The Innocence of Teacups

Barracks.

When in doubt stand on the spot and stare at where you wanted to go. He was staring all right, thinking over wherever approaching Sasha would be a sensible idea. Poking his nose in at barracks could cause an atmosphere and upset Sasha. After all it wasn’t as though they were friends. He was a sneaky coward for trying to befriend someone who’d best friend he’d murdered in cold blood. Yet he was desperate to see if Sasha was home safe. What right did he have to ask? So indecisive. A letter might be a more appropriate mode of communication.

As these indecisions filed through his mind two knights came running out of barracks with spirits chasing after them. All what ifs and buts flew away as he hurried off the path onto the field, over to barracks. Those fleeing knights were heading for Lady Lev’s house. More knights stampeded from barracks rushing to catch up with those spirits and yeah caught up and hacked away at their limbs to give their two comrades chance to reach Lev’s house. The spirits turned in retaliation swiping for the knights’ faces with sleek claws.

The barracks doors were left wide open. He went straight on in there. Flurries of Sapphire Knights were running up and down corridors, and in and out of each others’ rooms in a fluster. He fell against a wall as a spirit scuttled along the corridor laughing.

“You can’t stay in there,” Kalama shouted as she banged against Sasha’s door. “Please Sasha I’m imploring you to at least open up.”

“Leave him,” said Pavel as he drew out his sword, “Lady Lev needs us, the city needs us.”

“Sasha’s the best spirit slayer there is. We can’t leave him.”

“No Lanzo was the best spirit slayer there was. That fraud just tagged along after him.”

“You’re wrong.”

“Wake up Kalama. You saw how shivery he was when he got back here. He can’t even hack getting through Spirit Land. Now he’s practically raving mad droning on about seeing Lanzo’s ghost.”

“It wasn’t Spirit Land that made him ill. He’s been somewhere else.”

“Hurh Fantasyland.”

“I saw him go.”

“You’re just as mad as him.” Pavel caught Kalama’s arm and tried to drag her away from the door but was soon to back off from her when she threatened to smack him in the mouth.

Another spirit scurried down the corridor, running a set of claws along a wall, scoring a huge crack down it, splintering wood. Pavel teamed up with a set of knights to charge it while more knights sprinted out of barracks. As he made his way over to where Kalama was battering at Sasha’s door more spirits flooded into barracks, through windows.

“I’m begging you to open this door. We have to leave.”

“I’m staying. Don’t want to help,” murmured Sasha.

Kalama kept up hammering at Sasha’s door even when Pavel and the remaining knights forced their way out of barracks. “Sasha please! This is serious. Spirits are attacking Lady Lev’s house. There’s loads of them. They’ll swarm the city when they’ve taken us down.”

With knives poised in defence mode he stood at Kalama’s back ready to slash away at any spirit which dare come near them.

“I don’t care if you want to help or not. Let’s move.”

“We were wrong.”

“Listen what happened wasn’t your fault. Whatever went off in that black hole has clearly addled your brain.”

He heard Sasha slide down his door and thump onto the floor.

“Fine!” shouted Kalama. “Go ahead sit there and die. I wish I’d left you at that pokey little village.” With a huff Kalama span on her heel and ran out of barracks as the spirit scorching the opposite wall turned at the top of the corridor and came back down, towards him, scorching this wall instead.

He gave Sasha’s door a knock. “My brain’s addled too.” Oh heck that spirit was getting closer. He raised his knives, only there was no need to use them because Sasha flung open his door, and pulled him into the room, then slammed the door shut, and slid the bolt into place.

“It was you wasn’t it?”

“Was what me?” he asked as the spirit gave the door a wallop making the room shake.

“You saved me from the dark cold place. Saved me and thank fuck you’re no longer demon.” Sasha flung himself on top of him. “I knew it was you. Thanks.”

Okay what was with such a warm welcome? Awkward.

“Thanks?!” Lanzo roared as his blue form streaked across a bookcase, knocking off a vase, and a couple of spare swords. “He killed me!”

“And you hid his voice.” Sasha stood protectively in front of him. “You were part of a conspiracy against him.”

Lanzo levitated a single pace away from his friend and glowered. “So that gave him the right to murder me in cold blood?”

