Chapter 22
Kira and Breg were back on guard duty. The only difference was that they were stationed in a remote area where nothing ever happened. They were in the tree posts. Salama had ordered the two here to guard the old routes on purpose to show them the meaning of patience and duty. The tree posts were aptly named because this route was covered on either side of the road with dense foliage and large trees. The tree post route was once used to transport food and supplies to the Ruin Ship when it first crashed about a thousand or so years ago. Now it was barely used but it held a special past so the road was not blocked off. Breg and Kira had fond memories of this place. When they were children they found this secluded place and it forever became their playground. They would spar there they would play hide and seek there and they would climb the trees to see who could go further. They knew this place very well.
Kira and Breg occupied the tree towers which were look out posts that were high up in the tree canopy. Kira stood rigidly still and was sharply focused on the road as if she was taking guard seriously. Breg on the other hand was just sitting in her tower playing with her hair and humming a tune to Kira's annoyance.
"Must you continue to annoy me?" Kira asked frustrated at Breg's slack behaviour.
"Don't you like my singing?" Breg asked pouting at Kira.
Kira rolled her eyes and stop her complaints. There was no way she could get Breg to stop. Besides Breg had a wonderful voice and it really was pleasant to listen to. Kira sighed and knew the only reason for her rash comment was because she was bored. Kira looked back at the road and resumed her duty.
"I thought as much," Breg said and started to hum again.
Kira rolled her eyes and sighed once again. Then she heard a faint noise.
"Breg!" Kira hissed and pointed to her ear then down the road.
Breg understood and strained her hearing to pick up any unnatural noises. Breg heard a faint noise and shrugged at Kira as if to ask what the noise was. Kira smiled mischievously and tilted her head towards the tree tops. Breg understood and smiled herself and picked up her spear and jumped to the nearest branch. Soon the girls were speeding their way through the tree tops with expert ease in search for the source of the noise.
After a few minutes of swinging from branch to branch they found what they were looking for. A small group of Icearls were escorting a Crone. Kira looked at the sight and wondered what they were doing walking through the abandoned route. Breg slid up next to Kira and they followed the troupe together, all the while discussing what they should do.
"What should we do?" Breg asked quietly.
"We let them get closer to the entrance and then we confront them," Kira said equally quiet.
Breg nodded and got ready to spring on them. The plan always was that Kira took the front and Breg took the rear. Breg moved her slender lithe body into position and followed close but out of hearing distance. Kira hastened to the lead and made eye contact with Breg before pulling down her mask. Breg followed suit and when the travelers were a hundred stretches away they jumped from the tree tops from branch to branch until they landed and had their spears level with the traveler's throat. The boy in front of Kira had his Sais out in an instant but it was an instant too late. Kira pressed the blade of the spear on the boy's throat and spoke in a loud clear voice.
"Who are you?" Kira asked just as Breg placed her spear on to Rallen's throat threateningly.
"What business do you have on Ruin Ship territory?" Breg asked just as loud as Kira.
The Crone stepped out of the safety of the fierce looking shield maiden and moved towards Kira.
"I am the Crone of the Far Raiders and I have urgent business at the Ruin Ship. Let us pass in peace," the Crone said calmly looking into the girl's eyes.
Kira stood mesmerized by the Crones shocking, luminous silvery eyes but didn't move her spear away from Corin's throat. After a long pause and a tense silence Breg couldn't hold herself any longer and called out for Kira.
"Kira?" Breg called hoping to get a reaction from her friend.
Kira snapped out of her daze, shaking her head and resumed her stance and removed her spear from Corin's throat but then moved it to the Crone's throat as she stepped forward. Corin saw the movement and reacted before her thought ahead. His orders were to protect the Crone and so he did. The boy moved like lightning, unsheathing his sais and batting the spear away while stepping in front of the Crone. He held up his sais in a fighting stance ready to rumble with the new threat. Kira didn't like the way the boy had challenged her so she held up her spear in a fighting stance in challenge.
