Page 5 of The Lost Empress

Jack sighed. “He said it was for tasks like this, so he could test our knowledge as riders without us relying on our dragons.”

“But we do have our dragons,” Gen argued. “Why do I need to read a million pages about moral philosophy when Emperor knows all that information?”

“So that you know it and can make your own decisions in and out of battle,” her dragon offered stoically.

Gen scowled at him. “Don’t tell me that you’re siding with that evil man.”

The giant purple, majestic dragon shook his head. “No, the task is unreasonable but the idea of you learning about these subjects is good. I think he picked it because it’s complex and hard to understand and even harder to test well on, since there’s much subjectivity to it. Dwayne simply thought that it sounded like a plausible assignment that would monopolize your time and get you out of his way. But it will be good for you to study up on the principles of moral philosophy.”

“I like that,” Sully cheered. “Use this as a happy accident. Turn it to your advantage.”

“You miss the point that Dwayne has a room where he can block our communication with our dragons,” Gen argued.

“For the purposes of testing,” Sully stated, pulling his sword from his back. “Don’t sweat this. We’ll help you study, you can shadow us and then you’ll finish this training on his terms. Then you can be ruling the streets of Los Angeles.”

Jack nodded, yanking his own weapon from its holster. “Yeah, play his game and do as Emperor suggests and use this as an opportunity to educate yourself.”

Gen pulled Bellumferrum from her pocket, knowing that it was time for sparring practice, which was why both men had their swords in their hands. “I don’t want to play by his rules. Dwayne is trying to make me quit or break me.”

Sully swung his sword, warming up his shoulder. “Probably. He definitely doesn’t want you on the streets working cases and is intimidated by your name and Emperor’s position among the dragons.”

Gen glanced at the ruler of dragons. He nodded in quiet reply. “Well, I’m not going to quit, but I don’t want to waste away on stupid tasks. All I’ve wanted is to fight.”

Jack lifted his sword, pointing the tip at the small black cube sitting on the top of Gen’s hand. “Then may I suggest we get to sparring? Practice makes for bloodier noses.”

Gen glanced at the Weapon of War sitting on her palm and then at the guy holding a sword at her. She smirked. “Fine, but did you bring a towel?”

Jack threw back his head. “For your bloody nose?”

She shook her head, her smile unfurling as Bellumferrum transformed in her hands into a sword. “For you and your friend’s bloody noses.”

Gen grabbed the hilt of the sword that appeared out of nowhere, enjoying the way that it perfectly fit her hands. Sully, still impressed by her strange device that responded to her will, becoming what she most needed at any given moment, jumped back, shaking his head.

“Hey now, I’m not getting bloody today again,” he argued, swinging his sword up to shoulder height.

“Me either,” Jack stated, swinging his sword with a low chuckle. “This is new armor.”

Gen brought her sword through the air, catching the blade of Jack’s sword, enjoying the strength he exuded, pushing her back with a blunt force. He never held back on her, fighting her like an equal. Sully however, seemed to fight Gen with restraint, as if he was afraid he’d hurt her. That notion made her laugh since she’d always telegraphed his moves before he made them, knocking him on his ass time and time again.

For instance, she saw Sully coming around her back, trying to gain an advantage. She feinted to the left and when he went that way, she dove low, kicking his legs out from under him. Then taking her second advantage, she brought her sword straight down on Jack, but he threw his up just in time, deflecting the attack.

They had sparred like this from the beginning, the three of them, going for full swings but always stopping before a deadly attack. It was the most fun that Gen had ever had. In the 15th century, no men but her father would spar with her. And even then, William Beaufont wouldn’t go full force on his daughter. Gen had trouble getting practice, but that was changing. Sully and Jack treated her like…well, like she was one of them. And that was refreshing since none of the other Rogue Riders gave her the same courtesy.

With their blades pressed hard against each other, Gen and Jack faced off. Both pressing hard against the weapons bearing down on them. Their eyes flickered between their swords and each other.

She knew that he was stronger than her. But he knew that she was quicker on her feet. Mass might move mass, but speed was always a factor in the dancing games.

Gen was just about to pivot, trying another maneuver when Bellumferrum transformed in her hands. She nearly fell straight into Jack when the sword was no longer defending her from the other blade.

Suddenly she was holding a bow in her hands, but clumsily since she was set up for sword play. Staggering back, Gen gawked at the bow that had sprung up out of nowhere. Jack and Sully both straightened, lowering their weapons in confusion.

Before Gen could question why Bellumferrum had changed without warning, it shifted again. This time, the bow turned into a small knife that had an impressive blade for its size.

“What the hell?” Sully questioned. “You can’t cheat in sparring practice by changing your weapon. You have to keep it consistent.”

“I’m not doing that,” Gen said, her eyes wide on the knife that changed again, this time to a claymore. Thankfully, Bellumferrum was bonded enough to her that her hands instantly conformed to the weapon and she always knew moments before what it was going to become. Still, this constantly changing was really a mind trick. She tossed the blade on the grassy ground, looking at her dragon. “What is happening?”

Emperor shook his head. “I’m not sure. There’s a problem with Bellumferrum.”

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