Her eyes turned to saucers as she looked at him, and he looked at me.
“Wait a second,” Cameron said, placing his hands on his hips. “I feel like I am in trouble somehow.”
I shrugged. “Well, you did leave while my husband was murdered, soooo …”
“Okay, all right!” he proclaimed.
I leaned past Samkiel’s large frame and threw Cameron an evil grin. “What? She may not even make a connection. She needs to learn, though. Unless you’re scared.” I dragged the last word out, and he snapped up the bait.
Cameron clapped his hands. “All right, you’ve hit my weakness. I can’t back down from a challenge.” He got into a ready position and beckoned Miska closer. “All right, little healer, let’s see what you got.”
She looked at me. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
I stepped out of Samkiel’s half embrace and gripped her shoulders. “If you don’t want to, it’s fine, but you are right. You need to learn to protect yourself. Besides, it may take you a long time to make contact with him. Cameron is an accomplished warrior trained by Samkiel. He will not allow you to seriously hurt him.” She took a deep breath, and I stepped back. She turned to watch as Cameron grinned and did some weird jump move. I rolled my eyes and said, “Samkiel and I will show you some simple techniques, and you try to copy them with Cameron, okay?”
She nodded, and Cameron stepped closer. I held my hand out toward Samkiel and said, “Another blade, please.”
Samkiel smiled and summoned one, pulling me close for a quick kiss before handing it over.
“You bend too easily to her,” Cameron called, rubbing at his ear. “That’s why she’s so damned spoiled.”
I stuck my tongue out at him and said, “Miska, I’m going to show you how to stab him in the balls.”
“Hey, I was joking,” Cameron protested.
Miska’s eyes widened, and she gripped the dagger in both hands, holding it before her like a lifeline. I faced Samkiel, who eyed me with something close to fear. I lowered my stance and flipped the blade.
Samkiel summoned another blade and mirrored my position. “Please don’t stab me in the balls,” he whispered.
I winked at him, twirling my dagger. “I’d never hurt my most prized possessions.”
“All right,” Cameron called out, “there are children present.”
“She didn’t even hear me!” I yelled back.
Miska looked between us, bewildered.
“Well, think of my precious ears for once!” Cameron yelled back.
I flipped him off without taking my eyes off Samkiel. He laughed and shook his head at the banter between Cameron and me. We showed Miska a few disarming techniques and quick takedowns. Miska was small, even for her age, so she needed to know how to move and where to hit, no matter the size of her opponent. Practicing with Cameron and Samkiel will give her the experience and confidence to face much larger foes.
“Okay.” I clapped my hands. “We’re going to try something new now.”
Miska panted as she raised her hand and wiped the dirt from her brow. Cameron, however, looked worried as I stepped forward.
“Don’t worry, you’re not my target.” I spun and pointed at Samkiel. “He is.”
“Oh, thank the dead gods,” Cameron said on a huff and fell to the ground to sit.
Samkiel glared at him before walking to me. “What are we to practice now, akrai?”
“Easy,” I said. “Survival.”
Miska walked over, but I shook my head. “This part, you go sit with Cameron and watch, okay?”
She cast a look between us before nodding and going to sit beside him.
I grinned up at Samkiel.“I apologize for what I’m about to do.”