Corin smiled and lunged at his opponent with both sais coming down at the shield maiden novice. Kira moved to block them and was surprised at the boy's speed. Corin spun and crouched, all the time lashing out with the sais. Kira saw this and jumped back and counter attacked with thrusts of her spear. Corin had no time to stand up with Kira's constant counter attacks so he continued his spinning attacks in his crouching position, occasionally lunging out a low kick. Breg watched on with interest and lost concentration far a moment as she watched the match. The momentary lapse of focus was all Rallen needed to take the spear from her and hold it at her throat. Rallen stood smiling at the girl with her spear leveled at her.
"Rule one for a shield maiden; focus," he said mockingly.
Breg realising her mistake pouted behind her mask and moved to kneel in front him as Rallen instructed her.
"On your knees, and remove your mask," he said in a demanding voice.
Breg complied and as she removed her mask the orange hue of the amber lenses gave way to the dark but white washed surroundings. Wraith glanced at the kneeling girl and gave Breg a disdainful look. Wraith couldn't believe that a shield maiden novice trained at the Ruin Ship could have forgotten the most fundamental of rules. Wraith shook her head and returned her gaze to the fight as if dismissing the girl. Breg had noticed Wraith and look she had received and pouted inwardly.
"Kira was right. I'll never be a good shield maiden if I keep this up," Breg thought and also returned her gaze to the fight.
Apparently neither combatant gained an edge. They were both well trained fighters for their age and neither one felt like submitting to the other. The fight was progressing though. Kira had long since lost her spear and was now fighting with her long knife and Corin had only one sai in his right hand which he twirled idly as the two combatants circled each other, matching step by step. Kira couldn't believe the boy had lasted this long against her. He was quick and as lithe as Breg was but he possessed more power than Breg did so Kira was wary and feeling worried that she might not fail as she observed his skill.
Corin on the other hand was enjoying the challenge. He had not met an opponent yet that could last this long in a duel with him. He noted how Kira was as quick as he was and how she moved with liquid grace that would put even the most skilled of warriors to shame. Corin smiled and Kira was momentarily stunned at her thoughts of handsome he was in a kind of untamed way. The momentary lapse of concentration was a mistake as Corin lunged at her with a flurry of punches and kicks coupled with random attacks of his single sai. Kira cursed herself for being off guard and had a hard time keeping up her defenses. Eventually Corin landed a punch to her stomach that wasn't too hard to injure her. Instead he held back his strength and only knocked the wind from her which temporarily stunned her.
Corin finished her by delivering a low sweeping kick to the back of her knees which unbalanced her and caused her to fall backwards and lose her grip on her long knife. Corin caught the knife in mid air and landed lightly on top of Kira, pinning her to the ground with his knees on her arms. He then leveled his sai and the knife to her throat. The bout was over and Corin came out victorious. The two combatants stayed in position, breathing hard causing mist to form from their mouths. Corin's dark brown eyes bore through the amber lenses of Kira's mask. Kira stared straight back at the deep brown eyes challengingly as if to demand a rematch. Corin and Kira stayed there in the snow, Kira on her back and Corin on top of her with his knees pressed firmly on her arms and the weapons at Kira's throat.
No one moved. Their eyes were eternally linked in a bout of wills. None of them wanted to break the gaze for the loser would be forever shamed. Just the Breg, who was now standing, called out to Kira.
"Kira that's enough, accept the defeat with graciousness and learn from your fight," Breg said reciting a line that Salama had always taught them.
Kira grumbled indignantly but Breg was right it wasn't like a shield maiden to lose sorely. Kira removed her gaze and Corin smiled a victorious smile but removed the weapons aimed at her throat. Corin stood up slowly and offered a hand to Kira which she accepted but as Corin pulled her up Kira moved her hand in a circle and grabbed Corin's arm she retrieved her knife in a swift yank and threw Corin to the ground. Then she removed her mask and looked at Corin's stunned expression.
"A shield maiden also never gives up," she said icily unaware of the presence behind her.
"You will never be a shield maiden if you act like that Kira," said a familiar voice behind her.
For the first time in front of strangers Kira showed emotion. Her cheeks flushed red and a look of horror came over her. She spun to see Salama with the normal group of shield maiden novices behind her. Kira automatically straightened and clapped her knuckles at Salama.
"You are well trained in combat Kira but you are ill trained in defeat," Salama said shaking her head disdainfully.
