Chapter 4

Training To Clear the Mind (Part 2)

“There you are!” called out Korv as he descended the stairs to the room where Shaela trains in her sword-forms.

“Korv” Shaela said tersely as she continued with her forms. She was hoping to avoid him, but her being a creature of habit he knew her routines too well for that.

“You missed our sparring session earlier, care to go now?”

“Not really.”

“Why not, afraid you’ll lose?” he said with a triumphant smirk to his face.

“If only your sword-arm was as sharp as your tongue I might be afraid. But no, I am just not in the mood.”

Korv looked furious. He was the Emperor’s nephew and not used to being spoken to that way. Shaela knew that he despised her as well, so mocking him probably wasn’t the wisest course of action.

“Fight me Greyling.” he demanded.

“Don’t call me that.”

“Why not? It’s what you are isn’t it?”

“I am Helsian.”

“Exactly, you are nothing more than an animal. And you will fight me.” Korv could see the fire in Shaela’s eyes, he leveled his sword in front of her face. “I can see it in your eyes, you want to fight. Do it!”

“Fine” she snapped as she took her place opposite Korv.

They circled each other cautiously for a few moments, one mirroring the moves of the other before Korv launched his attack. A swift, phase-shifting charge that probably would’ve worked on a lesser opponent but Shaela was ready for it and met that attack with her shield.

Shaela was quick, deceptively so for her size and in the end she proved to quick, too strong for Korv as she caught him on the jaw with a solid shield-bash that laid him out on the floor.

Shaela stood over her defeated opponent, wanting nothing more than to finish him, end his miserable life. But instead she turned around and walked away.