The Guard - Emigrants- part 4

Untitled Part 111

39

The next day I saw Missy and Suzie walking together to the kitchen.

Quinn was standing behind me. "You were right Mom. It is a start." He kissed my cheek. "At least they are talking."

"Yes Love they are."

I left to go on my patrol with my squad.

We returned a few hours later Suzie and Missy were sparing in the training square. I walked up to Shaun and signed to him 'there was nothing to report'

He nodded and went back to watching the girls.

I watched Missy and Suzie fight. They had similar techniques Quinn had trained both of them. Paddy tapped me on the shoulder and had me follow him to our quarters.

"I could not tell you on the square but the mortals challenged the manimals to a duel."

"What? The parents challenged their children?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"The mortals told them they were better trained and had more experience."

"Oh dear. You would think the mortals. I should say the adults would have thought better than to challenge their children."

"Do you think the children would win?" He asked me.

"I am thinking because they are younger and faster they might."

"You have a point there." He smiled then kissed me.

"What started all this?" I asked pointing towards the square.

"I am not sure. I walked into the kitchen they were having a huge argument."

"All of them?" He nodded. "I do not see this turning out very well."

"I agree."

"I did not see Connor, Mike, William or Brian."

"They already fought. Scott is taking care of them."

"Was it bad?"

"They fought well with equal amount of injuries."

I glanced at him. "What is it?" He asked.

"The McCurdy men like each other. Missy and Suzie just started talking to each other."

"Do you think they deliberately set up this fight?" Paddy looked just as worried as I did. "I do not know, we will just have to wait and see." He said. "Let us go see how they are doing."

I nodded. We went back to the square. The girls were still fighting.

I could see Quinn standing in the kitchen corridor. He was not watching the fight. We went to him.

He was very upset. We took him down to the kitchen.

"It hurts too much to watch them." He was almost in tears. "Have they hurt each other?" We nodded. He closed his eyes in pain. "I have never seen people so stubborn to prove a point."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"They were sitting down quietly having lunch together when Connor and Mike started talking about when they should have another sparing session. Their children offered to spar with them. The adults told them they did not have enough experience to spar with them."

"Oh dear," I said, "and now they are showing them."

"Yes Mom and they might just kill each other proving it."

Katey walked into the kitchen with Victoria May in her arms. "Where are my helpers?"

"Four are in Scott's examining room and another two are about to join them." Quinn told her.

"Are they doing that sword thing again?" Katey shook her head.

"You mean sparing?"

"I guess so. Where one tries to out do the other." She said.

"Do you know about their sparing?" Paddy asked.

"Oh yes that is all they talked about when they are cooking."

"Are you talking about William and Brian?"

"No Connor and Mike ever since they fought those men that attacked us. They talk of nothing else. William and Brian have been here long enough to know their fathers want to spar against an immortal."

"What about Suzie?" Quinn asked.

"She is the worst of the three. She would like nothing better than to take down an immortal."

We looked at each other.

"Bye Katey."

We ran back to the square.

I was the first one on the square. I had my sword drawn and was ready to spar. Quinn and Paddy were also on the square.

Shaun stopped Missy and Suzie.

"Yes Kylie?"

"I wish to challenge Suzie."

Shaun had a hard time hiding his surprise. He turned to Suzie. He noticed Paddy then Quinn.

"Paddy. Quinn."

"We also challenge Suzie."

Shaun nodded. "Suzie do you accept these challenges?"

"Yes." Suzie stood taller. "I will fight Quinn first."

"It does not work that way. Kylie was the first then Paddy then Quinn."

"But ..." Her mouth hung open.

"You accepted their challenges Suzie. This is how it works."

"But I do not want ..."

"Suzie you accepted their challenges." He repeated. Shaun knew we were here for a reason. He just had to wait to hear what it was.

"Missy. Suzie. Your match was a draw."

Samantha helped Missy off the square and brought her to Scott's examining room.

I stood in front of Suzie; she gave me a vicious smile. "Let us see how good you are old woman."

She raised her sword. I could smell the silver on it. My nose started to bleed. I had stopped breathing.

Suzie smiled like she already won.

We fought for a long time. I had a few cuts so did Suzie. She was tiring and was not moving as smoothly. She was making mistakes. I worked hard at not hurting her but she kept lunging at me.

Shaun finally stopped the fight.

"I will put your match to a vote." I nodded. Suzie was surprised. "What does that mean?" Shaun did not answer her. He turned to the audience.