Then she walked over to the Crone and uttered words of apology to her on behalf of Kira and Breg.
"I am sorry for the rashness of Kira's actions. I also apologise for Breg's lack of skill," Salama said looking disappointedly at Breg.
"It's alright. In fact we rather enjoyed the small duel," the Crone said politely.
"You have a talented bodyguard," Salama said acknowledging Corin who was getting to his feet.
"Kira apologise for your rudeness," Salama ordered.
Kira frowned deeply and was outraged at the fact that she had to apologise but one look at Salama told her not to embarrass her any further so Kira clapped her knuckles and apologised hurriedly. Salama relaxed a little and turned to the Crone.
"Now if I may have my trainee back I will escort you back to the Ruin Ship. You were expected," Salama said pleasantly then in a loud voice so that Kira and Breg could hear "I will also see to it that these girls will receive the proper punishments for their actions,"
Breg, upon hearing the word 'punishment' couldn't contain herself.
"But we didn't do anything! We were only fulfilling our duty!" Breg whined.
"Hold your tongue girl!" Salama said sharply "Get back to your post, both of you, I'll deal with you later,"
Kira and Breg complied sulkily. Breg retrieved her spear from Rallen who was smiling at her. Breg poked her tongue at him and leaped onto the nearest branch and disappeared back to her post. Kira picked up her spear with her foot expertly and while she did she picked up Corin's sai and threw it back at him with deadly aim to his head. Corin caught it easily to Kira's surprise and sheathed it. Kira breathed sharply out of her nose in frustration before pulling down her mask and retreating into the trees.
Salama shook her head in disapproval and signaled the other girls back to base. They complied and quickly moved off back up the path.
"I'm sorry for Kira and Breg," Salama said when the girls were out of hearing range "They are the most reckless of the group. It is hard to control them let alone teach them anything," Salama said dejectedly.
"It is fine, I had my bodyguards with me and they are also fine," the Crone said smiling "Besides they are no more wild or clumsier than a girl I once mentored," the Crone said smiling even broadly.
Salama smiled in recognition but said no more. Instead she moved off towards the Ruin Ship with the Crone and her bodyguards in tow.
Kira and Breg were back on guard duty. The only difference was that they were stationed in a remote area where nothing ever happened. They were in the tree posts. Salama had ordered the two here to guard the old routes on purpose to show them the meaning of patience and duty. The tree posts were aptly named because this route was covered on either side of the road with dense foliage and large trees. The tree post route was once used to transport food and supplies to the Ruin Ship when it first crashed about a thousand or so years ago. Now it was barely used but it held a special past so the road was not blocked off. Breg and Kira had fond memories of this place. When they were children they found this secluded place and it forever became their playground. They would spar there they would play hide and seek there and they would climb the trees to see who could go further. They knew this place very well.
Kira and Breg occupied the tree towers which were look out posts that were high up in the tree canopy. Kira stood rigidly still and was sharply focused on the road as if she was taking guard seriously. Breg on the other hand was just sitting in her tower playing with her hair and humming a tune to Kira's annoyance.
"Must you continue to annoy me?" Kira asked frustrated at Breg's slack behaviour.
"Don't you like my singing?" Breg asked pouting at Kira.
Kira rolled her eyes and stop her complaints. There was no way she could get Breg to stop. Besides Breg had a wonderful voice and it really was pleasant to listen to. Kira sighed and knew the only reason for her rash comment was because she was bored. Kira looked back at the road and resumed her duty.
"I thought as much," Breg said and started to hum again.
Kira rolled her eyes and sighed once again. Then she heard a faint noise.
"Breg!" Kira hissed and pointed to her ear then down the road.
Breg understood and strained her hearing to pick up any unnatural noises. Breg heard a faint noise and shrugged at Kira as if to ask what the noise was. Kira smiled mischievously and tilted her head towards the tree tops. Breg understood and smiled herself and picked up her spear and jumped to the nearest branch. Soon the girls were speeding their way through the tree tops with expert ease in search for the source of the noise.
After a few minutes of swinging from branch to branch they found what they were looking for. A small group of Icearls were escorting a Crone. Kira looked at the sight and wondered what they were doing walking through the abandoned route. Breg slid up next to Kira and they followed the troupe together, all the while discussing what they should do.
