Khuzaimah looked from Aodh to Kai.“Is it your wish to go again, Aguya?”
“No.”Kai nodded her head toward Avalore.“This is Ava.She is with Liekki and new to the Thunder.Would you be willing to give her a few lessons?”
With Liekki.Avalore figured it was probably Kai’s way of saying who was responsible for Avalore if she messed something up.
The sword master glanced over at Avalore, assessing her from head to toe and back as Khuzaimah popped the hilt of her sword up and down in her hand.
Avalore held her breath.
After a curt nod, Khuzaimah said, “At your command, Mckenna, Aguya.I’ll get a practice sword.”
“No.”
Khuzaimah halted mid-step and glanced back over her shoulder.
Aodh and Kai stared at Liekki.
Avalore gasped.Her fists tightened at her side.The insufferable shifter was going to ruin this moment for her.
“She will use my blade.Today show her close, knife fighting.”
Then, before Avalore could turn, before her at waist-level, hilt-first was Liekki’s big hunting-style knife resting in his palm waiting for her.
Trembling with nervous, excitement, and shocked wonder, Avalore grasped the blade.Her finger brushed Liekki’s rough palm.Heat curled around her spine at the contact, but this time her lust for him was secondary to the unfurling of something in the center of her chest.
She’d never had anyone show an ounce of belief in her.
Yes, Kai did.But, having this imposing Drahk do it made her feel some kind of way that she wasn’t ready to decipher.
“Thank you,” was all she could get past the lump in her throat.
When his other hand released her hip, Avalore stepped forward.“Okay, Khuzaimah I’m ready to try.”
Khuzaimah waved her into the practice field.“Let’s get started.”
Avalore expected Liekki and Aodh to leave, but they stood like two twin mountains on either side of Kai.
When Avalore entered the area, Khuzaimah began with sword dancing, just as she had done with Kai.Soon, she guided Avalore closer and instructed her in fiercer, quick techniques that would aid her in a more intimate knife fight.
Then time stood still as Avalore worked hard and was worked hard.If she messed up or got jabbed by the butt of Khuzaimah’s short blade, symbolizing an enemy cutting Avalore, the trainer barked out, “Again!”
A jab in the ribs by Khuzaimah.“Again!”
A strike at the wrist.“Again!”
On and on they continued and Avalore loved every second of it.
Once they were done, Avalore’s chest was heaving and she had several stitches in her side that made her wheeze every time she breathed.She knew she’d have more than a few bruises later, but Avalore smiled, not caring, feeling as if they would be badges of bravery.
“Your skills are rough.But there.”Khuzaimah began at the end of their session, her breathing still relaxed.“I believe once your claimed strength is attained, you will develop fast and be quite formidable.”She glanced away from Avalore to Aodh.“We may have just seen my replacement once I retire.”
Aodh gave a brisk nod.
Khuzaimah walked off the field.
Avalore could not have been more shocked at hearing the sword-master’s words, even if her very jaw fell off her face and hit the hard packed ground.She made her way back to the others at the fence on wobbly legs.
“You know, Avalore.You have been honored by Khuzaimah’s words,” Aodh pronounced.
