Quest for the Sun Orb (20 page)

She walked back down the line to Lashi and accepted the short, extendable rod that she’d asked Lashi to dig out for her.  As she took the smooth, black rod she thought of her friend, Aisling, who’d given it to her.  She blinked back sudden tears, and shook her head at herself.  She really needed to get a grip.

She squeezed the rod in the center, causing it to extend into a long, solid staff that was more flexible than a wooden staff, and many times more durable.  She removed the Ti-Ank headpiece from her wooden staff and slipped it onto the black staff, giving it a little twist so that it locked into place with an audible click.  Then she joined Kapia and Tiari where they stood beside their diplos.

“Ready ladies?” she asked.

“Yes, we are,” Kapia replied.  She glanced up at the sun to measure the time.  “Perhaps you should begin with Tiari in case it gets too dark for her to see.”

“I would, Kapia, but I feel the need to burn off a bit of energy first,” Karma admitted.  “We have about an hour and a half I think, but we’ll keep an eye on the sun.”

“All right,” Kapia agreed.  “I need the exercise too.”

Karma looked around.  The clearing Zakiel had chosen was large enough that there was an area on one side where there were no people.  “Let’s go over there,” she said, and began walking toward it, Kapia and Tiari on either side of her.  She heard footsteps behind them and glanced over her shoulder.

“I would observe as well, if you don’t mind,” Tomas said, catching up to them. 

“Of course, Tomas,” Karma replied.  She really didn’t care who watched.  She just needed to move.

A few minutes later Tiari stood beside Tomas and watched intently as Karma and Kapia stepped into the center of the circle they’d marked in the soft dirt.  The two women held their staffs before them in a light grip as they bowed to each other.  Then they each took a step back, and began moving. 

Tiari gasped in surprise as her new friends attacked each other with the long poles, changing angles and grips so quickly it was hard to follow.  The steady tap-tap-tap of the staffs slamming together testified to the strength and speed of their strikes, though neither of them ever actually struck the other. 

“They’re so fast,” she breathed.

“Astoundingly so,” Tomas agreed.  “I’ve never seen two people move as fast as they do.  Not even the most skilled of Hunters.  Watch their feet.”

Tiari did as Tomas asked and shifted her gaze downward.  She had never seen anyone dance before, though Una had once told her about it while in one of her better moods.  She imagined that dancing would look much like what Karma and Kapia were doing as their feet flew gracefully over the ground. 

“I don’t think I could ever move like that,” she said, disappointment filling her.  She wanted to learn to defend herself so badly, but it didn’t seem possible for her to do what they were doing.

Tomas laughed softly, surprising her.  “At the beginning of the Orb Quest, I watched Karma spar with Zakiel for the first time,” he said, his eyes still on the two women in the ring.  “Zakiel is fast, and he is better with a staff than any other Hunter.  But Karma was faster.  I’d been told she was good, but even seeing it with my own eyes I had a hard time believing it.  She had just begun teaching Kapia then.  I never would have believed it possible for Kapia to be half as fast as her teacher, but as you can see, after only a handful of weeks, she very nearly is.”  Tomas looked over at Tiari.  “You will never know what you can do unless you try, Tiari.”

“Thank you, Tomas,” Tiari said with a smile.  She looked back at Karma and Kapia and took a deep breath.  “You are correct, of course.  I will try.”

“If the staff is not your weapon, don’t worry,” Tomas said.  “There are other weapons.  You can try them all until you find the one that works best for you.”

“Do you think that Karma can teach me one of those other weapons as well?” she asked.

“No,” Tomas replied.  “To my knowledge, she is proficient only in the staff.  However, I can teach you the sword, or the bow, if you like.”

Tiari rewarded him with a smile that lit up her entire face and warmed his heart.  It was long moments before he could force himself to look away from her and focus on the sparring again.  When he did, he noticed that several Hunters had gathered around the circle to watch the women.  Everyone was used to the sight now, but it was always enjoyable for Hunters to watch skilled opponents spar.  Especially these two women.  They were so amazingly fast, and so graceful, that it was awe inspiring.

Twenty minutes later, Karma and Kapia stood face to face in the center of the ring and bowed to each other.  Kapia’s face was damp with sweat and red from exertion, but Karma’s was not.  It never was, a strange fact that the Hunters had grown used to.  Both women were smiling happily at each other.  It had been a good match. 