“No but softens the blow. You went to Violet Town with intentions of killing a mixed up kid who didn’t know anything about anything. No wonder you got hurt.”

“Anything about anything?” Lanzo scowled. “He killed me. He killed me. HE KILLED ME.”

“I really am sorry Lanzo.”

“You killed me.”

A pale dishevelled Sasha backed onto his bed as the room shook. Lanzo pretended to be a poltergeist; knocking over whatever was loose. “Go away.”

“Sorry I shouldn’t have come,” he said.

“Not you. Him.”

Lanzo let off a roar then pop dispersed to wherever phantoms dwelled when not bothering humans. This was all wrong; he was the one who should be doing a disappearing act. Leaving seemed like an attractive option however it was hard to go anywhere with Sasha so stressed out.

A spirit’s arm broke through a panel in the door. Assassin instincts kicked in at the threat. Swipe. The spirit screamed and an arm bounced to the floor. “Open your window and we can make a getaway easy.” He slashed off another arm then ran to the window. Sasha massaged his temples with his wrists while he thrust open the window shutters. Thank luck there were only shutters and no glass.

“Everything’s gone wrong. I thought being a Sapphire Knight was honourable. All I see now is snobbery and deceit.”

“This isn’t the time for personal reflection.” He sat on the windowsill and watched arms clawing away at the door, tearing away chunks of wood.

Sasha rattled away to himself as though there was no one else in the world. “How could people take an infant’s voice so they would be able to identify said infant when it grew up with intentions of killing it? Lanzo ought to have told me but I guess he didn’t because he knew I would have let him know what he was doing was morally wrong. Morals I doubt anyone has morals anymore. My family certainly didn’t and these knights and Lady Lev can’t have. What was I ever thinking wanting to be a Sapphire Knight? Should have stayed in the slums at least there aren’t any snobs there. Everyone’s probably right I just leeched off Lanzo’s successes. Such a sorry messed up unskilled glory seeker.”

A spirit was squeezing through a hole made in the door. It would be through soon enough. Sasha looked as though he was going to remain dormant on his bed. Before the spirit got fully through the door he threw a knife at Sasha. The hilt caught the side of his head which gained some slight movement. Sasha turned to look at him.

He inclined his head towards Sasha’s sword which had been knocked off the table. “Spirits are threatened by you so there must be some truth in Kalama insisting you’re the best spirit slayer.”

“You!” Kalama shouted from outside the window, making his heart leap. “Are you dripping poison into Mister Sensitive?”

“No I...” What he wanted to say never made it out of his mouth because Kalama grabbed his shoulders, yanked him out the window. He landed with a thud on some grass.

“How are you even here?”

“I transformed back it hurt.” He sat up and gave his back a rub. Not that he need bother answer her question seen as she was leaning through the window all set to pounce at Sasha.

“Great you’ve picked up your sword big guy now step towards the window before that spirit charges you.”

“What’s the point? Lev called me a traitor.”

“Well you did take off to help the demon-child who murdered Lanzo.”

Time for him to leave. Coming to check on Sasha had been an awful idea. As soon as he was up and on his way Sasha jumped through the window and clattered after him. He made it to a lone lemon tree before Sasha caught him up. His hand shook as he placed it against the tree trunk. He swallowed trying to hide his anxiety.

“Sorry.”

“Whatever for?”

“Coming to see you. It was wrong.”

“I’m glad you came. I got to see you’re back to your normal self. I thought you’d fully turned.”

“Throwing your cloak over me saved my mind so I was able to change back.”

“All’s well then.”

He shook his head and leant into the tree. “Freyr humiliated me; made me look like a demon. How could he?” A question that would stick with him forever.

“Lady Lev and our comrades.” Kalama waved an arm in the direction of the top of the hill where a bloody battle was taking place between spirits and Sapphire Knights. “They could use our help. He however doesn’t deserve it.”

“He’s just a kid.”

“Who knew exactly what he was doing when he struck through Lanzo. You’re being a soft fool,” said Kalama as she watched spirits climb onto the manor house roof and tear off its black tiles. “Your assistance would be most welcome even if you have decided to look down your nose at us.” There went Kalama to help fight against spirits.

Sasha placed his knives in the grass at his feet. “You wait right here. We can finish this conversation when I’ve done my duty.” Sasha twirled his sapphire hilt making it gleam in bright sunlight then he was gone too, up the hill to defend Lady Lev and her house.

