Beyond the Fairy Gate

Chapter 39

King Nicholas

Nic sighed as he walked across the garden towards the training grounds in search of Nyline. In truth, out of everything that he'd expected when Gabriel had finished their conversations, was not for him to walk into his common room with a bunch of jars for them to hold their memories and a horrifying story about her past. Such a story, that he wouldn't even tell them exactly what had happened to her. Only hinted some key factors and then left everyone hanging. He respected his son in that regard, even if it ticked him off just a little. He respected his mate enough to even tell his parents no if that was what was needed at the time. Nyline had been correct when they'd spoken earlier, Gabriel did make good decisions, he just wasn't sure why he'd never wanted to accept it. Sometimes it was so hard being a parent, and watching your little baby turn into a person that thinks, feels, and can make their own choices.

He shook those thoughts from his mind as he stopped a few feet away from the gate. Seeing that Reena was standing with her shoulder against the door frame her face turned towards inwards looking down onto the grounds below.

"What's going on?" Nic spoke as he came up behind her and jabbed her in the ribs, making her jump only slightly. He grinned as she turned her dark purple gaze onto his face and glared, before returning the gesture and jabbing him in the side as well.

"Ug Nic, I'd break your fingers if you weren't the damned king some days." She groaned and that only made Nic smile more.

"You love me." He said in a joking tone as he turned his gaze to see what she'd been watching. Nyline was on the main training grounds. She was obviously practicing a scout skill but to which one he wasn't sure. He watched as she used her movement right, left, then ducked as if she were dodging a blow, before she bent her knees and kicked herself high into the air with the aid of her movement skill. There was just a second as she fell back towards the ground, but when she landed, nothing happened. He felt his ears prick as he cocked his head to the side.

"What skill is she practicing?" He asked crossing his arms and watching her as she walked back to the other end of the training grounds, shaking her arms out a little, as she reset.

"I'm not sure. She hasn't actually done a skill yet." Reena muttered. "She's done that same routine at least thirty times now and she just stops at the end and resets. I'm almost positive that it isn't the end, knowing Jonathan there would be more. There is something missing from the overall exercise, but I can't place my finger on it." Reena paused for a long moment as Nyline started up again. Nic watched as she used her movement several times, jumping backwards and forwards with ease.

Nic placed a finger on his lips as he watched as she launched herself up in the air once more, before landing with a heavy thump. He heard Nyline give one loud frustrated groan before she started back to the edge to start again. After watching the routine twice more he hummed causing Reena to look at him, the blue in her pixie cut shining in the moon light. Alice focused on him, and he knew that she was also watching Nyline.

"She has no weapon for starters," Nic's finger fell from his lips as he crossed his arms. "Her movements are fluid, but the routine isn't. There should be more moves, a high kick here, a punch there, an elbow here or there. She's doing the movements but, she isn't doing everything."

"Why doesn't she have a blade?" Reena asked sounding confused.

"Because Jonathan refused to teach her how to fight." Nic hummed again, before relaying Alice's words to Reena, who nodded.

"But she can fight," Reena insisted watching Nyline with an intent gaze.

"No," Beck spoke from within their bond. "Her body moves as if it knows how to fight but she doesn't. She's fluid but there is no force in her movements that would give weight to a punch or kick."