chapter 20

“Varkai and Blackhorn, step up to the mat.” Pineherth commands, her voice booming through the Hollownest training center.

The Hollownest students train in a room quite similar to ours, though there are no cracks in the ceiling, and the walls are uneven and curved, creating a rough circle with many shadowed nooks that practically beg to be explored. Somewhat similar to Moonridge, the entirety of the walls in Hollownest are mirrored, but due to the structure of the mountain, it appears to be fractured, the beehive-like patterns glistening under the light of the crackling candles all the way to the domed ceiling.

Ryker tries to keep his face smooth, for he has a terrible habit of growing a sly smile as he prepares to spar. He steps up to the mats, and his opponent, an equally large man, meets him without a hint of fear, his face pulled into exquisite coldness. But while his form is rather impressive, and he holds himself much like a lion's pride, he will be no match for Ryker, who has yet to lose a single duel.

As Ryker settles his feet, he can no longer contain his excitement, and his mouth spreads wide, revealing each and every eager tooth. Kael and I join his smile, though quickly wipe it away when the match begins, started by the bold Varkai, who has taken the first step of the fight.

The boys combust into a whirlwind of limbs; legs and arms flying in brutally quick carves, the ferocity so intense I almost have to cover my eyes.

“Seems like Ryker’s finally got some real competition,” I flinch as Varkai stabs deep into Ryker’s thigh.

Kael raises an eyebrow, but does not turn from the electric fight, “So it does.”

Ryker throws out an impressive punch, but misses Varkai by an inch, who is surprisingly quick despite being over six feet in height. Varkai thrusts out a leg in rebuttal, and it strikes Ryker in his ribs, making him curl a touch to the side, and both Kaelin and I wince. But Ryker will not fall that easily, and before Varkai’s leg drops to the ground, Ryker pushes it out and forces his balance to destabilize, sending the unsuspecting man to the black mats.

Varkai swings his legs around, and Ryker has to jump to get out of the way, making the man hiss and flip onto his feet once more, refusing to prematurely obey. But despite Varkai’s unrelenting desire for triumph, Ryker’s smile has only grown since he took his place on the stage. Ryker has been waiting for a true opponent, and is more than ready to play.

Ryker lunges forward, and smacks away Varkai’s defending hand, hitting the sweet spot of his stomach with his curled fist. Varkai keels over, gasping for breath, his eyes bulging as Ryker knees sharply into his chest.

Varkai falls to the ground, and Ryker stands victorious above, dropping onto his knees to pin the sorry man, his back pressed snug to the ground. Varkai struggles for a few moments, unwilling to allow defeat so easily, but at last gives up and grunts his surrender.

Ryker jumps off immediately, extending a large hand, which Varkai takes hesitantly, giving it a well-mannered shake. The boys talk as they leave the stage, and by the time Kaelin has finished with his opponent, they are laughing together, and giving one another tips, most of which joined by demonstrations, and by the end two split lips.

“Azlath and Fangera,” Pineherth calls, crossing off Kaelin’s name from the clipboard clutched tightly in her spindly fingers, “approach the mat.”

“Lets see it, beast,” Ryker says low, almost like a chant, crossing his arms across his chest, Varkai standing almost identically beside him.

Nodding once, I roll back my shoulders, and meet the eyes of my opponent. She is already standing on her side of the mat, her long, blonde curls pulled into a beautiful ponytail. She is the type of girl others dream of looking like; with her sapphire eyes and flawless, brown skin. But while she could give Pala, the goddess of beauty, a run for her money, it is clear that she has made, however it may be possible, even less progress than I.

Azlath’s hands vibrate on her hips, her mouth is pulled tight, and her cutting jaw is tense, proving she is clenching her teeth into a forceful bite. She is roughly my size, so this should not end as terribly as my last match, and has already revealed a very important weakness, one that Ryker told me of the first day we started training.

Swallowing my doubts, I settle into my stance, widening my feet just right; with my right leading, and left holding back. She shakes away the strands of hair in front of her face, and lifts her arms, which are so delicate they could be mistaken for weeds.

This time, I make the first move, stalking a step nearer. She hops back at once, eyes widening, and scurries around the edge of the boundary, her heels teasing the white line. Stepping forward once more, I take a lunge for her exposed side, and she jumps backwards, landing out of bounds.

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Pineherth blows her whistle, and the instructor of Hollownest, the young sergeant, Talyn Scythe, says easily,

“Go again, Azlath.”

The girl sucks in a deep breath, and we recenter on the stage, Ryker nodding at me eagerly from the sides. Azlath takes a shaky step forward, preparing to latch onto my arm, and I jump out of her reach, smashing with force into her side.

She yelps and rubs her ribs, eyes filled with the bubbling imprint of fear. I move again, this time trying to come around to her back, where her pony hangs so temptingly close to my grasp. She flips around, hands held up but not curled in defense.

