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“I knew you would like it,” Kai said with an easy smile.
“I can use this?” she asked him as he nudged her forward and they crossed the training room.
“You are Akrhyn, and your mother was an Ivanov, you have probably more of a claim to this training room than anyone in here.” Kai laughed.
“Shewasan Ivanov.” Tegan grinned. “Are you going to train with me?” she asked Kai excitedly. She had always bested him at sparring, but she was eager for an opponent.
“No.” Kai held his hands up in defence as he laughed at her question. “You’ve kicked my ass too many times for my ego. I have someone for you to meet.” Kai pointed to the dark-skinned Sentinel who stood in the centre of the room. His short buzz cut hair did not hide the scar along the side of his head. Deep brown eyes assessed her as she and Kai walked over to him. His muscles were very much on display, and Tegan was already calculating his reach with that amount of bicep constraining him.
“You her?” he barked.
“I think it depends on whosheis?” Tegan answered as she crossed her arms, taking in the male’s defensive stance and his antagonistic look.
“The Elite Sentinel who is a child.”
Tegan’s smile lit the room. “Then no, I am nother.” She walked past him and took a kali stick off the wall. “But IamElite Sentinel Tegan Novikov Holt.”
The male’s grin was almost feral. “So you areher.I hear you are supposed to be extraordinary in combat.”
“I can hold my own.”
“Taught by a leech,” he sneered as he spat on the floor.
“What did you say?” Tegan’s voice was low, and her grip tightened on the kali stick. “Who are you?”
“I said taught by aleech, nothing more than a parasite.” The dark-haired male walked around her. “I am Sentinel Goddard. This is my training room.”
“Really?” Tegan looked around the room. “Are you an Ivanov?”
“No.”
Tegan nodded slowly. “Are you the Commander here?” she asked again as he walked around her again.
“No.”
Tegan’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Do you patrol?”
“No,” he growled at her as he took a step forward.
“When was the last time you fought Drakhyn?” Tegan asked as she turned to mirror his movements so he was no longer circling her. She noticed that the room had quietened. “A real breathing one.” She cocked her head to the side and considered his scar. “Head injuries can be tricky. Not teeth by the looks of it. Talon? No, not deep enough.” Tegan looked the Sentinel over. “Did you fall on your own sword?” A ripple of laughter erupted in the training room.
“You insolent little—”
Tegan moved her kali stick so fast Sentinel Goddard paused as she held it at his throat. “I would be very careful what you say next,” she warned quietly. “Your muscles are impressive, but they are for show. It means you are slow. Cumbersome. Your arm does not fully extend, so kali sticks and swords will not be your weapon of choice. If you are in close combat, you’re pretty much useless unless you like knives. You look like you enjoy slicing with a knife.” She tilted her head again as she watched the rage gather in his eyes. “You also favour your right leg, I would guess a break, possibly in two maybe three places.” Tegan pressed her kali stick into his throat. “You wear that scar with pride. You shouldn’t. It’s not pride that keeps a Sentinel fighting. Youcouldbe proud your skull was so thick it deflected the killing blow.” Dropping suddenly, Tegan’s leg swept out and knocked the Akrhyn off his feet. He landed close to his spit on the mat, and Tegan knew that he knew it was intentional.
As he lay on his back, Tegan’s foot pressed on his throat. “You were never taught combat by Leonid Novikov or any Akrhyn who actuallyknewcombat. Leonid would not allow sloppy defence in his training room.” She looked over the assembled Akrhyn as some looked on with delight, others with concern, and there were more than a few hateful glares aimed at her. “Do you pretend to train these Sentinels?” Goddard said nothing, so she pressed further on his throat. “I asked a question, Sentinel, you would do well to answer me.”
“He did,” a female Akrhyn stepped forward. “Sentinel Goddard is a good teacher.”
“Good? Not great?” Tegan asked as her eyes scanned the room again. “I think I may have to prolong my stay here.” She turned her head to look at Kai, who was staring at her in disbelief. “You did the right thing bringing me in here, they do need my help.” She looked back down at the prone trainer. “You ever, I meanever, disrespect Leonid again, your thick skull will not stopmysword.” She stepped back, snapping the kali stick under her arm. “I will let the Heir know I will be overseeing the training while I am here.”
“You cannot just come in here and think my Sentinels will listen to you,” Goddard protested loudly as he lumbered to his feet.
Tegan looked him over one more time, her dismissal of him clear. “Kai, can you lead me to the Commander of the Elite Sentinels and Sentinels in training, please?”
“Eh, yeah, sure.” Kai looked at Goddard in apology.
“Excellent, as you were, Sentinels,” Tegan called over her shoulder as she walked across the training room. She looked over her shoulder when she was at the door. Goddard was where she left him, glaring after her. She shook her head as she turned and left. “Weak.”