Would take a whole lot of defending. Tiles came off in clumps, being thrown at knights. Spirits on the ground used their claws as weapons, pushing knights down the hill. Was Lev in her house? So what if she was? She tried to kill him. The point was Azure City looked to Lev for guidance. What would become of Azure without her? Again not exactly his problem being a Kazaran. Or was he? He didn’t know what he was. For all he knew his parents could have been Zoticans. Another so what stumbled into his mind. Best to wait by this lemon tree. His hand pressed into the trunk, making bark bite his skin. The roof was caving in as spirits reached supporting beams. Screams came from somewhere which wasn’t the house or this side of the hill.

A young lady around his age came running from the left side of the hill. She looked as though she was aiming for barracks however jolted to a stop on seeing the fight taking place on the hill. She jumped from one foot to another as though trying to decide which way to go, then spotted him and stared. Ah his clothes. He made to wrap his cloak round himself but the afternoon sun was blaring so he let it hang loose. More screams came from the other side of the hill, tearing the young lady away from staring.

Despite being a fair few paces away from him she spoke. “Spirits have trainee barracks surrounded. I got away but the rest, I think – I don’t know.” She bit her lip then noticed his knives lay in the grass. “Can you use those?”

Hating them he kicked the nearest knife.

The young lady took a step towards him as more screams came from training barracks. “Can you help me?” She held up a sword with a grey blue hilt. “I’m not great, I’m still training. But my friends are trapped. I need to do something.”

Those hazel eyes of this girl’s were familiar; as though they’d watched him before. The suns sure were hot. He took off his cloak and hung it on a tree branch.

The girl returned to staring. Her cheeks glowed pink. “You were at Lady Lev’s summer party.”

Oh yeah she was the girl who’d been eying him up from across the dance floor. Another round of screams came from trainee barracks pulling him away from his troubles. Time to take some of his own advice: this was no time for personal reflection. Trainee knights were stuck inside their barracks. They were the next generation of knights. Sasha’s generation believed him to be a monster but he could possibly change the opinion of these younger people.

The girl ended up running towards where she’d fled in search of help. He picked up his knives and kicked off Baldomar’s boots seen as they were too big for him, and followed after this girl. Was it wrong to help because he wanted to try change peoples’ opinion of him? Possibly but there was also a part of him which genuinely didn’t like to hear those trainee knights screaming.

As they rounded the hill he reached out to touch the girl’s arm. “We need a plan.” A well structured plan too seen as spirits climbed the outside walls of trainee barracks, battering at the windows and jumping on the ceiling to extract fear from those within.

The young lady managed a slight smile as she turned to him. “So you’re helping me?”

“I can try.”

“My name’s Zora.” She gave a half bow gesturing at his heart with one hand. “That means you’re supposed to introduce yourself in return Kazaran.”

“I’m Eagle.”

“You’re Lord Valaire’s tongue less child.”

“I’m not his anymore and...”

And an explanation would have to wait; a spirit was dragging a man out of barracks. He looked way too old to be a trainee knight. Plan thinking time was certainly out the window too seen as the spirit placed a claw flat against the man’s throat ready to slit.

“Listen as your sword master bleeds knightlings of tomorrow. Sapphire Knights will no longer be reared here. No more Lanzo’s or Sasha’s.”

Lil.

His name was left ignored as Zora took off to try do something for her sword master. He slowly followed in her footsteps. As Zora approached Lil the spirit stood tall with all her arms folded, and a foot on the sword master’s chest. Eyes narrowed at Zora as she held her sword high. Whack one of those arms unfolded, striking Zora’s face; she went flying and thudded to the floor.

“Lil,” he shouted just to get the spirit’s attention. Her attention was caught alright. She lowered onto all twelve hands and feet.

“Eagle how? You’re demon. There’s no going back.”

“Prince Alaric finished what was started.”

Lil scuttled over to him and sniffed at the air. “Vampyre. Grrr.”

“Leave this barracks alone.”

Lil spat. “Why?”

“Because these people have done nothing wrong.”

“They train to kill us.”

“If you allowed Zoticans to cross through your lands freely they would feel less threatened by you.”

