Page 32 of For the Strange and Surprising

I observe the women as Rinya explains another move to Ada. They’re both so focused that they pay me no attention. I move slowly and deliberately.

The hip toss is all about using your own bodyweight to throw your opponent off balance. This particular fighting style was taught to the guard by Rinya’s father. William is another Earth native who lives in our village, but he chooses to make wine instead of instructing warriors.

He makes damn good spirits, too.

Rinya finally notices me when I’m standing behind Ada, but she doesn’t let her face betray my position.

I wrap my arms around Ada, and her elbow rams into my sternum before I’ve fully grabbed her. She twists her body as she grips the sleeve of my shirt. Her hip presses into my groin as she leans, and my feet leave the ground. My back hits the dirt as a grunt leaves my mouth.

She glares at me, but I don’t think she sees me at first. When she comes back to reality, she grimaces and crosses her arms over her chest.

“You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that,” she warns softly. “Had you done that where I lived, you could be dead. On Earth, some of us carry firearms for this exact reason.”

I lie on the dirt, staring up at Ada with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. She moved without thought, as if more than just her survival was firmly rooted in her subconscious for moments like that.

The toss may have come from today’s lesson, but the reaction didn’t.

Rinya cuts her eyes at me when she notices that I’m about to open my mouth. “A firearm is a weapon, Tal. They call them guns, too. If you want to know more about them, then ask my dad. He loves to talk about Earth shit.”

That wasn’t what I wanted to ask, but I trust Rin enough to swallow my words. Whatever she suspects—or knows—has her abruptly ending our session.

“I wasn’t expecting you to last that long, Ada.” Rinya chuckles as she pushes her braid over her shoulder. “I’m impressed.”

“Being underestimated isn’t always a bad thing, is it?” Ada shrugs. “I had fun today. Thanks, Rinya.”

She walks to the fence, picking up the canteen of water, and Rinya pinches the underside of my arm to gain my attention.

“That hurts,” I complain as her nails bite into my skin.

“Don’t ask her, Tal,” she whispers harshly. “Whatever you were just wondering, leave it at that. She doesn’t know you; she won’t be honest about her reactions. And even if she is, I don’t think you’ll like the answers to those questions.”

I narrow my eyes. “What do you know?”

“I know I’ve known you my entire life, and I wouldn’t have told you the truth if you asked why I reacted like that.” She glowers as she taps her chest. “I know you’re protective, but she doesn’t owe anyone those answers. I think I recognize the ghost haunting her. I won’t assume that I understand, though.”

We watch Ada turn her face to the setting sun, her eyes closed as she breathes deeply. Rinya shakes her head, grimacing at whatever memories she’s dug up.

“Talk to any of the Mongrels who hail from Earth; they’ll give you the same response Dad has given me. Eventually, you’ll come to the same conclusion that I have. Things aren’t so different between the two worlds. We’ve dealt with it here a few times, but I think it’s more frequent where she comes from.”

Rinya’s irises darken as her gaze latches onto mine. She frowns, disappointed in me when I don’t immediately understand what she refuses to say aloud.

“If you do decide to ask, be considerate with the way you approach the subject and mindful of your reactions. Don’t be mad if she doesn’t want to talk about it.”

I nod, but I don’t like the lifeless tone of her voice. “Rin?”

“She’s not a Shade.” Rinya chuckles as she turns to leave. “Either you tell Ecaeris to pull his head out of his ass, or I will.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I mutter. “I’m looking forward to his interrogation.”

* * *

After showing Ada around the inside of the Colosseum, I take her into the armory. She doesn’t strike me as the sword-wielding type of woman, but there’s a vast assortment of weapons stored here that she can test out.

She strolls around the room, running her fingertips over staffs and handles at random before she glances over her shoulder at me. I’m not close enough to touch her, but I do see the golden-red flakes in her mossy green irises under the lit torches.

I could have sworn her eyes were a different color when I met her, though.

I stop following her and allow her to roam the room without a shadow. She appears delicate from a distance, which makes me want to tower behind her, chasing away the terrors that might find her in Spiran.