by NAK Baldron
Her mother must've felt the tension in the room, because she quietly excused herself to her bedroom. The tension grew tighter around them once they were left alone.
"Did you need something specifically?"
"Yes." Akio used the breathing practice, sleeping turtle, that Takumi had taught them. With his mind devoid of anxiety, he pressed forward. "As First Sworn it is my obligation to protect you."
Shaya gave him a raised eyebrow—the type a mother would give a petulant child begging for sweets.
"Yet your actions prevent me from doing so."
She had returned to her face of stone, but Akio thought he might have seen a flash of anger. "You forget yourself."
"I forget nothing." Akio bowed low. "Kaito-Tanken Shaya. It was you who commanded me to speak freely in your presence. You demanded that I be your most trusted advisor. You spoke of us having no secrets between us. You—"
"Enough." Shaya raised her hand. "You made your point."
She relaxed her posture, looked at Akio, and then walked to the far back window of the room where two wooden chairs sat—a small wooden table between them. After she sat, she gestured for him to join her. The set of furniture was worth more than his father would earn in a lifetime.
"This tension between us is as much my fault as it is yours."
Akio didn't know what to say.
Shaya looked out the window, down to the street below where a woman busied herself with the final trades of the evening. Other merchants already packed up were making their way home.
Keeping her gaze on the street below, Shaya said, "At first, I was upset with you. However, upon reflection I realized my anger had more to do with my own embarrassment, than with any actions of yours. In fact, you did everything the First Sworn should do. It is not our fault we are children. But it is a reality we must face."
"Tell me what I can do to make this right, and it will be done."
"Two things. One, you and I will continue to train with Takumi. I spoke to him about your progress and my displeasure in the fact that he has not found the right weapon for you."
"I—"
"Second." Shaya cut him off, making it clear he should be quiet. "We'll avoid the public. You and I are Clan Kaito. Until we can reclaim my lost holdings during the next Time of Daggers, you and I are it. I don't expect anyone else to swear fealty to my clan, and I'd be suspicious of anyone that did. This means you and I will be a target. Anyone looking to make a name for themselves, and join with another clan, will view us as easy prey. The truce protects us from the other clans, but it does not protect us from regular citizens."
"I understand."
Akio hadn't realized until this exact moment just how dangerous being a First Sworn was. In his mind the Thief Lords were honorable citizens of the Bloody Square, and clan feuds were handled publicly during the Time of Daggers. He never realized that other citizens could be of danger to them. Everyone knew the clans were on guard against the Emperor and his men, but they hadn't been seen in the Bloody Square for hundreds of years. Foolishly, he had brushed off the two teenage boys as a random event, not realizing they represented a real threat.
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 arose, 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. "Let's go explore the city!"
Akio knew exploring the city could be dangerous, and it was his responsibility to protect Shaya. Still, he was also honor-bound to follow orders.
"Well?" She asked.
"Sorry. Are you sure it's a good idea to go exploring? You told me we needed to focus on our training and avoid the public."
"Who cares, it'll be fun. And besides, we've been training, and I think we're able to protect ourselves from a couple of thugs now." Akio opened his mouth to protest, but Shaya cut him off. "I'll make it a command. Does that make it easier for you?"
"I'm at your service, Kaito-Tanken Shaya."
She frowned at him for using her title. Akio didn't understand why it bothered her when he addressed her formally—it wasn't as if their friendship would be ruined by a formal title. They finished packing their training equipment away and left the courtyard.
They soon made their way west along the north wall, past the Bloody Square, and into the heart of the city. The streets were overflowing with people who all seemed to be in a hurry to get from one place to the next. Beggars lined the sides of streets, under the shade of stone buildings, but as far from front doors as they could find. On Accounting Day—the time when everyone balanced their debts with Sueun—beggars would come to Sueun's Temple to receive alms. Akio hadn't witnessed them on the streets begging before. It made his skin crawl to see men in such dire conditions.
"Look," Shaya pointed to a shop's window, "they sell swords."
Sure enough, Shaya managed to find the one weapons shop in the sea of buildings. Unlike most shops, this one wasn't full of customers. The owner stayed behind the counter—a squared in space in the center of the store. Allowing him full view of the shop without the need to hover over the customers.
Who would try to steal from a weapons merchant?
"Good afternoon, little lady. Are you lost?"
