Book of Trirealm. Master Of Elements [BL]

CHAPTER 5. Enjoying Freedom

Tens was awakened by the sound of thunder. The cave smelled of rain and dampness. Lightning still flashed in the sky, and he couldn't tell if it was day or night.

He shuddered and sat up abruptly, thinking sleepily, that they had been found by the pursuers from the workers' village. Realizing everything was all right, he relaxed a little and only now noticed that Veollys was jumping silently through the cave, practicing his fighting moves.

Tens hadn't expected that from him. It seemed to him that this kind of exercise didn't fit frivolous lifestyle of a love priest. Once again Veollys amazed him. Tens had been most surprised when Veollys had caught a huge wild ratchewer in the forest with his bare hands, meaning to eat it raw, for lack of time to cook.

Veollys seemed soft and pampered, his hands as white and clean as those of a princess. But that didn't stop him from sticking them in the dirt, eating food off the ground, or tearing into the throat of any animal with his dagger-like teeth. Of course, after that Veollys could spend an hour washing himself in the nearest stream and looking in the mirror even longer. But the very ease with which he was doing something so unpleasant and unexpected amazed Tens.

I've seen too little of life after all, he thought.

Tens wasn't well-versed in fighting techniques, but what he saw struck him as magnificent. Veollys' precise and graceful movements were full of demonic power. Tens watched him mesmerized until Veollys suddenly froze, looking outward.

"Why did you stop?" Tens asked after a while, when Veollys didn't continue.

The youth flinched, as if he had actually forgotten that he wasn't alone. After making a few mistakes, he had stopped, figuring he had been doing it all wrong. But unable to explain it, he only shrugged.

"It wasn't Master Rikr who taught you, right?" Tens concluded, remembering his lessons with the local tutor. "Who then? A client?"

Veollys nodded, Yes.

"Isn't it convenient to be pretty and work in a brothel?" Tens said, moving closer and trying to reach the youth's face.

He was immediately slapped on the hand, but was already holding out the other. Veollys pulled it away, too. Tens kept up, and they began to fight, running all over the cave.

Tens knew few techniques. However, through many fights with other boys, he had gained a lot of experience. Veollys had only really fought a couple times in his life, and that was about forty years ago, but he had gotten a few lessons from passing masters. In addition, he had been trained almost constantly by the governor's daughter, who was very fond of him. Of course, Veollys fought off all of Tens's attacks, even the most aggressive ones. After a while, he got tired of fooling around. Then he pushed the boy outside into the rain and got really scared when Tens almost fell off a cliff.

"Have you saved me twice just to throw me off a rock?" Tens blustered jokingly, returning to the cave.

Seeing he was alright, Veollys only gave him a toothy grin and indicated that he was going to rest. They had agreed to take turns sleeping, for safety.

The priest pulled on his mask and lay down facing the wall. But no sooner had he closed his eyes than he heard footsteps from behind. Tens sat down next to him, examining the demon's back. Veollys thought the boy wanted to fight again, and tensed in anticipation of an attack. But Tens only asked quietly:

"Will you teach me?"

Veollys sat up, looking at him appraisingly. Puny and short, the boy looked up at him with shiny green eyes and waited patiently for an answer. His clothes were tattered, his face dirty, his shoulder-length hair disheveled, but he didn't care. Veollys wanted to stick him in a tub of warm water and let him soak for a day. Maybe then he'd be cleaner.