by the end of the week, you two can spar against us, not as a pair, but as two enemies. We’ll go easy on you for that and try to mimic Elvasi fighting styles. Something you’ll actually see when the time comes.”
“We can do that,” Luykas agreed. “Thank you.”
“We’re going to go. You were just doing it perfectly and don’t need babysitters.” He grinned and jumped into the air before she could say anything. Varon followed him, waving as he entered the sky.
“Those two are so…” She didn’t have the right word for them. They were something, though.
“Agreed,” Luykas chuckled, nodding. “They came in, gave us an ass-chewing—”
“Then left us feeling good about it,” she finished, snorting. “Ready to get back to it?”
“What did he say to you earlier?” Luykas asked at the same time.
They stared at each other, and she relented. He deserved to know.
“He said we would fail if we let our own concerns get in the way.” She didn’t want to say exactly what Nevyn had said, but she hoped that got the point across.
“He’s right.”
“I say…we should stay focused on this and forget the rest. I’m over the thing that made this bond. I am. It’s done, it’s happened…and I’m alive and free of the Empress thanks to you.” She shrugged. “There’s no reason to hold a grudge.”
“And I’ll forget how you held me at a distance for weeks on end because of that grudge. I’ll also admit I expected too much from you too soon and hope you forgive me for that.”
“I do.” She smirked. “We’re going to fight together. We should do it well.”
“I agree.”
They hooked their tails. She tried to ignore the personal current that was Luykas’ emotions. She tried not to let any of them throw her off her game.
They started going through what they had just learned. They stayed focused on invisible enemies, finding their groove again. It wore on and on. Mave stopped thinking about how Luykas was doing behind her and focused only on what foe might be in front of her. She didn’t question where she put her feet.
Easy.
When they were done, she
knew he felt as victorious as she did.
“We might actually be able to do this,” she said, panting. By the end, they were going through the drill quickly. “And he wants us to do this all week?”
“He wants us used to the bond. No shock whenever we touch. No distraction when we fight.” He smiled. “Want lunch with me today?”
“Sure.” She looked at their tails. “And we have to keep the bond fully open whenever we’re together.” That part made her uncomfortable. “Can we not and say we did?”
“I’m more than okay with that,” he agreed, chuckling. “I think…if we do this here in training every day, we’ll be fine.”
“Those two are lovers. They want to share everything. There’s no reason for us to share it all before we’re comfortable. If we can fight together and prove to him it works, we won’t have to expose all of…” She waved a hand between them. “You know.”
“We don’t have to give away all of our secrets before we’re ready. We don’t have to do it all at once.”
“He’s right. Eventually, we’ll have to get…truly used to each other.” She felt a tad guilty. She knew he was right. Nevyn and Varon had been bonded for centuries. Thousands of years, truthfully. They would know about this. “Let’s do lunch. Bryn says we’re oil and water. Let’s try to find the same wavelength before we get the bond further involved.”
“I like that. Meet you at the dining hall?”
“Um, one more thing?” She raised her chin. “Thank you for listening to me and…changing up our training.”
“I should have listened to you sooner. Nevyn telling me you wanted to stab me in the balls was a fairly good indicator it was time for me to change it up.”
“Well, thanks, no matter what caused it.”
“Let’s get something to eat.”
“I’ll meet you there,” she promised.
He jumped off first, leaving her in the snowy field. She watched him disappear into the sky.
“We can do this,” she whispered to herself. “I can do this.”
Nevyn was right about the bond—she knew it—but before she could get over the feeling of the bond and being open like that, she really did have to get over herself and finally make a friend out of Luykas Andini.
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