Chapter 19 #2
“Don’t celebrate yet. She hasn’t tried an ax, and there’s still whatever the hell Elijah is doing,” Kolvar pointed out, taking the sword from me and gently placing it down. When he procured the ax, I eyed it with curiosity.
“This is a single-handed battle ax,” Kolvar explained as we walked back to the center.
“Swords like Dakath’s allow more space between your opponent and yourself, but axes are different.
You can throw them from afar, but you’d be left weaponless, so you want to avoid that.
In battle you would have a shield as well, but the main strategy with an ax is to focus on speed and power. ”
“I hate to tell you, but I don’t think I’ll be that strong, even with vampyre strength,” I teased, though I was itching to try it out.
His eyes flashed with a knowing light. “Maybe, but don’t say that too loud—I already had a date planned, and Dakath was selfish with you earlier.”
I mimicked zipping my lips, loving that he wanted this one-on-one time so badly.
As Kolvar began instructing me on the ax, I found that the process was drastically different than the sword, just as he said.
Instead of sparring with each other, we used a straw-filled dummy as he explained the mechanics of cutting down your opponent in key spots before they could retaliate.
When that was finished, he showed me how to block attacks with a shield. A shield that was obviously not meant for me, since I could barely hold the damn wood and metal contraption up, but I was able to glean the basics.
At the end of the session, I realized that the sword and ax, while both things I could grow comfortable with, weren’t tools I could use with ease. Neither felt right. Neither felt like an extension of myself.
“I’m back,” Elijah announced, presenting me with two daggers.
They were a bit large in my hands, something he commented on, but already I felt far better holding them than I had when wielding either of the others.
When he walked me through the technique and directed me to attack the straw dummy, I landed more successful blows than I had with the others, and I didn’t find my arms trembling from exhaustion. I could keep going for a long time.
“I like these,” I admitted, turning back to him after pulling a dagger from the straw sack.
“Figured with how fast you were, you would. They are light, although personalized ones would be even lighter, and you need speed, not power.” Elijah paused before adding with a smirk, “Just not too much speed. Wouldn’t want to smack into a wall.”
My mouth dropped open. “Did you just make a joke?”
He uncharacteristically winked at me before motioning for the daggers, taking them and walking back towards the others, clearly happy with our progress.
Actually, that was an understatement—he was smug as fuck.
I couldn’t help but feel on edge at how lighthearted he appeared today.
It was probably due in part to him being in his element with combat training, but it felt like something else as well.
Nerves unfurled in my chest. It was clear the daggers were my favorite, so that meant he would earn the date with me. But would he take it? We really needed to continue our conversation from earlier.
“Elijah uses everything,” Dakath explained, before shaking his head with what appeared to be frustration. “He doesn’t even have a chosen weapon because he’s good with literally everything. And never have I seen him use a dagger before. It isn’t his personal weapon, which is what the bet was.”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at his wounded look, begging me to disqualify Elijah.
“Because you know I won, you’re trying to invalidate that I knew what she needed best!
” Elijah called out from where he was putting the pile of weapons away.
When he walked back over, though, he seemed in a good mood still.
“That’s fine, though. I have something to arrange for tomorrow anyway that will take up my time. ”
“You’re going to be gone tonight?” I asked softly, hurt. I thought he’d truly wanted to win with how seriously he took finding me the perfect weapon.
“Only for a short time. I’m still right across the hall if you need anything,” he said, and I wondered briefly what would happen if I did go to his room…
I shook the thought from my head. I wasn’t brave enough to do that yet. There were only so many refusals a girl could take.
Elijah turned, saying he needed to speak with Myrin, so I refocused on Dakath and Kolvar, both of them offering me expectant, heated looks.
“So what’s your decision?” Kolvar asked.
I offered a teasing smile. “Well, I liked both the sword and ax equally”—I put a hand up as they both went to protest—“but Dakath, we already had a date today, so I pick the ax.”
“Fuck,” Dakath grunted, letting out a sigh while pinning Kolvar with a narrowed but amused look. The man in question picked me up, spinning me around before kissing me hard enough my head spun.
Something settled in my chest at that moment. It was amazing to see how well we all fit together when Elijah was in a good mood, and I already felt confidence surging within me at my budding combat skills.
I’d never be defenseless again.