"What should we do?" Breg asked quietly.
"We let them get closer to the entrance and then we confront them," Kira said equally quiet.
Breg nodded and got ready to spring on them. The plan always was that Kira took the front and Breg took the rear. Breg moved her slender lithe body into position and followed close but out of hearing distance. Kira hastened to the lead and made eye contact with Breg before pulling down her mask. Breg followed suit and when the travelers were a hundred stretches away they jumped from the tree tops from branch to branch until they landed and had their spears level with the traveler's throat. The boy in front of Kira had his Sais out in an instant but it was an instant too late. Kira pressed the blade of the spear on the boy's throat and spoke in a loud clear voice.
"Who are you?" Kira asked just as Breg placed her spear on to Rallen's throat threateningly.
"What business do you have on Ruin Ship territory?" Breg asked just as loud as Kira.
The Crone stepped out of the safety of the fierce looking shield maiden and moved towards Kira.
"I am the Crone of the Far Raiders and I have urgent business at the Ruin Ship. Let us pass in peace," the Crone said calmly looking into the girl's eyes.
Kira stood mesmerized by the Crones shocking, luminous silvery eyes but didn't move her spear away from Corin's throat. After a long pause and a tense silence Breg couldn't hold herself any longer and called out for Kira.
"Kira?" Breg called hoping to get a reaction from her friend.
Kira snapped out of her daze, shaking her head and resumed her stance and removed her spear from Corin's throat but then moved it to the Crone's throat as she stepped forward. Corin saw the movement and reacted before her thought ahead. His orders were to protect the Crone and so he did. The boy moved like lightning, unsheathing his sais and batting the spear away while stepping in front of the Crone. He held up his sais in a fighting stance ready to rumble with the new threat. Kira didn't like the way the boy had challenged her so she held up her spear in a fighting stance in challenge.
Corin smiled and lunged at his opponent with both sais coming down at the shield maiden novice. Kira moved to block them and was surprised at the boy's speed. Corin spun and crouched, all the time lashing out with the sais. Kira saw this and jumped back and counter attacked with thrusts of her spear. Corin had no time to stand up with Kira's constant counter attacks so he continued his spinning attacks in his crouching position, occasionally lunging out a low kick. Breg watched on with interest and lost concentration far a moment as she watched the match. The momentary lapse of focus was all Rallen needed to take the spear from her and hold it at her throat. Rallen stood smiling at the girl with her spear leveled at her.
"Rule one for a shield maiden; focus," he said mockingly.
Breg realising her mistake pouted behind her mask and moved to kneel in front him as Rallen instructed her.
"On your knees, and remove your mask," he said in a demanding voice.
Breg complied and as she removed her mask the orange hue of the amber lenses gave way to the dark but white washed surroundings. Wraith glanced at the kneeling girl and gave Breg a disdainful look. Wraith couldn't believe that a shield maiden novice trained at the Ruin Ship could have forgotten the most fundamental of rules. Wraith shook her head and returned her gaze to the fight as if dismissing the girl. Breg had noticed Wraith and look she had received and pouted inwardly.
"Kira was right. I'll never be a good shield maiden if I keep this up," Breg thought and also returned her gaze to the fight.
Apparently neither combatant gained an edge. They were both well trained fighters for their age and neither one felt like submitting to the other. The fight was progressing though. Kira had long since lost her spear and was now fighting with her long knife and Corin had only one sai in his right hand which he twirled idly as the two combatants circled each other, matching step by step. Kira couldn't believe the boy had lasted this long against her. He was quick and as lithe as Breg was but he possessed more power than Breg did so Kira was wary and feeling worried that she might not fail as she observed his skill.
Corin on the other hand was enjoying the challenge. He had not met an opponent yet that could last this long in a duel with him. He noted how Kira was as quick as he was and how she moved with liquid grace that would put even the most skilled of warriors to shame. Corin smiled and Kira was momentarily stunned at her thoughts of handsome he was in a kind of untamed way. The momentary lapse of concentration was a mistake as Corin lunged at her with a flurry of punches and kicks coupled with random attacks of his single sai. Kira cursed herself for being off guard and had a hard time keeping up her defenses. Eventually Corin landed a punch to her stomach that wasn't too hard to injure her. Instead he held back his strength and only knocked the wind from her which temporarily stunned her.
