The Starlight Lancer

Chapter Fifty-One: Half-Lancer

"More hostile activity from beyond Khodra's rings. That cult of heretics is responsible, I know it. I can hear their foul tongue from a light-year away—only distance helps me resist it. I can only imagine what they did to those they captured—what they will become."

—Chidron Nordon Qertai of the deep-world Fialor, in a letter imploring Allegiant General Jindar Morgenstern to intervene in an attack

Zaina said, "You—you're just like me!"

The woman scoffed, her expression disinterested. She pulled out a flask and gulped down a swig. "Yeah right, kid."

Zaina's nostrils wrinkled from the sharp stench of the woman's drink. It smelled like the swamp-mead her father fermented in the warm seasons back home. She stared on, hoping this person wasn't who Elest had picked to teach her.

There was still a chance of making a good first impression. "Well, hello, my name is Zaina Quin."

The woman looked Zaina up and down, sighed, and said, "Okay, got it."

Not sure how to keep the conversation going, Zaina asked, "Um—are you my mentor?"

Leaning against the wall, the woman said, "Hate to break it to you, kid, but you got screwed on this one. I've never mentored anyone. Much less anyone, 'just like me.' And I have no intention of starting now."

Zaina was put off guard by the mockery but kept her questions on point. "So, wait—you're a teacher who purposely doesn't—"

"I'm not a teacher," the woman replied in a cold voice. "I'm a regular lancer. Nothing less, nothing more. That scud-sucker Vae put us together because he hates us. He knows I don't want to train anyone, but he's going to waste my time with it anyway. My advice? It's going to get a lot worse—quit while you're ahead."

Zaina's eye twitched. She had a limit. "There's no need to be so rude."

The woman glared. "Why, because you're, 'just like me?'"

"It sounds like you want me to fail!"

The woman shrugged. "Yeah, if I actually cared about the outcome, I probably would lean that way."

Zaina was furious. "So you've just decided you aren't going to teach me anything, and that's it Can I get a different mentor?"

The woman shook her head. "Nope. I'd suggest you drop out and save us both the trouble—and yourself the embarrassment. I have no time to drag you along anywhere."

"So—what am I supposed to do, then?" Zaina asked. "There's so much I need to know, isn't there?"

The woman shrugged. "Not really. You have it or you don't."

With a defeated sigh, Zaina asked, "Well, can you at least give me the okay to use whatever's in here?"

With an uncaring sideways nod, the woman said, "Sure, why not? You probably can't tell a grenade from a guard anyway."

Zaina's brain was on fire, burning with dislike for this woman. Every word that came from her mouth only further enraged Zaina.

I came here because I thought I could do something good. Gir thought so, too.

Gir hadn't been in her life for very long, but she still missed him. At least he wanted to help her—unlike whoever this was.

Even if he didn't have time because the world was ending. What's her excuse?

After a deep breath, she shook her head and fought back tears.

I'm sorry, Gir. I should have done more. I should have—oh, what's the point?