Page 27 of Warrior's Reign
“It’s an honor, Reign.” Numar’s voice was dry. “Though I have no hope you will see it that way.”
“Well, what am I supposed to do with him? I gather he doesn’t talk.”
“Oh, he will speak. Just not with words.” Numar’s eyes said everything his mouth wasn’t. “You are ending the first year of your first cycle. I think this will be a valuable learning experience for you.”
Reign regarded them both. “You’re hoping he kicks my ass back to basics.” She shifted into the First Form. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
Numar glared faintly, then turned to the silent one. “Silence be unto you.” It sounded like,good luck.
Reign grinned, delighted she’d managed to irk herAdekhyun.She’d have to tell Benyon, he’d think it was hilarious.
She beckoned at the male with her fingers. “Come on with it, then. Show me what you got.”
Reign smiled, her limbs remembering every move of the first training session. He had, indeed, kicked her ass, and with such silent flair. Making the Forms look so effortless that the beauty of it mesmerized her. Laying on her back that day, thoroughly beat, she hadn’t even minded. No, she’dcravedwhat he had. The control, the oneness with himself, the mastery.
He’d held out a hand with a warrior’s courtesy, grasping her wrist and pulling her to her feet. The energy sparked and flowed between them, from his arm to hers, a tingle that rose up her bicep and proclaimed the power of true Silence.
She’d had him for a year.
When Reign opened her eyes, extracting herself from the memories where she spent much of her time, derived most of her comfort, she’d worked up a light sweat along her spine. She stood, staring at the empty circle around her, looking for any sign of a phantom who’d grown into her best friend, then left without a trace.
And felt eyes on her back, but when she turned, no one was there.
11
Reign stepped outsideinto the training courtyard and glanced around, noting a few others sparring or engaging in solo practice. She’d always preferred the weaponless Forms, probably sentimentality on her part. Her lips curved as she took over her own corner of the yellow sands. On Earth in the Y.E.T.I. facility in Omaha, she had met Benyon on a similar field and begun to learn weaponless defense.
Though she’d already had a workout, that had been for pleasure. This time she needed the outlet to work off her foul mood over the growing vid coverage. Someone had leaked the Bdakhun had a new human guard. . .and with the increasingly polarized public opinions on the subject, she hadnotwanted her face out there.
Again.
And linked to herjokdaht.Even her past clients identities were being ferreted out and dissected—Icolo and Martha were working overtime to quash the digital trails.
Reign shifted her warmed-up muscles into the Forms. The scuff of a footstep at her back politely announced someone’s presence. Turning, Reign caught the long, polished staff Vykhan tossed at her.
“We don’t use staffs in the field,” she said. “That’s academy stuff.”
A classic weapon only show offs used. Try guarding a body at a gala or on escort to a business meeting carrying a staff around. It looked ridiculous, though some of her clients had requested Reign come in full regalia. The ones who wanted a guard for show? She finished the contract and never stepped foot over their thresholds again. She wasn’t an entertainer.
“The staff requires skill, grace and discipline,” Vykhan said. “Discipline will come with time. Defend yourself.”
As she was processing the implication he at least considered her skilled and graceful, he engaged. Reign struggled to match his effortless Silence, the calm, expressionless face and utter peace of his movements. She hadn’t been under this kind of relentless observation since academy, and her training circle. She didn’t like him one bit, but sparring against him made her feel as close to her center as anything did.
Their staffs cracked. Together, apart, they circled. He made her work, but he wasn’t needlessly cruel. When his staff connected to her body, there was just enough pain to teach a lesson, not enough to cause difficulty moving.
“You’re disquiet,” Vykhan said.
True. She’d been pretending he was Adevega, and corrected her Forms. For a few seconds she’d just wanted to smack her nemesis’ head off. Especially after an early morning comm where Reign was forced to politely endure theEyahun’slecture and request she step down to preserve Ibukay’s dignity.
Reign growled low in her throat.
“You went to see Numar,” he said unexpectedly.
She faltered, jerked out of her head and met his eyes. Then cursed, barely avoiding a swipe to her upper arm. Avoiding that meant a crack on her wrist, which temporarily numbed her fingers; she almost dropped the staff.
“Keeping track of me?”
His speed jacked up.