“Why should they come through?”

“For commerce with Kazara.”

“You speak of what you don’t know.” Lil pawed at his knee. “Are you coming back to Spirit Land, spirited child?”

“No.”

“Why not? Stolen from us.”

“You left me in Nocta Umbra.”

“Because you didn’t listen. Should have killed Freyr. Capable. Much capable.”

He backed off as she curled her flexible body round him but was soon stuck to the spot unable to move as she kept coiling round him like a centipede clinging round a twig.

“Are you going to start listening to me? Leave vampyres and kill Sapphire Knights?”

“I killed for Freyr and will never kill for anyone ever again.”

“I different.”

“If you were different you wouldn’t have asked.”

Lil applied pressure so it was like being wrapped by a hungry snake. She best keep from cracking his ribs. His breaths got tight so words got stuck in his throat.

“Ungrateful to me,” Lil hissed. Her hiss turned into a squeal as a sword squelched into her somewhere. He was unable to see where but felt her grip loosen.

“Master Stas no!” Zora yelled. “That’s Eagle the demon.”

Too late. There was a second squelch making Lil squeal and sway. He pushed out, Lil fell to her right. He scurried from her squirming body. Master Stas knelt with a sword piercing one of Lil’s legs. He crawled round Stas as Zora staggered over to them with a hand pressed over a cut on her head. He got to his feet as spirits scuttled off barracks. At least they weren’t terrifying those trainees anymore. He stepped away from Stas’s hand which was trying to grab his ankle. Watched those spirits coming. Four of them. There were more inside, containing trainee knights.

He rolled his neck and swished knives from side to side. Gave that sinister smile Freyr had taught him. Never show someone fear before, during, or after a fight. Some blood smeared across the face would make him look threatening. Blood was easily gotten. A spirit came. Slice.

“Leave trainee barracks alone,” he said as a limb fell.

Spirits ran round him in a circle that got tighter the faster they ran. He matched their speed turning and striking out, blocking blows which came from their claws. Being in the eye of a storm was adventurous. Blood spiralled out of grey-white gashes in skin splattering him. A red whirlwind. Lil’s failing eyes focused on him as he cut through her comrades.

“You’re deadly,” Zora breathed when he stopped spinning and striking. Four bleeding corpses lay round him.

“Afraid so,” he agreed and locked his gaze on barracks entrance. The doors slammed shut. His eyes slid onto his knives. Blades slicked red. They slipped from his hands. Killed all over again.

Stas leant on his sword using it as a crutch, his breathing all heavy. Zora tried to rouse him to no avail. Having his chest stepped on must have tweaked something. Realising Stas would be no help Zora gathered her wits, breathed away discomfort to her head and strode purposefully towards barracks. He should probably do the same. No way. Couldn’t kill one more breathing thing human or otherwise. He swayed backwards and forwards in the middle of massacred bodies.

Zora pushed on the doors. They’d be too heavy to break down without a battering ram. She glanced behind her shoulder at him. He heaved like a cat who’d been eating grass; nothing came out. Making a hurh noise Zora snapped her attention back onto barracks.

From super cool assassin to a lame wreck who heaved at the sight of blood. Smack bang smack. Zora jammed her hilt into a window shutter.

“Wait for the knights to come,” wheezed Stas.

Zora ignored him and kept up jamming at window shutters until one of them cracked. Those knights weren’t coming because they were too busy defending Lev’s house on top of the hill. Not bothering to arm himself he went to help force open a window shutter.

“I don’t need help from you,” scoffed Zora and threw a splintered chunk of wood over her shoulder. “Fancy a demon-child feeling sick at the sight of a little blood.”

A little blood there were red streaks all over his face, and youch his shoulder hurt when he held out his arm to pry open the window. A claw mark slashed across his sleeve exposed his left shoulder. Blood oozed out. He hadn’t felt a scratch when it happened.

“Let me make this sparkly clear: I don’t want your help, demon.” Zora jumped up into the window.

“I’m not a demon.” He followed thinking she might need back up even though she refused his help, plus he’d never prove himself to be a respectable human stood swaying in corpses like a crazy person.

There was no one in this room just some basic bedroom furniture, or so he thought until taking a moment to look up. “Watch out!” he shouted on spurting towards Zora as a spirit dropped from the ceiling. They tumbled into a corridor and almost in unison slammed the door behind them which was no use really seen as they were unable to lock it from the outside.

