Crossed Paths

Chapter 5

I looked up at him, then hesitantly took his hand. Deitonin gave my hand a gentle squeeze as we stepped out of the alley. Jak shot him a death glare as we approached them, and I gently pulled my hand away. Jak glanced at Deitonin, then to me; his behavior told me that he knew something was up.

But I kept up my poker face; not even an enigma like Jak could read what was on my mind.

The walk was quiet, but it was an awkward quiet to say the least. We entered the bazaar, and Jak walked up to a kiosk selling fruit. He bought a bag of apples and a loaf of fresh bread. Rhi had bought some dried meat for Deitonin while she got some apples for herself.

We sat on the edge of the fountain, eating our meal when Deitonin spoke up.

"Is there anything you guys want to do?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Dunno...But I am kinda getting rough on my fighting. I need to get my instincts back."

"That seems like something you and Jak should do," Rhi points out, "since you two are around the same strength level. Dei fights like a beast."

I nod slowly. "Yeah...

Deitonin locked eyes with me and gave me a wolfish grin. " It'd be nice to fight you one day though..."

I paused before nodding. "Maybe...if I get any better."

His smile widened, his sharp fangs showing again. I blinked before looking back up to him.

"Don't put yourself down," he said in a purring voice. "Everyone gets better the more they practice..."

I could feel my ears heating up, but I willed the blush back. "I haven't fought in an actual fight in a long time...six years to be exact."

Deitonin leaned up against an abandoned kiosk. "I see...then we must go to the desert if you're ever to get any practice."

Jak made a sound of interest behind me. "Training, eh?"

Deitonin smirked. "So you like training? That's good...training is allowed outside villages so long as you don't cause too much destruction."

I chuckled. "I can handle that. But I don't know about the Demolition Duo over here."

I lightly elbow Jak, who playfully shoves back, smirking.

Deitonin barked a laugh. "This is going to be fun..."

My left hand rested on the hilt of my longsword, my fingers twitching in anticipation. I was ready to fight.

•/+{∆}+\•

We were in the vast expanse of desert, just a mile from the village. Despite my pleads and my infamous puppy-dog-eyes trick, I had to set my sword aside and battle Jak with one of the intricate daggers I kept in my satchel. I rolled my shoulders, ready to fight. Jak looked in a similar mood; he gave me a taunting smirk.

"Alright, you two," Deitonin said to us as he sat down under a tree with Rhi at his side. "Just don't try to kill one another."

I laugh. "We won't, we promise!"

Jak nods. "We'll be fine, don't worry!"

Jak moves out about twenty feet ahead of me. He turns his own dagger in his hands.

"Ready when you are!" He shouts to me.

I nod, moving forward with my dagger in my palm. I watch Jak with tentative as he mimics my movement. I lunge at him, but he saw it coming, dodging my attack easily. My eyes narrowed as I turned and slashed at him, the blade barely nicking his side.