I let her up and stood to a round of applause from the men watching. Meridan curtsied sloppily at the onlookers and thenturned to Aeris, who was staring wide eyed at the discolored bruises forming on Meridan’s pale skin.
“Don’t fret,” I said. “Meridan enjoys the challenge.”
“What was I to learn from that?”
“You are meant to learn that, though Meri was bested, she did go for my ribs many times, as she should have. You are also meant to learn that her biggest advantage was her size. I’m slower than she is and the xhoth are slower and bigger still.
“And what about you?” someone spoke up.
I tossed a glance at Cathal standing against the mast, his arms folded over his chest. “How are ye to practice if ye’re the biggest opponent?”
“Are you volunteering yourself?” I asked.
Cathal’s eyes lifted toward the helm where Vidar was watching the spectacle from the wheel. It was like he was asking permission, but the smirk on Vidar’s face said everything.
“Right, then,” Cathal said just as Nazario and Mullins appeared from below deck, both glistening with sweat like they’d been hard at work.
Cathal picked up the same sword Meridan had used and began to circle me as he rolled up the sleeves of his cotton blouse.
“Ye say the ribs are where it counts,” he said with a grin. “Be gentle with me.”
I relaxed into my stance as Cathal rolled his big shoulders back. The man was rather solid. He’d be slow in a fight, I knew that much. But he looked like the kind of man that could lift my full weight with one hand. Fighting Vidar was one thing. We were fairly evenly matched in speed, which was a result of his rigorous training more than anything. Now, I was the faster one in a fight, and I liked the change in dynamic.
He would expect me to go low.
So, I went high, brushing my blade toward his head. He dodged backwards with a start. My next blow rang across the deck when he blocked and the clashing metal sliced the air.
I was almost enjoying myself. No, Iwasenjoying myself. At some point, my speed had driven Cathal into the railing, causing the men standing there to part and evade us. I swung down on him, hitting the railing while he jogged out into the open again to get his bearings.
“Christ, woman,” he said. “I pray whatever beasties we’re going to face are less than half as vicious as ye, or we’re all doomed.”
I glared, an amused smile spreading across my face as I lunged again. He blocked my swing, but in doing so, he left himself open. I clutched his wrist, pulling his arm down and driving my elbow into his gut. He fell to one knee, disoriented. I twisted his weapon from his hand and tossed it across the deck before slamming my knee up into his chin and knocking him on his back. Blood gushed from his nose as he lay there, but even as he groaned in pain, a crescent smile of bloodied teeth dominated his features.
The men hooted and clapped their approval, giving me only moments to breathe before someone else stepped up to be my next opponent. Behind me, Meridan was taking challengers as well and Nazario was showing Aeris a few simple moves, keeping a bit of distance from the chaos. Before long, the deck was a training ground. I kept explaining the anatomy of a xhoth and how it would benefit the men to change their tactics a little, but eventually, that information was lost in the game of betting on opponents.
The whole ship needed a bit of distraction and I was happy to provide it. Eventually, my presence was no longer needed. Everyone started to entertain themselves, sharing their techniques with each other and arguing over who had killed more men or seen more battles. I stood off to the side, leaning back on the railing as I watched. Eventually, my gaze wandered back toward Vidar. He had been watching for a while, but now he was staring out into the horizon again, his thoughts clearly miles away from the spectacle.
He was always paying attention. Always sharp and alert. I turned and looked at the sea, reminded of the horrors we were sailing toward. A bit of training and fun wouldn’t change that.
Slowly, the noise waned, the now injured and bruised men went about their business, and night fell on the Storm Weaver like a cloak made of ink and diamonds. I watched the water for hours, reminded of the countless dark moments that littered my nightmares. Behind me, the hold taunted me, whispering at the back of my mind so I did not forget that Lyla was in a cell not twenty feet from me.
“That didn’t go as expected,” Meridan said, stepping up beside me. “I was hoping for a distraction for the three of us. But I suppose it is not a bad thing that the rest of the crew engaged.”
“No, I think they had fun,” I said.
“Odd that we all have that in common. We all get joy out of hurting each other. Isn’t that strange?”
I chuckled softly. “It is different when we all have an understanding.”
“A year ago, I never would have thought we’d be on a ship surrounded by men and laughing over an understanding.” Her smile flattened, her eyes wandering out to sea. “I wish Voel and Kea were here. If we do change the world, it would have been nice for them to see it the way we will get to.”
“I wish they were here, too. But I still have you and that is no small gift.”
“I know you saw many things when you were sleeping. I pray that they will not haunt you forever.”
“I pray for that as well. I don’t plan to let myself crumble under the weight of what Akareth did.”
“Well… if you decided you had to, I do think you’ve afforded yourself a vulnerable moment or two.”