“Azure will be under spirit rule. You can either die or serve us,” boomed a spirit from a room at the other end of barracks. They ran towards this room with the spirit who’d dropped from the ceiling chasing after them.

They skidded into a refectory where students sat close together at two long tables with spirits in a semi-circle around them. The spirit making himself heard turned to them smirking while the spirit chasing them stood in the doorway, blocking their escape. How foolish to leave his knives outside because he’d had a wobble. The spirits spoke amongst themselves in the language of nocta creaturas.

“What are they saying?” murmured Zora.

He shrugged. How would he know how to understand their tongue? Mental note: Learning might be useful. Right now though they needed to get everyone out of barracks. While spirits talked he dashed his eyes round the refectory. There was not much to work with. A large sapphire flag with an emblem of two crossed swords on a shield hung on the far wall. There were five large tables with benches, and a counter used to serve food. A hatch was at the back of the counter. His guess was the kitchen stood behind this hatch. Those trainee knights certainly did not look up to a real fight. The majority of them were looking anywhere save for the spirits. None of them were holding swords. The only weapon they possessed was Zora’s sword and a spirit was reaching out to snatch it away. She backed away, waving her sword, stepped on his bare foot.

“Ouch!” he yelped.

“G-g-get out the wa-a-ay fre-e-ak-k-k,” stuttered Zora. Oh yeah those spirits must be giving her a chill.

“No you get out of mine.” He shoved Zora hard, sending her crashing into a spirit. When this spirit staggered he ran past it, jumped onto a table then off it again. As long as he was moving rather than being forced into stillness there was chance at freedom.

Those spirits were fast to come after him. There were more trainees than there were spirits so if he could get them moving spirits might lose their authority. Causalities might be gained however spirits would likely start slitting throats if the trainees refused to serve them.

He pushed through two trainees as he climbed onto their table. They shrieked as a spirit bounded towards them to try get at him. He reached up to tear one side of the flag from nails pinning it to the wall.

“You are stark raving mad,” said one of the older trainees.

Half the flag hung off the wall. He ran backwards to the other end of the table with a snarling spirit lolloping after him. “A little help please.”

“You shall only anger them. We sit and follow their instructions until proper help arrives.”

“Is that what Sapphire Knights do, sit and wait to be rescued? You’ll never graduate with such lax attitudes.”

Next part of the huge flag was coming up. He reached out to grab it and phew a couple of trainees stirred from their stationary positions and stood on the table.

“Dessa, Nina, sit yourselves down,” barked that older trainee. Boy did he sound pompous.

The two young ladies stood on the table must be friends of Zora’s because they gave her a glance as she failed to ward off spirits who were clinging to her, taking delight in making her shiver.

As he pulled at the flag one of the ladies, grabbed the spirit’s tail. The spirit sucked in air, making a horrendous noise, as the flag fell. Such a large flag covered the whole table, it landed on the trainees and spirit. Result. There were lots of shrieks as trainees scrambled away, ignoring instructions from the pompous lad.

Trainees sitting at the opposite table sprang up too seen as spirits were coming over to them. He had to act quick or some trainees would be killed. He got a grip on the middle table which was way too heavy to push over by himself. Thankfully Dessa and Nina saw what he was up to and came over to lend a hand.

“We need some more help over here,” he called. Soon a healthy number of trainees hastened over and they shoved the table over. It landed right on top of two spirits. “Charge!” he shouted, and ran forwards despite there being three more spirits right in front of the doors.

“The first one to take another step will find themselves decapitated,” roared the lead spirit.

Nearly at the doors and cool two trainees ran either side of him with the flag. They held it high so as not to get him jumbled up within it. They weren’t as polite to the lead spirit as they charged right at him with a taught fully spanned out flag. That spirit was bowled over along with the other two and they got all tangled up within the flag.

Shivering, Zora crouched on the floor. On passing he grabbed her elbow and she clutched his upper arm in response, dragging herself up. Was she trying to smile or scowl?

“Quickly everyone out,” said that pompous trainee and stood at the doors watching everyone hurry into the corridor.