The Hunters banged their bracers together to indicate their pleasure, causing both Karma and Kapia to blush.  Then Zakiel stepped into the ring.

“Would you care to spar with me, Wife?” he asked, grinning.

“I would love to, Husband,” Karma replied.  “However, I am about to give Tiari her first lesson and there’s only about an hour of sunlight left.  Why don’t you spar with Kapia instead?”

Zakiel turned to Kapia.  “Would you like to?”

“Yes, I would,” Kapia said eagerly. 

“Do me proud, Kapia,” Karma said before walking toward Tiari.  She heard Zakiel call to Timon for his staff and grinned.  She was very familiar with both Zakiel’s style of fighting, and Kapia’s.  Zakiel had more experience, but Kapia was faster, making them almost evenly matched.  But, this was the first time Zakiel would spar with his little sister in several weeks, and it would be natural for him to go easy on her.  That would give Kapia an edge, if she was wily enough to take it.  Karma had no doubt that she was.

“Are you ready?” Karma asked Tiari.

“Yes, I am,” Tiari said.  “I only hope this is not a waste of your time.”

“Why would it be a waste of time?” Karma asked.

“Because I cannot imagine myself moving anywhere near as fast as you and Kapia do.”

“You don’t need to,” Karma replied.  “Speed is important, of course.  But in that respect, Kapia and I are the exception, not the rule.  We both have a natural talent with that particular weapon that cannot be explained.  Besides, you won’t know how fast you are until you try it.”

“That is much what Tomas said,” Tiari admitted ruefully.  “I am willing to try, and I will do my best.”

“Good,” Karma said.  “Let’s move over there, out of the way a bit.”  Tiari and Tomas followed Karma a few yards away from the ring where Kapia and Zakiel were preparing to spar and began instructing Tiari.  She began with the basics, showing Tiari how to hold the staff, how to set her feet, and giving her a brief run down on the properties of the weapon itself. 

Tomas watched, impressed with Karma’s teaching ability.  She never talked down to her students, he noticed.  Never tried to impress them with her own skills, never tried to push them too hard.  Tiari relaxed completely as Karma worked with her, which Tomas found surprising.  She could give some of the weapons instructors at the palace lessons on how to teach.

In spite of Karma’s exceptional skills as a teacher, Tomas realized almost at once that the staff was not going to be a good weapon for Tiari.  From the expression on Karma’s face, she realized it as well.  He wondered how Karma would handle the situation, and tensed as he imagined Tiari’s disappointment and hurt.

After nearly an hour of patient instruction and subtle testing, Karma gestured to Tomas to join herself and Tiari.   

“Tiari,” she began, “I can teach you the staff.  I can teach you enough that you could defend yourself with it, after a fashion.  But I will not lie to you.  I do not believe that the staff is the best weapon for you.”

Tiara flushed with embarrassment and dropped her eyes to the ground.  “I am sorry I wasted your time, Karma.”

Karma reached out and placed one finger under Tiari’s chin, then gently pressed up, coaxing her to look up again.  “It was by no means a waste of time,” she said.  “It was a very good use of time, actually.  We have discovered several things here.  The first is that the staff is too long and flexible for your body type and natural balance.  It did not feel comfortable in your hands, did it?”

“No, it didn’t,” Tiari replied.  “It felt...awkward.  I had a difficult time balancing it.”

“As I thought,” Karma said, nodding.  “The second thing I learned is that you have astonishing reflexes, and an exceptionally good sense of your physical self and your environment.  Probably because you’ve spent most of your life relying on senses other than your eyes.  You react so quickly it’s almost as though you can read your opponent’s thoughts.  That also explains why the staff doesn’t work for you.  It’s too broad in scope.  Your focus is more specific to an immediate threat.  Does any of this make sense to you?”

Tiari nodded.  “Yes, it really does, though I never would have thought of those things myself.”

“My opinion is that you need a weapon that is smaller, more direct,” Karma said.

“Do you think a sword would work for her?” Tomas asked, more than impressed with all that Karma had learned.  He had noticed the same problems that Karma had noticed, but he hadn’t applied that knowledge in the way she had. 

“Yes, I think a sword would be perfect for her,” Karma replied.  “However, it cannot be as long and heavy as those you Hunters use.  Tiari needs something shorter, lighter, and with a finer blade.”

