From the Ashes

Chapter 22 ~ Similarities

"Use the blade as a conduit, not a projectile!" Tarion exclaimed from the ground, where he'd flung himself seconds ago to avoid the dagger Morana had accidentally thrown at him.

At least, he believed it to be an accident. Morana almost found herself wishing he hadn't ducked. Maybe the blow would've knocked out some of his teeth or chopped off his tongue. After the endless orders, hounding, and teasing she'd endured from it today, she was ready to see it go.

Morana stomped past Tarion with a huff and grabbed the hilt of his scimitar dagger. It had buried itself deep within a tree trunk. She gritted her teeth and heaved, but the blade remained stuck. Morana heard Tarion rise, but didn't bother to acknowledge him. She grabbed the dagger and yanked again.

This time, it burst free and sent her sprawling on the ground. Morana yelped at the impact. She hobbled to her feet with a wince at the steady ache in her tailbone.

Tarion crossed his arms and tipped his head sideways, a maddeningly slappable smirk on his lips. "Are you ready to take this seriously or would you like to be bested by a tree a few more times?"

She stuck him with a fiery glare. "I thought you said we wouldn't have any more lessons until we reached the library."

"That sounds like the beginning of an excuse. You didn't care about that when we began."

"That was before you started making fun of me." She mirrored his stance and held his gaze evenly.

"Well for one, we weren't going to, but we'll reach the library tomorrow and this area is safe enough for this lesson, since you're not wielding too much magic and it's still daylight." Tarion stooped and picked up the dagger she'd left on the ground. He held it out to her. "Secondly, I've been teasing you, not making fun of you."

"What's the difference?" Morana grumbled, snatching the dagger away from him.

Tarion waved his hand in a gesture for her to resume. She rolled her eyes, but wrapped both hands around the dagger's hilt and summoned her magic. "The difference is that teasing is playful and meant in good humor. Making fun is meant to be hurtful and demeaning. Have I hurt or demeaned you?"

"I'm not answering that." The dagger trembled in her grasp as her magic overtook it. The blade of the dagger hummed with energy and seemed to glow with light at its core.

"Only because you know I'm right."

"No, it's because I think you're an insufferable prick," she bit out.

"I could say the same about you, Birdie."

Morana's scowl deepened. "Is that a clever new name you came up with?"

"Inspired by the one your uncle gave you. Do you like it?"

"No, I don't think I do."

Tarion just grinned. "Good thing I'm reserving it for fitting times."

Morana flung herself at him and he whipped up his second blade in time to parry her blow. The light of her dagger flashed against his garnet eyes. "Such as?" Morana prompted, pressing harder with her blade.

Metal sang and Tarion bent closer, his lips parting to reveal his fangs with a cocky grin. "Whenever you're flitting around, not paying attention, and tweeting incessantly like a wren."

Morana's jaw dropped and Tarion pushed her away. He swung his dagger in a lazy circle as he paced back and forth before her. Her teeth would be worn to stubs with how much she was grinding them today, but that didn't stop Morana from doing it as she lunged once more.