Page 34 of Beyond The Maples
The lieutenant makes his way to our crew, and my chest tightens. I have the sudden urge to hide behind Berkley. I'm not here to make a name for myself like the Legionary has. I just want to keep my family safe. Surviving is my only job, I remind myself.
Valo saunters into our ring, moving gracefully for a man his size. His inky hair is slicked back, and I wonder briefly how old he is. Late twenties, if I had to guess. His hair is almost black, but he's got a small white patch to the right side of his hairline. It seems oddly out of place with his intense features.
We line up in front of him and make quick introductions.
"I'd like you all to keep it simple this week with defensive and practical techniques. I see you've got a couple on your crew experienced with this, and they can help those who lack get up to speed." His eyes roam over us and maybe I imagine it, but they seem to linger on me. I keep my face blank, listening.
"Pair off. I'll pair with one of you briefly just to show you where I expect you to get to, and then you can rotate." He steps closer to us, and I hold my breath, praying he doesn't pick me. He stops in front of Leo, who, instead of looking frightened, looks a little too excited.
I pair off with Berk, already having had my fill of fighting Farra for one day. I watch out of the corner of my eye as Valo gives Leo patient instruction. How to hold a fist, a proper block, stance. They do this for a while before he asks if Leo is ready to spar. Leo, sweet stupid Leo, grins like he's ready to play. I expect the trained warrior to hold back. He towers over Leo in every way.
The Lieutenant does not hold back. He lays Leo out with such force that I run into the ring without a thought. Leo looks unconscious and I panic, checking his breathing first and his pulse second.
Leo sputters, and I grind my teeth as I whip my head and snarl towards Valo. Before I can think better of it, I spit out at him, "What iswrongwith you? He's a kid. He's half your size, and unskilled. Give him a chance to train before you use your full force like that."
I regret the venom in my words the moment they leave my lips as I watch him fold his giant arms over his chest. There's a hint of a cocky smirk on his full lips. His features are as sharp and as lethal as he is. His eyes look like coal. I can't tell what colour they are from where I squat over Leo, but they seem bottomless. Like they could suck in all the colour from the room and still not get enough.
"I'm doing him a favour. No one is going to coddle him outside these walls," his voice comes out a menacing growl. "They don't care that he's young or how much training he has. He won't make the mistake of being cocky around an opponent again."
He gives me one last scathing look, assessing me stoically before he turns to my crewmates. "I hope you were paying attention. Work on your defensive stances and I'll be back to test you." Then he stalks off.
I turn back to Leo, who is slowly lifting himself from the floor.
"You should see a medic. It looked like your soul left your body for a minute there," I say, trying to get him to sit up slowly.
Berk is here now, handing Leo his canteen.
"I'll be fine, just roll me off to the side," Leo says, and winces. He's probably cracked a rib with how hard he was tossed. Farra helpshim up and walks him to the bench near the side. I eye her curiously. She's done this a few times now, helped when she didn't have to.
"You got a death wish?" Berk whispers to me, annoyed.
"Meaning?"
He rubs a hand over his tired face.
"Don't play hero here. The commanding officers rarely let cadets get away with talking back. The last thing I need is extra duties, or worse, a target on our backs because you think being lippy to the pretty Lieutenant over there is more important than following rank."
I shake my head. I know he's right, and usually I'm a lot better at controlling my temper. At home I made it a point to manage my feelings, but I can't help but feel that slipping here.
Ignoring all that I respond with, "Handsome?"
"I said pretty, but you've proved my point. You were gawking, along with several others." He flicks his hand around the room, and I frown. I was not gawking, I wasassessing.
Part of me can't help but feel disappointed that I'm forced into another situation where my options are to watch people get hurt and do nothing, or do something and risk myself. It feels more complex here. At home, I could see the reason for my actions so clearly, my sense of self wrapped up entirely in keeping my family safe. I could stomach turning a blind eye to this kind of thing before.
I look in the direction Valo went, and then back to my new friend, who's grimacing as he tries to breathe, and I wonder if there's ever going to be a point where it doesn't feel like I'm being pulled in different directions.
Sweat beads on my forehead, dripping down my bowed face and onto my hands below in slow, glistening drops.
"Again!" Kethler bellows from behind me.
I can sense more fumbling from Farra beside me. Her body is tense; I can feel the anxiety pouring off her like it's my own.
So far, Farra has excelled at everything we've done. I assumed field stripping would be no different, but ten minutes into class and it was clear this would be a stark contrast to her normal performance. This is not a calm learning environment. No paper or pens, no quiet spaces to think.
Kethler began berating us as soon as he explained what we were doing. We are to master this skill: the act of disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling our guns in the field, with limited tools, under pressure. After a brief instruction and parts inventory of the rifles, he let us get through one practice round before the torment began.
The officers posted around the room add their own abuse, slamming weapons against desks and, occasionally the backs of our knees, whenever our hands slow.
