Tao of the Broken

Chapter Seven

Seven

            Sorrel and Eiji both spent the next year training under Batur’s vigilant eye.  They sparred often, each learning very different techniques.  Sorrel was small and lean and there was only so much force within her frame to power her attacks.  Eiji was larger, broad shouldered and long armed with a well-muscled frame.  It gave him an advantage of strength.  His punches could power straight through Sorrel if he caught her in them and any kick to her legs or blow to her body would lay her flat.  But Sorrel had speed.  She was all movements and feints.  Her feet were never still, her body weaving, flowing and sidestepping.  She had mastered her balance and could change her direction or motion midstream.  Her strikes were weaker but effective.  She could feint right, forcing Eiji to move into a left hook he hadn’t expected.  She would shout or plant a foot firmly against the ground and more often than he would like Eiji would focus on the sound and she would use the distraction to her advantage.

            In close range combat Sorrel excelled, yet if she was on the outside her reach was greatly lacking and she rarely got close enough for a body or head blow.  Those were the situations where Eiji could play with her, keeping her at a distance and hammering with hard hits.  If she was lucky Sorrel could strike a bicep or knee, disabling Eiji slightly.

            Through all of their fights Batur would stand motionless and watch.  He rarely interfered and would only approach them when one or the other gave in.  Then he would evaluate their performances, pointing out their weaknesses and strengths.  He often gave advice to them both, what they should have done versus what they had done.  Anything to avoid injury or weariness.

            “You should be able to assess any foe just by looking at him and his stance.  His facial expressions and his words.  You should be able to look at him and know you can beat him and how you will do so.  It doesn’t matter his size or his strength, there is always a way to defeat a foe who seems undefeatable.  This is where your mind matters most.  Your actions are the road to self-esteem and confidence.  You will gain neither if you remain like a stagnant pond.  Be a river, be the ocean.”  Batur’s words rang in Sorrel’s ears.

            She and Eiji had been particularly rough with each other and her right cheek was still stinging where he’d landed a glancing blow.  She hadn’t been quick enough to avoid it all together, merely to lighten it.

            “I’m sorry.”  Eiji told her again when Batur had dismissed them both.  “I threw it hard; I didn’t know I’d actually land it.”

            Sorrel thought he sounded happy with himself despite his words.  “It’s not that bad Eiji, but your apology would be more convincing if you wiped that grin off your face!  It was a good shot, I’ll give you that.”

            The two of them had grown even closer since Eiji had become her training partner.  They spent almost every waking hour together when they didn’t have their daily chores to attend.  Sorrel had grown extremely used to his constant presence; she’d also begun to interpret the feelings she had for him as something similar to Batur and Aster.  She wasn’t familiar with love and fleeting feelings.  She hadn’t even been aware that the comfort and family that Batur and Aster had raised her with was love.  The word more than the feeling was what confused her.

            She’d asked Aster what it was before when she had been told she was loved.  She had still been young then, and didn’t always believe it.  As a mother and father should love their child, that feeling was now familiar to her.  As a man like Batur loves a woman like Aster, that was a feeling that was new and confusing.  She had also asked Aster about her feelings.  Talking about Eiji with her mother still felt awkward when it wasn’t about training or their weather permitted jog.  Aster never asked about those things though, she always asked about a handhold or a sidelong glance.  She asked if they had kissed without his asking permission.  She had asked if Sorrel enjoyed it, or ever initiated it.  Sorrel always left those conversations feeling embarrassed.