As they exited barracks onto the field Zora still held onto his arm. Someone got hold of Stas. They all wowed at four brutally decimated spirits reckoning their sword master did the deed. They went right over to the opposite end of the field where a bridge arched over a trickle of a river. These trainees kept giving him, a stranger amongst them, glances as they chatted about what happened in their barracks.

“How’s your head?” he asked.

When Zora realised she was still holding his arm she let go in a rapid motion.

“Sorry I pushed you into that spirit. I hope my actions didn’t get you hurt.”

At this moment they were joined by the pompous lad who wore a heavy scowl. “You could have gotten us all killed running round like a hyper active puppy.”

Zora’s friends pushed their way over to them. “We would all still be sat as prisoners if we’d kept listening to your instructions. So cool off him,” said Dessa.

“What he did was irresponsible. He pushed Zora to her death.”

“You’re alright aren’t you?” Zora’s friend placed an arm round her waist.

Her other friend, Nina, laughed and winked at him. “You’ll never graduate being so cautious Claude.”

Claude grumbled. “And who are you exactly?”

“He’s a lord’s son. Not sure which but I remembered him from Lady Lev’s summer party, and roped him in to help me get you all free.” Zora slinked from her friend’s arm and motioned at him to follow her as the rest of the trainees burst into some Sapphire Knight anthem. They stood on the bridge away from all the noise.

“Thanks for not telling them.”

“Don’t thank me. Before I reveal who you are I want to know why you killed Lanzo.”

He rested his arms against the bridge and stared down into damp mud. “Lanzo came to Violet Town looking to murder me on Lev’s instruction. I think Freyr knew so sent me to assassinate him. I was unaware there were traces of demon in my blood. Everyone save for me seemed to know.”

“So you are a demon-child.”

“I’m a tainted human.”

“Right Eagle.”

He looked up. “What does right mean?”

“Right means I don’t understand you. How can a demonic assassin have such a friendly smile and come across as polite?”

What a question. His hands shook. Demonic assassin. Heck he was going to vomit over the side of the bridge. Zora tutted as she went off the bridge to join her friends. Right he’d better get a hold of himself. Look to the future rather than past. Not an assassin a merchant. He would sell his killing kit in order to start up.

Knives!

Springing to life he hurried faster than any hyper puppy could to where he’d dropped his knives. They were gone. Shit. He kicked out at corpses to see if they’d slipped underneath. No knives just severed limbs. Double shit.

“I don’t want to hear it,” Lady Lev huffed as she emerged from trainee barracks. Her skirt was torn, and hair all tussled. A herd of knights followed in her wake with Sasha right at her side. “The lad is stained by Freyr Valaire’s wicked ways demonic or not. I will not grant him pardon for murdering Lanzo.”

“You should have helped him as soon as you learned of him instead of conspiring. Then Freyr would never have gotten hold of the poor kid.”

“He’d still have turned demon.”

“Only if exposed to those two full moons aligning.” Sasha caught his eye and ran in front of Lev. “Please he saved me.”

“You are trying my patients.” Lev tried to side step round him. “Would someone scout round and find out the whereabouts of my trainees? Sasha, move out of my way.”

“Why won’t you listen?”

“Lady Lev,” Kalama scooted round to Sasha’s side. “Poor Sash, he’s in shock. Lanzo’s death and getting dragged off by spirits has shook up his perceptive on events.”

“Clearly Kalama my dear. Sasha take a few weeks leave to sort yourself out. You’re making yourself ill.”

“My perceptive has never been sharper.”

“Now now we all know you find connecting dots trying. Attempt taking this in: That demon-child is wicked and a danger to society. The sooner you can comprehend he’s manipulating your grief the happier you’ll be,” said Lev.

Kalama stepped away and pulled a face as mutterings followed this comment. There were a few snickers in there too.

“Deep down Eagle is a good kid. Misguided I’ll admit but that’s not so horrific is it?” Sasha backed over to him not a sensible idea if you asked him. At least the guy was holding his cloak and fantastic his knives too. Those knives got pushed into his hands and cloak hung over his arm. “We all do things we regret. He’s ever so sorry about Lanzo.”

“Sorry won’t bring Lanzo back,” simpered Lev, sounding as though she was going to boil over then explode.

“But shows his heart’s in the right place. You owe him an apology too for having his voice stolen then sending Lanzo to kill him.”

