Checkmate

Clearance

"Cease!"

The Guard held up his hand in surrender, breathing hard and bent almost double thanks to the hard blow he'd just received to his solar plexus. 

"Well fought." The Weaponsmaster nodded at his opponent. "Good balance of attack and defense tactics."

She smiled at him as she slid the practice pole back into the rack.

"Good going, Sel." Nyx said, throwing a cleansing cloth to her as he passed, picking up a flat sword from the same rack and entering the square where his opponent was waiting.

She grinned, wiping her face, arms and hands carefully.

Then she saw me, leaning against the open door to the practice rooms.

I didn't say anything, just held out the bowl of cool lemon water. After a moment's hesitation, she tossed the cloth into a basket and walked towards me. Her expression was neutral as she took the bowl from me and I waited while she drained it, taking the time to look at her properly. I hadn't seen her at all in the months since that night, had not been to visit her during her recovery, leaving instead flowers and a brief cowardly note. She looked different, the Intelligence training showing in her body, her frame more toned and wiry than it had been. Judging by her performance in the square, she was back at full strength and no worse for her injuries. 

She lowered the bowl from her lips then and her eyes met mine.

"It's been a while." She said, her tone as neutral as her expression.

"Yes." I took the bowl from her hands and put it on the table next to the water jars. "Walk with me."

I straightened, turning towards the door and then looking back at her, waiting to see if she'd accept the invitation. She looked at me long and hard and then inclined her head, so I headed out the door and took the path that ran alongside the training centre, the one that lead into the trees, still within Clanholding boundaries but secluded and unlikely to have any other visitors at this time. 

We walked in silence, with her a few steps behind me as I went deeper into the trees, towards a quiet glade I knew, taking care to scan just to be sure we weren't going to be overheard. Once there, I let my senses flare, checking one last time before I turned to face her.

For a moment, we stared at each other.

I could read nothing from her expression. There was no anger or disappointment or embarrassment or joy on her face, it was carefully neutral, as it had been from the moment she'd caught sight of me. That in itself spoke volumes, but I wasn't about to waste time overanalysing it. I'd come looking for her - this was long overdue. 

"You look well." I said, opting for a neutral opener.

"You don't." She replied, eyes flicking over me in brief appraisal.

I smiled faintly.

"That's the job. As you'll find out soon enough." 

She inclined her head, but said nothing, still regarding me steadily.

"How's the training going?"

"It's hard, but I can take it."

"I don't doubt it." I smiled again. "You're cut out for it."

She didn't respond to that, continuing to look at me.

"How's the recovery?" I glanced at where she'd been hit and then back at her face. She shrugged.

"You saw me back there."

"Back to normal, from the look of things."

"More or less."