I was going down to Radiant Ward again, and I was going to see Tam.Thatwas what I needed to focus on.Well, that, and how badly he was going to kick my ass because I'd been slacking on my training."I thought I might go for a run on the way there," I said."Is that okay, or…"
Elethenn didn't particularly look like he was dressed for a run.Then again, I'd only ever seen him in basically this outfit – a jumpsuit, boots, and sometimes an apron.He assured me it was fine, and seemed happy to trail a few steps behind me.It didn’t take me long to admit, begrudgingly and only to myself, that he was in better shape; he was entirely unwinded, whereas I felt like my ribs might jab through the tender skin of my torso.I had a lot of catching up to do.
By the time we threaded through the various alleyways and nooks and crannies to arrive at the gym, I'd managed to get in a decent run – although thatdecent runshouldn't have left me so exhausted.It had been more than a week since I'd been attacked, and it wasn't like they'd hit me in the face or anything, so I didn't know why I wasn't bouncing back more quickly.
I shoved open one of the back doors and ducked inside, Elethenn a silent shadow following after me.It might have been creepy if it weren’t so comforting to have him there.I could admit it was kind of nice to know someone was watching my back.
The halls of the gym were dark and narrow, leading to a series of storage rooms, lockers, showers, and Tam's office.I nipped around a couple of corners and into the main training area, where Tam was hauling a massive punching bag off its hook and carrying it over one meaty shoulder to its wall-mount.He didn't look at me when I came in, but I saw his tail twitch."Finally decided to show your face," he grunted, heaving the bag up onto its hook and turning to narrow his eyes at me."You fucked up my schedule, you little shit.And the minute you decide you're going to saunter in here again, you expect me to just drop everything I had on the go.I hadplans, you know."
I grinned."What, had some sort of hot date lined up?Come on.You know you'd rather throw me around.It's alright to say you've missed me."
Tam brayed out a laugh, crossing the training room to meet us.His yellow eyes flicked over my shoulder to look at Elethenn."Brought another abaya?"
"This is Elethenn of Creche Thiel," I offered."Elethenn, this is Tamcer Temahura."
"Yes, I am aware," Elethenn said, his voice quiet."Your name carries weight in Radiant Ward."
Tam beamed, and I explained, "Elethenn is keeping me company, and Araxis thought it would be useful for him to sharpen his skills.He saved my ass when I got jumped."
For a second, Tam actually looked bothered – like he'd been concerned about me, which was stupid; I'd messaged him to explain and promised I'd be back as soon as I could walk for long enough to come down here – but then the expression relaxed into his customary smile."Always happy to have new clients.I'll put a plan together, send it along through you, and your prince can get in touch to settle up."And then he trailed off, looking at me thoughtfully."And I do want to talk about that little incident you had in the alley."
Great.Ididn't."I'm sure Elethenn can tell you all about it," I said."I'd rather hit things."
"Oh, he'd ratherhitthings," Tam drawled."Then why don't we start you warming up while we talk?You told me you don't have long today.Don't want to waste time by standing around being pouty.Hit up the holo simulator.I'll get your friend started."
I shrugged my bag off my shoulder, tossing my sweater aside and jogging to the centre of the ring where he'd set up the usual holographic projector.Dreyko had been fiddling with the settings when I'd come in using Tam's clunky old wristband."Tamcer," he sniped, jabbing a bony finger at the flickering display, "the lag on your band is awful.You have celebrity client credits now.There's no excuse!"
Across the space, Tam scoffed."It still works.And mycelebrity clientis leaving the station soon, so unless he wants to cut a sponsorship deal..."
I tossed him a look over my shoulder."I'm sure my ketaari manager will tell you that you can't afford me," I said in my driest tone, and Tam laughed, pleased and grinning that massive fucking smile of his.
"Ah, there we fucking go," said Dreyko as the holo trilled a promising little song."I set it the way you like.All glitter, all the time."
Ididlike that mode, because it made the grind of working through the series of targets less miserable.In this mode, each time I landed a hit, the target exploded in a satisfying burst of shimmering light, like confetti, and another one would appear."If you ever decide to head out on your own," I said, a little irritated for a reason I couldn't quite put my finger on although it hadsomethingto do with Tam, "you tell me.Youunderstand me."
He laughed and headed off, leaving me to warm up.I settled in, jabbing at the targets as they slowly expanded the area over which they'd appear so that I had to keep my peripheral awareness up and my response time tight.Beneath the shimmery sounds of targets exploding, I could hear Tam rumbling to Elethenn, although I couldn't make out any words.Out of the corner of my eye, though, I saw Elethenn move into one corner with a full-weight bag and sink into a series of patient strikes.Tam stood off to the side, speaking almost conversationally, his head tilted in interest.
The holograph buzzed at me in irritation.I'd missed a target and it had blinked out before I had the chance to strike.
"Get your head out of your ass, Sashen," Tam barked, and with a jolt I recentered myself, and Tam pushed himself off the wall and came over to stand by me."So," he said, after watching me for a few moments and using his tail to poke at my legs until I shifted into a better position, "you got jumped."
I guess weweregoing to talk about it."A sephear and a paledrian."I jabbed at a target in the upper left quadrant and it shimmered in the air, vanishing."Trapped me in an alley in the Graves."
"When you're done warming up, we're going to go through that fight, beat by beat," Tam said conversationally.Then, in that same easy tone, "I heard you killed one of them."
I missed my hit, twisting off balance before I jerked myself upright again."You heard that?We – I didn't think any media sources had picked it up, not outside of Xitera."Hearing him say the words so plainly made my stomach clench, breakfast suddenly sour in my gut.
"I tend to catch wind of things that shake down in Radiant Ward," said Tam, seemingly unbothered."Especially if they involve my client.Especiallyif they involve my client killing someone in a fight.The fact that it isn't a tabloid headline yet is good, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that staying true, kid.I don't care how many palms your prince greases.Some people – idiots, mostly – tell me you're famous and famous sells.But it's true, huh?"
My mouth was dry.I shook my fists, hard, settling back into a ready position."Yeah, Tam, it's true.I killed someone."The words tasted like ash in my mouth.Tam prodded the machine and the targets began to appear in different colours: the darker the colour, the harder I had to strike to make them vanish.The lighter ones needed a gentler touch.It was all about control, which I didn't fucking have.The next words punched out of me, hoarse, raw."I – I caved theirfuckingface in."
Tam hit the machine again so that the sequence sped up."First time you killed anyone?"
I didn't say anything, sweat beading the back of my neck as I struck ferociously at the targets, my elbow throbbing as I threw a particularly hard hit with my right fist.
"Probably is.You prefer kissing to killing, I hear."I didn't even bother glaring at him."First one's a bastard.Did you mean to?"
I felt my face spasm, and I missed my next hit.HadI meant to?Had I intended to kill the sephear when I kicked them, after I'd had them down on the ground?