"No." Shaya gave him
a look which clearly meant speak to me like a child again and you'll regret it. "I'm in the market for new weapons for us."
The merchant's ears seemed to perk up at the sound of that and he dropped the patronizing tone. "Indeed. Anything in particular I could help you find?"
"I prefer a curved sword, at three-quarter body length," she said.
"And for you sir?" the man asked.
Takumi hadn't gone over all the options with Akio yet. He knew there were hundreds of possibilities, but he'd only just begun to try different styles of swords at his own pace. Unlike Shaya, he hadn't taken naturally to one yet, and Master Takumi had run through his known weapons. Now when Akio failed at a new sword, Takumi would order for a new practice one made, and they'd start again. Akio lost count, but he'd already tried thirty-three variations of swords, and he began to wonder if a sword was really his best option. There were so many other weapon options.
Akio realized they were both looking at him. "I'm not sure."
"Not to worry. I have several styles to choose from and a training stand in the back." The merchant pointed to the back-right corner of his shop. "Over there you'll find the curved swords you're looking for. If they're too long I can have a custom sword made, but it will take three to four months to arrive."
"Thank you." Shaya's voice was flat, and Akio followed as she made her way around the counter to the corner he'd indicated.
"I thought you'd settled on the straight sword," she whispered.
"It's the best so far, but it doesn't feel like an—"
"Extension of my arm," they said together, quoting Takumi.
Master Takumi would be proud to know he drilled it into them that the weapon chooses the master, not the other way around. The steel should feel like the natural lengthening of their arms and not a tool in their hands. Shaya had found her curved sword in the first week of training. Akio continued to try swords, but he was beginning to think his natural weapon would be something other than a sword.
Perhaps an axe?
"This feels well-weighted." She held a sword, then carefully placed the hilt on the floor and measured the tip. "This blade is dull."
"They all are," the merchant said. "Every blade is given a finishing edge upon purchase."
"What do you think?" Shaya asked, slowly swinging the sword at him.
Akio didn't know how to answer. "Do you like it?"
"I think so," she said. "It's lighter than the sword I've been training with, but I think that's a good thing. I should be even faster with this one."
"Where's the training stand?" Shaya asked.
"Through the gap between the shelves in the center and to your left."
Shaya walked toward the center and then disappeared behind the shelves. An optical illusion had made the back wall seem solid, but instead there was space behind them. The thud of metal against straw mats filled the shop, and Akio found the merchant was staring at him. To avoid his gaze, Akio busied himself with the weapons on display. Making his way around the shop, he avoided the swords and found the axe section.
The first axe he picked up was all wrong, and he nearly dropped it from the weight being top-heavy. He found a smaller axe, which turned out to be a pair. In that moment, Akio learned he was just as gifted with his left hand as his right. Twirling the two axes came easily, first in his right hand, then his left, without missing a beat. Yet, the weight was still off. They felt like they were pulling his arms forward, rather than resting in his hand naturally.
On the second shelf to the left of the door they'd come in, he found a massive selection of knives. Takumi had referred to them as street weapons, unfit for noble fighters. But Akio was no noble. He was about as low born as one could be in the Bloody Square, and what's more, he was First Sworn to Kaito-Tanken Shaya. Protecting her was all that mattered, etiquette be damned. Two stilettos stood out amongst the rest. Instead of bright white steel, they were darkened—nearly black.
Like octopus' ink.
When he picked them up, they were heavier than they looked, but once he had them firmly in hand with the guard resting on the web of his thumb, they felt nearly weightless. Almost as if he'd slipped on a perfectly made set of gloves. The pommel hilt was a hand and a half, but that was perfect. They could grow with him. Each pommel had an intricately designed, little steel knot, perfect for cracking an opponent's skull open like a crab shell.
As he turned the daggers around in his hands, he came to the tip where he realized the steel had been rolled in such a manner as to create a diamond tip. Instead of two sides, each stiletto had four.
"May I try these?" Akio asked.
"Of course, young sir."
Akio forced himself to walk calmly to the back room of the store, where Shaya practiced her forms against the straw mats.
"What's that?" she asked between pants of breath, a gleam of sweat upon her brow.
"A set of daggers."
"Yes, but Takumi said."
"I know but watch." Akio spun the right dagger around his palm, then the left, before finally thrusting hard enough to stick the left dagger into the training stand between the straw fibers.
