Entrance to the Song (completed)

Chapter 18 - Forgiver of Truths

Earth's deepest truths are hidden in man

Every evening for the past two weeks I practiced on the field. I talked to Entrance while I trained on my own. During training with Mistress Vega, she seemed to take pleasure in beating me senseless. She alone taught me in hand to hand combat. I tried to hold the correct stance while standing in the middle of the sparring field with Vega eyeing my posture. My mind wasn't into combat this morning and sweat already beaded on my forehead.

Benin seemed distant after the Brugmansia incident, only speaking when spoken to, and much more morose than usual. Sol carried secret smiles, but he also kept his distance. There was something that happened that they weren't telling me. What could I have –said? At least Mistress Vega was consistent with her penetrating eyes and stern demeanor.

Why should I even care what any of them think? I was here for a purpose.

Besides, my dad always said boys were stupid. Although, it was probably because he didn't want me dating. The thought almost made me smile. It seemed like a long time since I had anything to be joyful about. My family was gone.

I missed Benin's compliments and the way he made me feel beautiful. Why couldn't he do what he normally did, it always brightened my day? It's something I didn't notice until he stopped. Benin was so clever, and he got me out of a full day of torture, but I still got the inkling that more happened than Benin or Sol would tell me.

"Focus," Mistress Vega said interrupting my stream of thoughts.

I nodded but still found it difficult.

There were tremors disturbing the earth daily. Each day seemed to be a little worse. The news hadn't called them earthquakes yet, but they would come next. Entrance said the microcosm of earth's realms was out of balance. Other realms were seeing more devastation because of the Earth Singers imprisonment. Mistress Vega said we were running out of time. The fear of failing plagued the back of my mind. So many lives were at stake and they relied on us to save them.

"Focus," Vega snapped startling me.

I frowned. Anger roiled in my stomach. Didn't she see I was trying?

"I am focused," I said.

Her eyebrow went up, but she didn't comment.

"Remember that you grab anything that could be a weapon," she said. Vega held a crowbar, twirling it around in her hand. I held a frying pan, wondering how I would ever end up in a fight holding a frying pan, but I had no say in the training. She had forbidden me from asking another question. If I asked a question, she would make me go to the sickening room, which cut off my abilities, for training. I learned not to incur her wrath no matter how much I wanted to.

My stance was shoulder width apart with my knees bent, and I held the pan in a firm but loose grip waiting for her to attack. She moved like a tigress circling her prey.

The sun beamed on my exposed skin. I was panting - this was our fourth weapon today.

We went through the same sequence of moves with different objects. Bruises covered my arms from getting hit, and scrapes were on my legs from falling.

"Good start," she said, making me almost lose my stance. She berated me for my inability to stand like a fighter for the past two weeks. Never once did she give me a compliment.

She swung the crowbar, aiming for my midsection. I countered with the pan, sending a reverberating clink into the air.

Her foot reached out to knock me off balance, and I stepped back, sinking into a grounded stance.