The Blood in Our Veins

Chapter Fifty - Coming Rescue

The sun was high in the sky as I swept off the dirt from the stone path out back. The task was pointless, considering a simple breeze would force me to start over. I had been redirecting the winds to make my job about fifty times easier. I paused to watch a few boys run by. They were shouting and battling with wooden swords. I smiled and continued my work. If only they knew how awful war really was. Birds twittered in the trees. I began humming a song of my own. I had been banned from the abbey's library until my list of chores was completely finished. I was hardly halfway done with the walkway when a voice caught my attention.

"You ready to lose, May?" Ryon asked, referring to his promise to practice an armed combat scenario. I spun to face him.

"Definitely. I just have to finish my work." I extended my hand. A great wind blew all the dirt from the path. "Race ya." I sprinted toward the shed. Ryon tried his hardest to catch up, but it was useless. I yanked the door off its rusty hinges, and dove inside. I snatched a long wooden pole from the corner. A staff.

Just as Ryon entered the shed, I placed a well-aimed kick to his chest. He flew back. I rolled my eyes when he landed clean. I whirled my staff just to show off for the group of boys who had come to watch. I hit away a fist that came flying toward me and smacked Ryon across the head. My staff connected with the back of his knees and he came crashing down.

As he lay in a daze, I grabbed two dull practice swords from the shed. I offered him the hilt. He jumped to his feet and took the weapon from my hand. I dropped my staff. The clang of metal rang out in the courtyard as our blades clashed. The boys cheered. I laughed as Ryon's weapon missed me entirely. I sliced off a portion of my friend's tunic. Our swords crossed and caught at the hilt. We watched eachother through the 'X' they created.

"Give up now." he muttered.

"Hell no."

"You'll just lose anyway."

"No I won't."

"Yes, you will."

"Nuh-uh."

"Yuh-huh." With those words, he tore away, taking my weapon with him. My sword flew across the pathway, turning end-over-end, and landed in the dirt. The tip of his blade scratched my throat. "It's over."  

"Don't worry. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve." I said. I had meant it literally. My two daggers, clean and sharp, slid into my palms. I trapped his sword between them, then spun to the side. Before he could react, I caught my blades in his crosshilt and ripped the sword from his grip. My daggers found themselves a hair's width away from either side of Ryon's neck. The boys hollered and laughed. I slid my daggers back into my sleeves.

Ryon shook his head. "Looks like you managed to keep a nice hold on all of that Training." he said in wonder. I shrugged. The boys rushed forward and surrounded the two of us. They started talking over eachother, all complimenting and asking if I could teach them to do any of that. I ignored them and began exercising my powers. Lightning crackled between my fingers. Thunder rumbled through the stone of the abbey. The boys fell silent and stared at me in awe. I realized with horror that I may have given myself away.

I clenched my fist. The lightning vanished and my thunder retreated. I took a mental note that I would practice my powers only in the cover of night. I then had a brilliant idea.

"Do you boys want to help me?" I asked. They nodded eagerly. I took out my list of chores. I tore the paper into three strips, one for each column. I separated the children into three groups and gave the oldest in each one a piece. "The group that finishes their jobs and gives me their list first wins. Go!" They scattered, ready as ever to please.