"Impressive." Shaya's voice held no inflection. "You think these will suit you?"
Akio thrust again, while pulling out the other stiletto. "Yes, these are an extension of my arms." Echoing Takumi's words.
"Very well. I'm still unsure about mine, but let's buy yours and return home. I'll sleep on mine."
"I don't—" Akio began.
"As First Sworn, what's mine is yours," Shaya said. "I'll buy the daggers. Besides, one day you may need them to save my life."
A pragmatic attitude Akio could respect.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
"AKIO, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED," Takumi said. "And Shaya, you're no better for enabling him."
Akio wasn't ashamed of choosing the daggers. But for dragging Shaya into this—she didn't deserve to be scolded alongside him.
"With respect Master." Akio bowed his head. "Shaya warned me that you would be displeased, but when you see me with them, you'll—"
"No student of mine will be seen wielding street weapons, when I'm here to instruct you in the ways of honorable combat."
He'd not considered that. Of course, Takumi's honor would be at stake. Every person who mattered within the Bloody Square knew they were being taught by the great Sword Master Takumi.
"Come." Takumi gestured for them to follow. "I will show you both."
Takumi returned from his personal chambers with a new stone box and opened it for them to see inside. From the box came two daggers which he tossed at Akio's feet. They landed firmly in the sands of the courtyard. Akio picked them up, they weren't the same design as the stilettos he'd found in the shop. But their weight was nearly identical, and they fit in his hands well enough to act as practice weapons.
"You have two daggers." Takumi pointed. "I have one sword. Attack."
Akio knew better than to hesitate—he charged forward closing the gap between them. When he reached Master Takumi, he slipped low and thrust for his stomach, but Takumi was prepared and sliced his daggers away with sitting light. Akio's left dagger fell out of his hand to the ground.
Before he could gather himself, Takumi placed the edge of his sword against Akio's neck.
"You held two weapons, but my one beat you easily. Why?"
"You're faster than me."
"Wrong." Takumi stomped his foot. "Daggers require you to get close to your opponent. You tried to use both blades at once, when you should have used one to block my sword."
Akio bowed to the master's wisdom.
"Again."
This time Akio did as he was told. He went high with his right dagger and used the left to block Takumi's rising light. But when their two blades made contact, Takumi used his momentum to turn his rising light into a kicking mule, and Akio found himself on his side, spitting sand out of his mouth.
"Why did I beat you?"
"Because you're taller and stronger.
"
"Wrong." Takumi stomped his foot again. "My blade is longer, and I was able to turn that against you. Again!"
Their bouts continued for the better part of an hour, with Shaya standing aside wearing her face of stone. This lesson was as much for her sake as Akio's. If she entrusted her First Sworn with daggers instead of a sword, she needed to know how vulnerable they were.
To Akio's credit, he managed to strike Takumi one out of ten bouts, but Takumi was an old man and not the fighter he'd been in his prime. If Akio were facing a well-trained man on the streets, he'd be dead.
By the end of their session Akio could barely hold his daggers from all the times Takumi struck his wrists.
"You two may leave." Takumi spoke with his back to them.
Shaya rushed to Akio's side, but he refused her help. He would endure the pain with pride and remember the price he was willing to pay in service to Shaya. Despite Takumi's skill and persistence, Akio managed to improve toward the end. The secret he thought, was to move his body around the enemy's sword while slicing with his daggers, rather than always trying to stab. At first, he'd created too straight of a line for Takumi, who took full advantage.
Once he had his stilettos, things would be different.
Hobbling alongside Shaya, they made their way to the Bloody Square. For once they didn't speak to each other, but Akio could read the sorrow on Shaya's face. As if she could feel the pain inside him as they walked.
In that moment, Shaya's face of stone cracked for Akio. He'd never wonder again what she was feeling. Their close friendship provided him the key to unlocking her emotional tells, despite her best attempts to hide behind the face of stone her mother had trained.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Texas, Earth
Wednesday, September 7th
Kandice sent Lance several texts throughout the day, but he told her nothing of substance. He wanted to stop by to see her later, and Slava continued to heal. Vague responses were a pet peeve of hers, but this was worse because of their involvement in Slava's recovery. Lance was giving her the cold shoulder when he should have been leaning on them for support. After thinking through the night for the millionth time, there wasn't anything that stood out to explain the silence. Blake and her supported him throughout the ordeal. He should be okay with updating them.