He tugged at Sasha’s sleeve. “I think we’re past mediation. No one’s throwing teacups or bread loafs.”

“Apologise or I walk.”

“Walk to where?” harked Lev. “You’d willingly throw away years of hard work and prestige for that monstrosity?”

Sasha slammed his sword into the ground, cracking earth, making his fellow knights wince. “I’d rather walk into poverty than live with snobs and work for a woman who thinks stealing a child’s voice is for the good of Zoticas.” He un-buckled his sapphire sheath, letting it fall to the floor.

“Don’t walk away from your life for my sake,” he said.

“I’d be living a lie if I stayed.”

“But she’s right. Freyr left his mark on me.”

“Then you’re in luck because I happen to be a fab judge of character and see a lot of goodness in you.”

A fab judge of character? He’d only just realised these Sapphire Knights were snobs. This group of people were all soft spoken yet came out with some hurtful comments. Then there was Sasha who was much kinder yet voice had a rough lilt meaning he didn’t fit in at all. There was Lev threatening Sasha right that moment in some sickly sweet tone.

“Before you do something incredibly stupid remember the risk I took taking you on.”

Sasha gripped his wrist turning him away from barracks. Turning to leave did not seem like an effective option seen as Lev whispered something to Pavel. He squeezed his knives as he heard heavy footsteps behind them.

“They’re not going to let us leave quietly,” he said.

“Keep moving we’ll get away somehow.”

Looking behind him he wasn’t convinced and skidded to a halt swinging away from Sasha’s grip on his wrist. Never run from a fight or so he’d been taught and even if those teachings were wrong they were all he knew. He threw his cloak to Sasha and worked his knives round in intricate warm up swerves, grounding himself, getting a feel for a fight. Why did duals have to make him feel alive?

“I’ve killed Lanzo,” he imagined he and Freyr had just pulled off a highly successful scam and tried to smirk. Smokes and mirrors. “You try stopping Sasha leaving you’ll be dead too.”

“Eagle leave it,” said Sasha.

Maybe he ought to.

“You really are a clod if you think running off with a demon-child is righteous,” sniggered Pavel in a taunting tone.

Clod. No wonder Sasha knew what it felt like to be called dumb. He didn’t understand why the other knights thought on Sasha as less intellectual than them however knew you shouldn’t always hide from adversity inside a painting book. Besides friends were supposed to stick up for each other weren’t they?

“And you really are foolish if you listen to propaganda about me being demonic.” In that moment there was a click. Human. Demon maybe in his blood but he’d never thought completely like a demon, always like Eagle.

Pavel came swinging for him. Sasha would be no help seen as he’d left his sword stuck in the ground at his former employer’s feet. It was a good job his movements were sleek enabling him to twist away from heavy sword blows. If Freyr could see him now having a one on one, no sneak attack, dual with a Sapphire Knight he’d be rather impressed. The thought made him smile as Pavel whirled at him missing the side of his neck by several whiskers. He skirted round Sasha as though he were a tree, giving Pavel the run around.

“You two stop,” said Sasha as he backed off from a furious Pavel while looking at them both as though they were two little kids having a fight over a toy. He was not the only one watching; Kalama came over with a few of the knights, and trainees hurried to watch.

There were some “wow look at him move,” type comments from the trainees as he started to make Pavel become short of breath. Turning this dual into a spectators sport hadn’t been his intention. When Pavel lost his footing a shocked silence fell over the field. A cascade of excited whispering concerning his talent followed. Time to get the next generation of knights on his side? Sure may as well try. When stuck for what to say best to spout out what was exactly on your mind.

“Demon comes in all forms: monsters, spirits, propaganda, friends, sleazy merchants.” He swung his knives round in a cool down exercise to keep attention focused on him. Heck he hated public speaking. “So does goodness I guess. Goodness lurks in spirits, propaganda, monsters, friends... maybe not sleazy merchants.” Definitely hated public speaking.

Deciding to abandon his speech he hopped over to Sasha. They slunk through trainees, across the field, and over the bridge. No one tried to stop them leaving however Lady Lev watched them all the way. She probably didn’t want to provoke him into saying something scandalous with those impressionable young trainees of hers so wowed at his display of swordsmanship.