Chapter 14 Ariana
ARIANA
My lungs nearly collapsed from the force of being thrown to the ground. It took several seconds to get my breath back or move. With a groan, I slumped to my side before finding the strength to stand.
“You need to not focus so hard on one thing,” Kole commented while watching me struggle to get onto my feet.
“Make up your mind, Lysian.” I snapped, sounding embarrassingly winded. “One day you’re telling me to focus more, and the next, that I am focusing too much.”
“That’s because before you were like a little butterfly, just wandering about, dazed. And now you are so hyper-focused on one thing that you miss the complete picture,” he countered.
“If I were a butterfly, then I would have been crushed by now,” I grumbled with frustration.
Things did not always come easily to me, but they rarely stagnated for so long.
I was no better now than when I first began training with Kole a few days ago.
Granted, a few days was not much time, but I feared I had gotten worse.
“If I used my full force, then you very much would have been a crushed butterfly,” Kole stated, folding his arms across his chest. “You were so focused on my teeth and hands that you missed the rest of my body, leaving you open.”
“Show me an attack to try on you,” I demanded, growing tired of chronically being on the defensive.
“You need to learn basic defense first,” he answered with a frown.
I learned basic defense when I was a child. I was decent at it when sparring with Bavadrins. Lysians were impossible, their moves and skills incomparable. On behalf of my entire race, I felt a bit defeated.
Despite everything, I tried to charge him.
He moved with ease, even sighing, leaving a leg in front of me while shoving me with one of his arms. I went flying to the ground, eating dirt.
“Ashes and bones,” Kole muttered for the first time, sounding a trace concerned for throwing me to the ground, but his gaze drew to the side. His words were meant for someone else.
I followed his line of sight to Erik. He was standing with a Lysian female, the two of them watching me.
I flushed with embarrassment at what they just witnessed.
Erik appeared to nod in agreement to something the female said, dark blue eyes appraising me once more before he turned and left.
The female then sauntered down the small hill, heading straight for us.
“Get up,” Kole mumbled under his breath before plastering an incredibly fake smile on his face and turning towards the female approaching. Never had I seen him try to be anything but himself until that moment. Emotions other than happiness tainted his smile.
“Eislyn, it’s good to see you.” He greeted her as I got to my feet. Did he think anyone believed those words with the smile that looked more like a scowl on his face?
The female looked me over with brilliant green eyes.
She was fair, like all the Lysians. Of the skin showing, it was pristine with nary a scar, indicating her skill.
Her clothing was dark brown and loose-fitting.
Her blond hair was unbound, cascading over her shoulders and down her back like golden rivers.
She looked beautiful until her smile exposed those sharp canines.
“Tell me, Kole, how is someone so talented as you are in hand-to-hand combat so awfully terrible at teaching?” Her voice was lyrical and sweet-sounding even as the words jabbed at him.
Kole rolled his eyes, folding his hands over his chest. “What do you want, Eislyn?” The smile completely evaporated. He quickly gave up his pleasant facade.
“I would like to teach the girl if she is willing,” she stated, before turning to me. “My name is Eislyn, and I am certain that you would get a better experience if I were to help here…”
“Yeah, she would get an experience alright,” Kole bit out.
Eislyn’s green gaze cut to him. “Better than any you could offer.” Icy tension spread through the air.
Kole did not respond, though his face flushed.
She turned her sights back on me. “Would you like for me to teach you? I promise you won’t spend as much time on the ground unless you want to.”
“Absolutely not,” Kole answered, irritation lacing his voice. Whoever this female was, she was incredible at igniting his anger with minimal effort. I had seen him annoyed and bored, but he was never quick to anger until that moment.
“It’s not up to you. Erik already agreed.” She glanced at Kole. “If the Bavadrin wishes it then it is a done deal.” Green eyes narrowed triumphantly as her lips curved into a smirk.
Both of the Lysians then turned to me, waiting for a response.
“I—I’d like that,” I said. It was a chance to get to know another Lysian and learn more about their weaknesses if they had any. Unfortunately, Kole was difficult to pull information from; his mind was like a fortress. So perhaps I’d have better luck with someone else.
“Have it your way.” His entire stance was rigid.