Corin finished her by delivering a low sweeping kick to the back of her knees which unbalanced her and caused her to fall backwards and lose her grip on her long knife. Corin caught the knife in mid air and landed lightly on top of Kira, pinning her to the ground with his knees on her arms. He then leveled his sai and the knife to her throat. The bout was over and Corin came out victorious. The two combatants stayed in position, breathing hard causing mist to form from their mouths. Corin's dark brown eyes bore through the amber lenses of Kira's mask. Kira stared straight back at the deep brown eyes challengingly as if to demand a rematch. Corin and Kira stayed there in the snow, Kira on her back and Corin on top of her with his knees pressed firmly on her arms and the weapons at Kira's throat.
No one moved. Their eyes were eternally linked in a bout of wills. None of them wanted to break the gaze for the loser would be forever shamed. Just the Breg, who was now standing, called out to Kira.
"Kira that's enough, accept the defeat with graciousness and learn from your fight," Breg said reciting a line that Salama had always taught them.
Kira grumbled indignantly but Breg was right it wasn't like a shield maiden to lose sorely. Kira removed her gaze and Corin smiled a victorious smile but removed the weapons aimed at her throat. Corin stood up slowly and offered a hand to Kira which she accepted but as Corin pulled her up Kira moved her hand in a circle and grabbed Corin's arm she retrieved her knife in a swift yank and threw Corin to the ground. Then she removed her mask and looked at Corin's stunned expression.
"A shield maiden also never gives up," she said icily unaware of the presence behind her.
"You will never be a shield maiden if you act like that Kira," said a familiar voice behind her.
For the first time in front of strangers Kira showed emotion. Her cheeks flushed red and a look of horror came over her. She spun to see Salama with the normal group of shield maiden novices behind her. Kira automatically straightened and clapped her knuckles at Salama.
"You are well trained in combat Kira but you are ill trained in defeat," Salama said shaking her head disdainfully.
Then she walked over to the Crone and uttered words of apology to her on behalf of Kira and Breg.
"I am sorry for the rashness of Kira's actions. I also apologise for Breg's lack of skill," Salama said looking disappointedly at Breg.
"It's alright. In fact we rather enjoyed the small duel," the Crone said politely.
"You have a talented bodyguard," Salama said acknowledging Corin who was getting to his feet.
"Kira apologise for your rudeness," Salama ordered.
Kira frowned deeply and was outraged at the fact that she had to apologise but one look at Salama told her not to embarrass her any further so Kira clapped her knuckles and apologised hurriedly. Salama relaxed a little and turned to the Crone.
"Now if I may have my trainee back I will escort you back to the Ruin Ship. You were expected," Salama said pleasantly then in a loud voice so that Kira and Breg could hear "I will also see to it that these girls will receive the proper punishments for their actions,"
Breg, upon hearing the word 'punishment' couldn't contain herself.
"But we didn't do anything! We were only fulfilling our duty!" Breg whined.
"Hold your tongue girl!" Salama said sharply "Get back to your post, both of you, I'll deal with you later,"
Kira and Breg complied sulkily. Breg retrieved her spear from Rallen who was smiling at her. Breg poked her tongue at him and leaped onto the nearest branch and disappeared back to her post. Kira picked up her spear with her foot expertly and while she did she picked up Corin's sai and threw it back at him with deadly aim to his head. Corin caught it easily to Kira's surprise and sheathed it. Kira breathed sharply out of her nose in frustration before pulling down her mask and retreating into the trees.
Salama shook her head in disapproval and signaled the other girls back to base. They complied and quickly moved off back up the path.
"I'm sorry for Kira and Breg," Salama said when the girls were out of hearing range "They are the most reckless of the group. It is hard to control them let alone teach them anything," Salama said dejectedly.
"It is fine, I had my bodyguards with me and they are also fine," the Crone said smiling "Besides they are no more wild or clumsier than a girl I once mentored," the Crone said smiling even broadly.
Salama smiled in recognition but said no more. Instead she moved off towards the Ruin Ship with the Crone and her bodyguards in tow.