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7
We walked away from the trainees until I could barely see them. The garden, which was half greenery and half rocky earth, extended along the back of the carved castle, illuminated by the rays of sunshine beginning to filter through the natural skylights on the top of the mountain. It was incredible how even though we were inside, it didn’t feel like you were trapped in, well, a giant cave.
Part of me was still trying to figure out how they had even created such a place.
Reaching what seemed like a fountain, or a pond, I noticed Kingston stop by a small roundabout of stone benches, keeping his back to me. Or so I thought. His form spun so fast that I was barely able to capture his movement, and he swung his spear towards my neck—coming at me like a beast.
WTF?
My arms somehow lifted my spear in time to block him, but he pushed me back with a warrior growl, until my back slammed against the paved floor. Heart blasting against my ribcage, I looked up at him, eyes widening while he effortlessly twirled the weapon in his hand like it was a baton.
“Rule number one. Never let your guard down.” He extended his hand to me, and I took it, accepting his help to get up.
The second I planted my feet on the ground, his spear flew towards me again, and I jerked mine to the right, miraculously blocking his assault again. Except, I didn’t, because he spun instantly, hitting me in the back with the wooden handle—as Evie had done Raithian—and I face planted the floor. Tiny rocks embedded into my palms when I tried to stop my face from hitting the pavers, the weapon flying from my grip.
“Grab your spear!”
He roared behind me, and I scrambled to my feet, pulse racing, reaching for the weapon.
“Rule number one. Never. Ever let go of your spear. No matter what happens. No matter what kind of attack is unleashed on you, that spear better be in your grip or I will kill you myself.”
Struggling to catch my breath, I wondered if I should tell him that technically, that was rule number two, but I nodded instead. I didn’t want to die today. Before I could blink, his form blurred before me, and my arms flew to the side, stopping a hit on my ribs, then I jumped out of the way, evading a swipe of his blade.
Kingston came after me again and again, until I was on my ass.
“Rule number—”
“Let me guess, number one?”
“Stay on your feet at all costs,” he continued, ignoring my jab and stepped back—I supposed to give me a chance to regain my footing.
Oh, how wrong I was.
He unleashed a series of blows—none of which I ever saw coming. Kingston’ every move was as stealthy and dexterous as a jaguar’s, and I wondered how such a massive man could move so swiftly. Astoundingly, my spear met his most of the time, but the vigor in his movements was unlike anything I had ever seen. It felt as though he was using my own strength and body against me, and somehow, I could never prepare for any of it.
My body hit the ground more times that I cared to admit. I hit my ass, my side, my back, my knees, my shoulder, my elbow, my neck… thankfully, he didn’t go for my junk, so I was good.
Standing for the millionth time, I glanced at Kingston, seeing him walk towards the pond, and kneel before it to take a drink. That was my chance.
Rushing forwards, I lifted the wooden part of my spear to hit him in the back, but he suddenly spun on his knee and stood under the incoming spear. In one fluid movement, his hands landed on my thigh and chest, and he lifted me over his head, using my own momentum to lunge me into the pond.
The water rushed over my head as I swiftly sunk, but I immediately kicked my feet, pushing myself up. When I resurfaced, I found the giant with one foot resting on a rock, his retractable weapon hooked onto his hip once more while he pulled something from the back of his thick belt. Clear amusement gleamed in his expression when he began to unwrap what seemed like an organic energy bar, except it was round, like a cookie.
“Strong initiative,” Kingston considered, taking a hefty bite. “Not well thought out.” His voice was deep as he munched on the treat, glancing at my arms weaving under water to keep myself afloat. “Sloppy execution,” he concluded, wrapping the energy bar again, and tucking it back in his belt. “But you didn’t let go of the weapon.”
“Really? That is the highlight of the day?”
A slow smirk stretched his lips at my scowling.
“It is progress.” His foot fell from the boulder, and he began to walk away. “You might want to get out of there. Flesh-eating fish live in that pond.”
“Holy hell!” My eyes widened, and I began to swim frantically to the edge, pulling myself out with the help of the spear. My back crashed against the rocky ground while I struggled to catch my breath, my gaze instinctively going to the honeycombs at the peak of the mountain.
“Still alive?” Asher appeared above me, offering me a hand.
“I guess you could say that,” I mumbled, letting him pull me to my feet. “That was the most brutal training of my life—wait is he gone?” Quickly glancing around him, I realized Kingston was nowhere to be found.
“Want more? You’ve sparred for three sun-hours.”