Tomas nodded in agreement, his mind already seeking a suitable blade for Tiari that would fit Karma’s specifications.

“Do you think that I’m fast enough to use a weapon like that?” Tiari asked.

“Absolutely,” Karma replied.  “In fact, I think that, in time, you will become exceptionally fast.  Your other senses will help you a great deal.  Once we find a suitable weapon for you, I think it would be a good idea to begin training both with, and without, your eyesight.”

Tiari gaped in surprise then closed her mouth with a snap.  “You think I can use this weapon even when I cannot see?”

“Yes, I think so,” Karma said.  “Like I said, your other senses are so finely honed that you seem to almost read your opponent’s mind, feeling an attack before it occurs.  If you practice, I suspect you will become quite phenomenal both with, and without, your sight.”

“When can we start?” Tiari asked with an excited grin.

“First we need to find a weapon for you,” Karma said.  “Second, we need to find someone to teach you.  I don’t know swords, so I cannot do it myself.”

Tiari’s face fell.  “I will teach you,” Tomas said.  “However, I would ask for your help, Karma.  You are an exceptional teacher, and I am not.  Your guidance would be invaluable to me, and Tiari.”

“Of course, Tomas,” Karma replied.  “I’d be happy to help in any way that I can.”

“Thank you, Karma, and you as well, Tomas,” Tiari said, fighting back sudden tears.  Never had so many people offered her so much, so freely.  She was a little overcome.

Karma and Tomas politely looked away, allowing her time to compose herself.  “The only question now is, where do we find the right weapon for her?” Karma asked.

“I think I know where to find a blade that will work,” Tomas said. 

“Yes?” Karma asked, noting Tomas’s reluctance. 

“Saigar was especially skilled in bladed weapons, and often carried several on his person,” Tomas said, meeting Karma’s gaze steadily.  “He also carried a large array of them whenever he travelled.  We still have his belongings, since he left without them.”

“You think there might be something among them that will work for Tiari?”

“Yes, I do,” Tomas said.  “In fact, I have one in mind.  I’m hesitant to have her touch anything that belonged to Saigar, though.”

“Who is Saigar?” Tiari asked.

“He was once a friend of mine,” Tomas said.  Tiari sensed the pain behind his words and wondered at it, but did not question him further.

“Objects can only carry evil if one uses dark magic on them,” Karma said.  “If you find something suitable bring it to me.  I’ll ask Nikura to check it to be sure it’s safe before you give it to Tiari.”

“That is a good idea,” Tomas said.  “Nikura has been through Saigar’s possessions already, of course, but I would feel much better if he double-checked anything I find before she touches it.”

“So would I,” Karma agreed.

“Thank you, Karma,” Tomas said with relief.  Ordinarily he would never suggest that Tiari touch anything that had once belonged to Saigar.  But he knew how important it was to her to learn to defend herself, and he could think of no other way to get a weapon that would suit her.  “I will go through Saigar’s belongings tonight.”

***

Karma sat across from Zakiel in their tent after dinner, sipping her tea, unaware of the frown that had graced her face all evening. 

“What’s troubling you,
valia
?” Zakiel asked.

“Nothing,” Karma replied.  “Why do you ask?”

 “Many reasons,” Zakiel replied.  “Not the least of which is the fact that you barely cracked a smile when I told you how closely Kapia came to besting me in front of the entire camp.  I thought you would be pleased at your student’s progress.”

“I am pleased,” Karma said.  “I hoped she would win, but perhaps next time.”

“I’m not sure that’s a risk I’m willing to take,” Zakiel said wryly.  “It is one thing for the powerful Lady Techu to best me in sight of my Hunters, but quite another for my baby sister to do it.  Now please, tell me what’s on your mind.”

Karma blew out a frustrated sigh.  “That’s just it,” she said.  “I don’t know what it is.”

“I don’t understand,” Zakiel said. 

“Neither do I,” Karma said.  “I’ve had this feeling growing in me all day long that I’m missing something.  Something important.  But I don’t know what it is.”

“When did the feeling begin?” Zakiel asked, gesturing to Timon.  Karma frowned in thought.

“Before lunch,” she said finally.  “I was talking with Kapia and Tiari when we first started out this morning.  I first noticed it when we stopped talking for a while around mid-morning.”