“Oh come on, Arabella!” A girl with curly hair shouts from the sideline, “Just go for it!”

Azlath shakes her shoulders, eyes narrowing as she at last makes a real attempt at an advance, successfully striking my unguarded leg with her own. I hiss at the contact and stumble back, quick to make my own counter. She had lifted her arms, thinking I would swing for her jaw, but missed her block as I punched into her gut instead.

Her breath leaves her and she nearly drops to the floor, her knees sagging. I take the opportunity to at last grab hold of her hair, swinging her onto the mats with skills that are quite debatable in their fluidness and dependability.

Standing above her, I almost drop in for the pin, when she squeals, her hands held over her face and eyes squeezed tightly shut,

“I yield! I yield!”

I straighten my back, looking to Pineherth who gives me a small nod, and glance back to the girl, who now watches at me with the same worrying gaze as before. I extend a hand, and she flinches at the movement, shaking her head and scurrying up by herself.

We mutter quick acknowledgments as we shake hands, and I watch curiously as she bolts from the mats, scampering to hide behind her friends, who whisper quick and quiet.

Pushing the fight away, I find Ryker and Kael, both of which give me wide smiles that I can only respond to with my own.

“Nicely done,” Ryker claps my shoulder, shaking it almost out of its socket, “I have notes, of course, but you won a duel!”

“I suppose,” I grin. Even though the fight was hardly that at all, it is rather satisfying to have made some progress. A month ago I didn’t even know how to hold my hands, let alone block or find weaknesses.

The rest of the challenges progress rather quickly, and soon we are released for lunch. We sit at the table, joined with the girls, and Ryker and Kaiya launch into a heated discussion over which weapon is more powerful; the sacred sword of Draen or Rynevek’s blades of night.

As they fire arguments back and forth, I slowly pull apart my fish, catching the Hollownest group taking their seats, Ryker and Varkai nodding friendly greetings. At the very back of the swarm, Azlath walks slowly with two other girls, only one of which having won her duel today. She catches my eye and pales significantly, picking up her steps as her chin almost drops to the floor.

Kaelin follows my gaze, one side of his mouth tipping up as he murmurs, “She’s terrified of you.”

“What?” I startle, “Why?”

Kael shrugs, “You can be intimidating.”

“Me?” I snort, feeding some fish skin to Ryn, who stands eagerly on the table, “No way.”

“Yuh huh,” Casanova interrupts, “All of you are.”

“All of who?” I ask, gesturing to the boys, “Us?”

“Yes,” Casanova rolls her eyes, pointing at each of us individually in emphasis, “If it weren’t for Ambaby and his whining pack of infants, it would probably be more obvious.”

“But why?” I push, unable to see what she speaks of.

Casanova looks at Ryker, from his toes to his hair, “Blackhorn may be all teeth and laughter, but I’ve never seen anybody fight like him. Nor many with your, er, physique.” She grins, winking in taunt.

“Awe, Caline,” Ryker fake swoons, fanning his face with over-exaggerated bashfulness, “You’re going to make me blush.”

Caline rolls her eyes and turns to Kael, “And Mr. Silence over here is the most terrifying out of all of you,” she says, making Kaelin’s eyes widen as he retreats into himself.

“Kael?” Ryker barks, thumping a fist on the table as he laughs, “How can that be? I thought I was the best fighter you’ve ever seen!”

Caline playfully nudges Ryker’s shoulder with her own, “Oh come off it, you big oaf. You’re the more obvious threat, Kaelin is the one who gets you when you’re not paying attention.” She turns to me, waving her hands to the boys, “Ryker is…explosive. But Kaelin is what comes for you when you’re all alone, trapped in darkness, the hairs tingling on your neck to tell you that the end is coming.”

I look between the boys, finding Kael wholly uncomfortable, yet understanding what she is saying. But it is hard to believe when the best moments of my life have been shared with these boys, even if they’ve also been some of the most taxing.

“And you, Mauven,” Caline continues on, “are more unexpected. Maybe it’s the way you hold yourself, your silent composition, the way you never show what’s happening inside your head. But even if you don’t show it, something about you makes me think you’re far more capable of killing than any of us realize.”

My face burns red, and the words seem to get lost in my throat, pouring out through an invisible cut, unable to respond to the unpredicted tell. Is it true? Is that how others see me? That I have the ability to end another life as easily as my own? My stomach churns with discomfort.

The silence is at last broken by Ryker, who huffs with undeniable humor,

“Well, I’m still offended you don’t think I’m the scariest.”

Caline and the Thornberns laugh, quick to jump back into conversation, Ryker leading the path. I turn to Kaelin, just enough to catch his eye without the others noticing. He glances at me with the same strange look, his eyes reflecting what must carry in mine.

That we are not the people we thought we were, and it is unlikely we ever will be.