A Court of Three Stars

12: Sprinkles

68 years ago, Lunathion, Valbara

Leur

"This is stupid." Ruhn threw himself down on the training mat, limbs spread in every direction.

"It's not." I grabbed him by the shoulders, picking him back up to stand, "Your feet are the most important thing when you're fighting. Balance is the key to everything else."

"I don't want to." He whined.

"You'll be happy you did, someday." I gave him a look, "Two more sets and then we can be done for today."

He started his balance technique again, learning how to turn on the ball of his foot, how to switch his weight effectively. I stood and watched, giving him corrections every once in a while.

"How do you know all this stuff?" He asked, still finishing his set.

I started cleaning up the supplies as I answered him, "Someone taught me a long time ago."

"Why?"

"Same reason I'm teaching you." I threw the wooden swords in the closet and slammed the door shut before they could all topple out. It would be a problem for another day, "Learning how to defend yourself is important."

Cassian probably would have had a better answer than that, but it was all I could really come up with. Training Ruhn made me miss my brother so much that I couldn't breathe sometimes, those rare moments where I caught myself saying the same things he used to say to me, giving Ruhn the same lessons I had when I was his age.

"Have you ever had to fight someone before?" Ruhn asked.

Hundreds of years of battles and blood flashed in my head as I answered, "Once or twice."

"Did you win?"

"Sometimes." I said, "Spread your toes out, it'll make it easier."

"Do you think I will ever have to fight someone?"

Fuck, I hoped not.

"Maybe." I shrugged, "Two more and then we can be done."

Ruhn finished his exercise, and we were rolling the mats up when he said, "I don't want to fight anyone."

"No?"

"Well..." He looked over at me, mischief in his little violet eyes, "Maybe Olga."

I let out a bright laugh as I carried the mat over and leaned it against the corner, "What'd she do this time?"

"She said that we can't have ice cream on my birthday." Ruhn frowned.

I put a hand on his back to lead him from the room, "Why not?"

"She says it's too much sugar."

Fucking bitch.

"I'll take you to get ice cream on your birthday." I gave him a smile, "But you have to wait until then."

He turned, trying to give me those puppy dog eyes that usually made me cave. Normally, I probably would have.

But not today.

Today, I had something better up my sleeve.

"It's only a few days." I laughed.

His innocent look dropped into a scowl, "Yeah, but you won't be back until my birthday. And I don't want you to go."

I hated that he was right.

But Cylos had called a meeting of the Royal Council to discuss... honestly, I couldn't even remember what he wanted. Probably something that I was going to have to talk him out of, which would take me a few days.