How Things Are

nineteen

Every day. All I did was train. Train, sleep, or eat, but only if I trained hard enough. Lucas hardly ever spoke to me. Some men came in and out of the house throughout the day and Lucas would give them orders or they would bring him news. Teedo would never let me stay long enough to listen. He would always say things like "If you have time to stand there then you have time to train." Drake enjoyed watching me struggle but blocking his kocky remarks out was easy.
Teedo would beat me til I couldn't fight anymore. Not once could I make any headway when it came to martial arts. He said I was getting better with my katana though. Most days I think he said that to make me feel better. When it comes to his skills I can't measure up. He brought in other swordsmen for me to train against to see what level I was at. Lucas was right. I could only beat the three out of the five. I'm just mediocre.

The looks on Drake and Teedos' faces, when I trained with them, made me feel better. I've learned when Drake gets irritated or angry at me, means I'm improving. As for Teedo, he rarely praises me so he usually nods his head when I've done well that day and grunts if I've done poorly.

Every time I ask about Winwrey, Lucas blows me off. Always says "She's my brother's slave, not mine" or he'll just plain tell me to leave. I've seen a few women come and go here. Mostly to clean and cook his meals. It's always the same few. Lucas says I'm not allowed to talk to them. I'm not allowed to talk to quite a few people, but it never stops me from trying when Teedos is not around.

So far, I'm the only one who hasn't been allowed to leave this place. I overheard Lucas tell Teedo and Drake I can leave when I'm fully trained. When the heck will that be to him? When Drake runs his mouth about me being stuck here, it's the only time I ever get annoyed. Which is usually at the end of every day. It's usually how he says goodbye.

Right now I'm in the room Lucas gave me looking out the window at the view of the city. I know I should be sleeping but these past few months of being here have made me realize I've blocked out everything I used to be just to be one of them. Lucas has marked me as one of his... one of his what? He won't let me out of his sight. And if he leaves, I have a keeper. I wonder if Win is going through something similar. These thoughts haunt me at night so my sleep is suffering.

Lucas has been having more meetings than usual. In and out of this place. Whenever he gets back he'll watch me train for a few minutes then leave. Teedo has been talking to him about something too. It's like something is bothering him as well. If I want to know these things I have to make it to the top. There's always a price for going to the top. Everyone respects Lucas. His word is law. No questions, just do as you're told. This means if I want answers, I have to do as the others have done here. I have to belong to Lucas.

My heart turns to steel as I train the next morning. There's been a spark in Teedos eyes. It's new but it may be a distraction. I can't be sure. We battle with our wooden swords and then it happens. He tries to trip me but my senses have gotten sharper. I feel that moment. He tries to strike. It's like everything is so slow. What is this? I feel his next move before I can see it. A right swing. I jump back. He's about to knee me in the face. I take the handle of the wooden sword and hit his knee. He stumbles but we don't stop. That's not how Teedo is. If I freeze he'll attack. We cross swords. Did he just smirk? His fist almost hits my face. I dodge. Teedo is smiling. It's a scary smile. He goes faster. He was taking it easy on me? I dodge his attempt to stab my gut and kick his ribs. The sound of feet on the floor, breathing, the air rushing before the next swing. These are what matter right now. Not all my questions. Just getting stronger. He's getting even faster now. All this time he was going so easy on me. To the left and under. We both predict each other's moves. Our eye contact never leaves each other. He stumbled again but it's fake. His left foot is twisting, ready for me to be tripped. I've seen these moves before but now he's not going easy on me. It's like he's telling me to give him a reason to show you something new. Is he?
My arms move on their own, Yet fighting with him like this feels like I have done this so many times. Perhaps I've been holding back and all this doubt and worry and irritation has been holding me back as well. If he wants a challenge I'll give him one. I smile as well. His eyebrows raised for a moment but then the battle continued. For how long I don't know we each swing and dodge each other's attack but our breaths are heavy. The sun has long set. We drew a crowd of a few of Lucas' men. It's in our eyes that this battle with wooden swords won't end til one of us falls as sweat is dripping from both of us. The clocking sounds are music as we dance.
Then it happens. Something was thrown right under my foot and I tripped. It took me by surprise. Teedo hit my ribs and I lost. Everyone was silent. I grabbed what made me fall and stood up. Drake started laughing. Everyone looked at Drake. There were a few indifferent looks and a few disappointed ones, but in the end, I lost. Some shook their heads. Teedo saw what happened and was angry.
"What the heck Drake?!"
"What? You guys were taking too long." He snickered.
Someone else looked at him the same way Teedo did "We all wanted to see it end properly idiot."
Another spoke up "Reasons like these are exactly why you don't have your armada mark or tattoo."
Someone else against the wall took the water bottle cap that rolled under my feet out of my hand. He looked at it. "You'll only be looked at as a sneaky gang banger if you keep pulling snake moves like this Drake."
So many were angry."So what? We should just let all slave girls carry swords now?"
Teedo stepped in front of him. "This jealousy you feel towards Tibby has interfered with the boss's orders he gave me to train her." I could see Drake's eyes widen for a moment. "You'll be removed from your duties he's instructed you since you have no intention on carrying them out."
Drake looked furious "You can't do that!" He glanced at me "All this for a slavewoman!"
Teedo was now toe to toe with Drake "I can as Lucas's second. And she's earned her tattoo unlike you."
Drake looked at me and then stormed out of the room. "What will happen to him? Since you removed him from the job he was given.
The man who called Drake a snake looks at me. "He'll be given a crummy job. Probably has to earn his way up the ladder."
I looked at him and took the water cap out of his hands. "I need to get better. To stumble over a friggin water bottle cap. Stupid." I mumble though due to the chuckles in the room, I think they heard me.
"Let's get your ribs looked at then you can hit the showers." Teedo grabbed my arm and pulled me along.
"Yeah? What about your knee."
"Don't get kocky." No one dared laugh at Teedo.