Book 1 - The trap - 2

After the morning meeting, Theo and Neera had left for Duino, deciding to dedicate the day entirely to training.

Neera was making way through the woods. "What were you talking about with Rufus, earlier?"

She heard him stop briefly in his tracks, then resume. "I asked him to teleport you away without hesitation as soon as he teleports us on location," he admitted, his voice firm.

Neera swirled around to face him, mouth open in protest.

"This is non-negotiable, Nyr," he stopped her before she could even make her case. "I'm not going to put you needlessly at risk. I thought we went over this already." He cocked an eyebrow, referencing their heated conversation the night before, under her porch.

"And what about you, Theo? Or the others? Rufus needs to fight by your side, you can't just send him away to babysit me!"

"We are trained fighters; we can do with one less pair of hands. You, on the other hand, can't fight. I would be barely focusing on my target if I knew you were there too, Nyr. I would be too worried protecting you rather than trying to catch that hell hound." His eyes were a bit sad. "I need to know you're safe."

Neera bit her lip. "Teach me, then."

Confusion knitted Theo's brow. "Teach you what?"

"Teach me how to fight." Determination lit up her eyes. "That way you won't have to worry about me and I could actually help you take the Bishop down."

"What makes you think you'll be able to fight with ONE day of training, exactly?" He scoffed, incredulous.

"Come on, Theo. You said it yourself that I'm powerful. Surely you can teach me a couple of useful moves by tonight?" She grinned, hopeful.

Realising he would not have been able to convince her to desist, he gave up. "Fine. I'll teach you. But this is just for emergencies; Rufus will still take you away before the battle starts," he conceded.

"Whatever you want," she conceded, giving him a peck on the lips, glad of her small victory.

***

Just as he had for the past month, Achlys followed the two wielders in the woods, to spy on their training. Today they seemed more emotional than usual, he reflected, as he watched them stop in their tracks and argue.

He listened intently to their quarrelling, concealed by the thick vegetation. So, you're going to trick me, now, are you? Her immense power would be bait and they would be somewhere nearby, ready to intervene.

He chuckled to himself. This is going to be fun, he thought sadistically. When the woman asked her friend to teach her how to fight, Achlys would have given himself away, had he not suffocated the laughter he felt bubbling up. Her signature was powerful, but fight? She would never learn how to, in a day, least of all from that arrogant sod. He had encountered him once before. Hot-headed, the sod had not been able to score a hit; his fighting style was as unstable and ungraceful as his temper. Achlys had him in his grasp in seconds, but, having felt merciful that day, he had let him go.

Maybe I should have just squashed that insect when I had the chance, he thought wearily, as he watched the woman standing on her tiptoes to kiss the sod. He shook his head. Bloody human world is affecting me. He sighed to himself, forcing the ping of jealousy out of his head.

He followed them to the pebbled beach and watched them train.

***

Neera let herself fall in the water, exhausted. They had been training for the better part of the day and she had not been able to score a hit once.

"Giving up so easily?" Theo joked, offering a hand.

"You wish," she replied maliciously, pulling Theo down in the water. They skirmished playfully for a bit, until Theo raised his hands in surrender at Neera's splashing in his direction, and said, "Fine, you win!"

"That's what I thought," she said, floating closer into his open arms. They stayed like that for a while, embracing each other in the shallow water, without saying anything.

"I'd never thought I'd find you again, Nyr," Theo eventually broke the silence. He looked her in the eye, with an intensity that took her breath away. "I'd thought I'd lost you forever, when we parted ways ten years ago."

She felt her stomach squirmish uneasily. Similar thoughts had bothered her, and she desperately wanted to open her heart to him once again... But her instinct was still on high alert.

Thinking of what he had told her the night they had met again, that late spring, she heaved a sigh. "Why did you send me away, Theo?" she asked, thoughtfully.

With an apologetic smile, he replied, "I told you, Nyr. I was afraid you'd think I was a freak or something, if I had told you the truth."

She was not entirely convinced though. "Are you sure there is nothing else?" She had a feeling he was still hiding something from her, though she was not sure what or how big it was.

For a split second, guilt flashed across his face.

Even though she was studying him attentively, she wondered if she had just imagined it.

"Nothing else, I promise," he whispered, then kissed her lightly on her forehead. Watching the sun making its way toward the horizon, he added grimly, "We should get going."