"Fighting skills?" Latro found himself asking as he looked up from the chess board.
"Fighting skills," Tolan clarified as he sat back, watching the Hirogen make his next move.
"What type of fighting skills are we talking about?" Latro asked as he looked over to the old man before him.
Tolan smiled slightly as he toyed with the bishop before moving it.
"Imagine a vast library with books upon books of every fighting skill of every species in this
sector… that, my friend, is just the cusp of what is now held in that child's genetic memory."
Latro sighed heavily as, with his arms crossed, he glanced at the board, thinking of his next move.
"So what am I to teach her now?" Latro questioned as he moved his bishop. Tolan looked
onto the board impressed as he started to think over his next move.
"My suggestion would be to get those images and memories out of her brain and into her body. She'll still need training in hand-eye coordination, speed, strength and such other valuable skills."
Latro nodded in agreement; he saw sense in that plan for now.
"And what will you teach her?" he asked, steeping his fingers and resting his chin upon them.
"The memories she holds are not a nightmare but a strange gift. even with the curse that is
Capulatio," Tolan answered before grinning like a Cheshire cat. Latro frowned as he looked over to watch as Tolan's bishop took his knight and blocked the queen. He sighed as he was blocked and check mated again by the old man.
"Capulatio sounds like a fool to me, I'd like to hunt him down," Latro growled as he sat back hard, making the wood of the chair creek.
"As would I, but your gods would not bless you, not without knowing the Vulcan's true name
Latro," Tolan advised as he began resetting the board.
"Why do they do that?" Latro asked softly.
"Who?" Tolan asked, a little perplexed.
"The 'group'. Why do they rename them? Why not use their birth names?"
"I have no idea. The 'group's' actions have always been a mystery. Why kidnap and enslave
a group of strangers here on Tullan? Why kidnap a mere child and give all the knowledge they have to her? Why banish four children for not following their rules?" Tolan asked as he shrugged, though his eyes looked lost as though thinking back to years gone by.
Latro found himself silent as he watched the old man before sighing and patting his wrinkled old hand.
"I don't know, old man, but we may find out one day, no?"
"Oof" Latro winched as he landed surprisingly hard on the golden sand, blinking up at the bright twin suns. The Hirogen huffed, out of breath, for it wasn't everyday a mere child knocked a seven foot hunter onto his arse! "Get the kid coordinating? Yeah right!" he muttered as he found his feet, only to look at a red eyed child grinning as she leaned on the quarter-staff.
"Want some more?" Diabolique asked cheekily as Latro rolled his eyes before stepping threateningly towards the child, making Diabolique squeak and run towards Haven as fast as her young legs could carry her.
"He didn't?" Mia asked, amused, as she eyed Latro coming into the kitchens. She lifted young Diabolique up on the table as she wiped away the sand from the child's bare feet.
"Bloody well did Mia, I swear he's going to kill me!" Diabolique dramatically told her as she heard Latro snort from the doorway.
"Well, I will protect you with my trusty... spatula!" Mia laughed as she watched Latro's eyes widen in pretend fear.
"Oh please, fair maiden, do not strike me with your spatula! I swear never to harm a hair
upon this sweet child's head!" Latro begged as he attempted not to laugh, though he watched
in amusement as Mia attempted to keep Diabolique upon the table as she giggled like a loon,
almost falling from the table itself.
"I'm living in a mad house."
All three sets of eyes glanced to the door, for there stood Tolan, shaking his head in amazement before walking away, muttering about Hirogen's and misguided humans.