“I’ll return her to her room at sunset. You’re dismissed.” Eislyn waved a hand in the air, shooing him away flippantly.
“If anything happens to her . . .” he warned, and by the intensity, I imagined that his hackles would have been raised if he were a wolf.
“Don’t worry. I don’t break things. That’s your realm.” She spoke with a calm that only fueled Kole’s temper.
He stepped towards her. Eislyn held her ground, not giving him an inch. Though claws slid out from her fingertips in a silent threat to not come any closer. Kole noted them and stilled.
I cautiously moved away, having no idea how far this might escalate. What would I do if they actually physically attacked one another?
“At least I’m trustworthy,” he muttered while turning to leave.
“I’m pretty sure Erik trusted you to protect her when she got herself in trouble with a couple of Lysians.” Her voice dropped. There was anger simmering within her, mirroring his.
Kole paused, and I thought he would turn on her, but he didn’t. A moment passed and then he continued walking away from us. Though he did not acknowledge her response, it was clear by the way he moved it bothered him, his body tight and direct as he left.
“What should I call you? Is Ariana fine?” Eislyn asked, seeming to forget her entire encounter with Kole. Her displeasure evaporated into a smile. The claws retracted.
“Yes, Ariana,” I answered her.
She looked me over with sharp observant eyes. “Well, Ariana. You look like you can use a break. Are you hungry?”
“Am I ever!” My stomach nearly growled in agreement as I smiled. I wanted the Lysian to like me, to see me as nonthreatening. The warmer she felt towards me the easier I hoped it would be to learn something of use.
“Alright. We will go grab a bite and then get back into training.” She looked over her shoulder as if in thought. “Have you been to the west wing dining hall?”
“I—I haven’t really been anywhere, at least not where there are gatherings of Lysians. Normally, I just eat in my room.” I stammered over my words, surprised by her question.
A slow smile spread across her face. “Don’t tell me that you have primarily been around Kole your entire stay?”
I nodded.
Next thing I knew, Eislyn placed an arm around my shoulders and began moving me towards one of the buildings. My new companion didn’t have the same boundaries that Kole had. She clearly was comfortable with little personal space. I, on the other hand, wished to peel her arm from me.
“You poor thing. To think Erik wants you to feel comfortable and safe, yet he placed that large dumb ox as your only source of Lysian interaction.” She shook her head as if she couldn’t believe it.
“He isn’t too bad,” I offered, feeling off-kilter about the sudden change of events.
With my time in the Lysian lands, I learned the things Kole responded favorably to, and those he didn’t.
His familiarity had become a comfort, and without either him or Erik with me, I felt more out of place than usual.
I tried to focus on the opportunity before me.
This new change presented me a chance to learn more and hopefully aid in my eventual escape.
“That’s because you do not know how much better it can be,” she stated flatly, apparently not caring for my favor towards Kole.
As we entered the building, her arm finally fell from my shoulder, and I was happy for the freedom of it. Lysians were lethal, and I didn’t particularly enjoy having one of them casually draped over me. A few feet of separation offered no great protection, but it gave me a morsel of peace.
Eislyn led me down an inner hall and then into a dining room.
The hum of conversations and forks scraping plates greeted us as we rounded the corner and entered the room.
There were a dozen dark wooden tables throughout the space with four to six seats per table.
When we entered, half the Lysians present took obvious note of me.
The other half appeared to ignore me entirely, though I was sure they monitored my movements from where they sat.
It was as though I was thrust into a den of serpents, each of them capable of striking me dead.
They slithered in place, poised to attack while I followed Eislyn deeper into their stronghold.
Even if I used my conjuring, there were too many of them in such proximity.
I wouldn’t stand a chance. My heart raced despite my attempt at keeping myself calm.
Eislyn peered at me from the side, though she said nothing.
Instead, she turned her attention to an older Lysian female who guarded the kitchen behind her.
I followed Eislyn until we stood before the kitchen guard.
She had withered skin, her hands covered in scars that came from a lifetime ago.
A tie pulled long dark hair with streaks of gray back into a low bun.
Her face was set with an unreadable stone expression.
“Good afternoon, Brie. We want three plates of potatoes, turkey leg, and pickled cabbage.” Eislyn smiled at the Lysian.