(I'm so sorry for the late update y'all. College has had me swamped with work. I've just got finals now, only ones I'm taking are next week. I'll try to upload as much as I can. Hope you enjoy the chapter. Please correct my if the presentation of the individual and dialect are incorrect.)
Noble Six: Thanks.
Chapter 16: Go with the Flow
(Adirondack Park, a week later)
Connell's training with Master Long has been arduous, but learning from the master took time and patience. Learning the various martial arts of China would be long and difficult. But Connell knew he didn't sign up for easy. He waited for who was to come next. He could feel the wind racing near him and rise like a roar.
"Up lad." A new voice, feminine and fierce, ordered.
"Get off your arse." Another feminine voice, with a strong Irish accent added.
Connell looked up to see the owners of the two voices. The spirits stood side by side. They are spirits of two young women. The young man studied them curiously. One was slightly taller than the other with a hard look yet both had a roguish appearance to them, a few scars on their faces. The taller of the two had a wild set of hair that fell to her shoulders. She wore early 18th century garb, as did her companion. The taller of the two wore a frock coat, doublet, a long sash and belt tied around her waist, slim yet baggy pants, and knee high boots. Her belt held many holsters for pistols, pockets, and a scabbard for a cutlass. The second had long flowing hair, a slim corset which connected to a belt with a display similar to her companion, a slightly open and layered dress, knee breeches, a few necklaces wrapped around her neck, and plain shoes.
"We've got work to do. I don't want to spend it all bloody day waiting for you to get up." The taller woman grunted.
"Ye heard her, lad. Come on, boy." The short woman said, her Irish accent thick in her dialect.
"Holy shit. You're Mary Read and Anne Bonny." Connell gasped in surprise, getting off the ground.
The two spirits grinned.
"It seems we're still legends." Anne chuckled.
"Pirates of legend, indeed. You two fought ferociously side by side for a long time on the high seas…before…I'm…I'm sorry about what happened…though I'm not sure what I say makes it any less painful. What was done to the two of you…and…and your children…was horrific." Connell said, his voice filled with admiration then faded into sorrow.
The spirits looked at him then one another with mournful expressions, the memories of their capture, imprisonment…and the rest is history. But the two women shook off those looks then turned to the young man with serious focus.
"Alright lad, time to learn to fight like a pirate. You better bloody be ready." Mary Read grunted.
"I'd prefer to be sauced before doing this, make it more of a thrill. *Sigh* Oh well, let's do this." Anne Bonny chuckled in addition.
After several minutes they found themselves on the lake where Connell trained with Connell. There is a part of the lake where rocks have created a waving and uneven path in some places and large flat rock formations in other places. The spirits stood before him, Connell stood on the wet rocks, whilst trying to keep himself balanced on them.
"Gotta have your bloody feet steady, lad. Keep 'em moving and balanced. At sea, a pirate must adapt to the rocking and shaking of the ship. You won't always be battling on firm ground." Mary Read instructed, a spectral cutlass twirling in her right hand.
Anne Bonny stood beside her, a spectral cutlass in her right hand as well.
"Come on, lad. Don't want that pretty face of yours smashing against 'em rocks." Anne Bonny chuckled.
"That's the opposite of what I look like. And I'm trying." Connell grumbled, eyes switching between his teachers and the rocks he's standing on.
After a few more moments he believed he found his balance.
"Arm yourself, lad." Mary Read ordered.
Connell focused carefully, to which an ethereal cutlass like the lady pirates' appeared in his right hand. He looked at them, awaiting what was next.
"You'll be switching between yer hands, lad." Anne Bonny stated.
"Wait, what do you…ah hell." Connell grunted in confusion then in realization.
Mary Read started with a lunge, her blade swiftly nearing the young man. Connell quickly parried the strike, but Anne Bonny came in from the side. The young man grunted in shock, trying to swing with his cutlass towards her attack. Mary Read quickly struck upwards with her blade, Connell grunted in surprise as he stumbled trying to get out of the way. He nearly slipped and once he regained his balance he found the pirates' ethereal cutlasses at his throat. The young man's eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"Ye would dead if I were foe." Anne Bonny chuckled.
"Hilarious." Connell grunted.
"Let's try this again. And bloody adapt!" Mary Read ordered.
Connell grunted under his breath, but nodded. The two spirits pulled back their blades. The cutlass reappeared in Connell's right hand. Anne Bonny swiftly swung downwards with her blade. Connell parried with his ethereal blade, but Mary Read swiftly moved toward Connell's left and went for a jab. Connell grunted as carefully slid back and focused, the blade moved to his left hand blocking Mary's cutlass. Anne Bonny went for a jab herself, but Connell quickly switched the blade to his right hand then parried Anne's cutlass. Mary moved to the side and went for a swipe in a downwards angle. The young man's blade switched to his right hand, barely moving there in time to block the pirate's cutlass. Connell grunted as he began slipping on the rocks. Mary Read kicked out his legs and Connell fell face forward. The ethereal cutlass disappeared as he fell on his hands before having his face smash into the rocks.
"Damn it." Connell grumbled in his mind.
"What's the saying ye people say today?...Go with the flow? Aye. That's the one." Anne Bonny chuckled.
"Yeah…I'll…try to do that." Connell grunted in response.
"Bloody get up. We're not done yet, lad." Mary Read grunted, the spirit motioning for the young man to get back onto his feet.
Connell grunted as he carefully rose up. The spirits stood ready, cutlasses up. Connell carefully took a stance, the ethereal cutlass reappeared. The spirits lunged forward with the blades. Connell swung his blade down and knocked the pirates' foes downwards. However, the spirits turned to either side of the young man and raised their blades. The tips of the ethereal cutlasses leveled at Connell's neck.
"Still needs work. You still must be ready to adapt to your foes' attacks. Nothing is certain in a fight, we learned that the hard way. As you have now learned." Mary Read grunted.
"He has some promise…but yes, ye still need work." Anne Bonny replied.
"That's why I'm here." Connell sighed, nodding in understanding.
To be continued…
(Again, I'm so sorry for the late update.)