The Druid's Spear (Ascent of the Gem Bearers Book 1) (13 page)

A kick to his stomach doubled him over, but not by much. He’d learned to tighten his muscles to cushion the blows.

“
Yokatta.
” She nodded and gave the signal for a breather. “You’ve improved.”

He nodded, surprised at the encouragement. The sun was higher in the air, and their bodies were covered with sweat. Uchida—
sensei’s
brow glistened under the moisture. They sat facing each other on the grass. An aide, who apparently came from out of the ground since he didn’t see him arrive, brought cups of water.

Ken gulped the liquid, watching as Uchida—
sensei
did the same. Some of the water trickled down the side of her mouth and his eyes followed the trail, studying the way it flowed down the long ivory column of her neck and into the crevice between her breasts.

“Ken?”

He glanced up. “
Hai
?”

“I was telling you that you have improved. Your reflexes are faster, your strikes more forceful, and your agility more fluid. I think we will increase your program and add some more techniques I wish to show you.”

“Which translates to, ‘I’ll be kicking your butt harder’.”

Uchida—
sensei
looked startled for a moment. Then she gave a laugh, a high-squealing sound that pierced his ears, but not unattractively so. It was the first time he’d seen her laugh.

“
Hai
, Ken, I guess you could say that.”

The amusement softened her face and made her even more lovely to him. These weeks of getting the tar beat out of him did not negate the attraction he felt for her. Their time together had allowed for glimpses into her personality. Among the
juusha
she was highly esteemed. A natural born leader, she had the respect of the men in her company. Yet, though warm and approachable, there was an aloofness about her that kept her separate.

“Are you ready?”

Once again, he was startled from his regard of her.

“
Hai
.” He stood at the same time she did.

She made some kind of comment to the aide and then went over to her pet King Kong.

The she faced him again, and he knew playtime was over.

The next session of the training began as it always did. Ken sharpened his mind and attuned his eyes to follow Uchida—
sensei’s
movements. She constantly swayed back and forth. Her attacks were ones he didn’t anticipate. He heard her voice state to expect the unpredictable, but that made as much sense as listening to the sound of one hand clapping. Yet, today, he sent every other thought from his mind and focused.

She moved to his right, ready to send a kick into his groin. He braced himself for the impact when he realized that she wasn’t going to kick him, but send an uppercut to his jaw. He saw the way her left hand was fisted. Then it hit him -- the kick was the diversion. In fact, the way he braced himself, her fist wouldn’t have far to travel to land a harsh blow and because he wasn’t prepared for it, the damage would be considerable.

Swiftly, he danced to his right, out of reach for the swinging attack as he mentally predicated. Then he ducked and kicked her in stomach. Or almost, but she moved out the way.

A startled look came into her golden eyes, and then they darkened.

The fight was on.

They battled in the clearing for over an hour. At some point, the training had become a battle. A real battle between them. Ken inflicted pain on Uchida—
sensei
for the first time. His manly sense of etiquette warred with the training she swore was necessary but he pressed on. She still landed more blows to him but for the first time, he was gaining an edge.

Heated blood mixed with bubbly adrenaline rushed through his veins. With each step, each attack he put her more on the defensive. Her hair loosened and it flew about her wildly.

Faster and faster the blows came. More and more, she defended herself. Ken didn’t care, he wanted to win. He needed to win against her. Beat her at this thing.

Prove to her he was worthy of her training.

A murmuring made its way through the mist that enveloped him. They had gained an audience. The others were talking amongst themselves, probably about the fight.

In that moment of distraction, Uchida—
sensei
landed a blow to his face and he tuned them out.

Finally, he had her pinned against a large boulder, his hand at her throat but he didn’t squeeze.

“I guess I win this one, Uchida—
sensei
.”

No sooner had he spoken the words then he found his arms twisted behind him. Her feet swept his and he landed on his back. She straddled him, her long hair a curtain around him, her bruised face intent and hard. She wrapped her hand around his throat, breathing hard and heavy.

“I told you to never—”

Ken lifted his hips and threw her off him. They rolled on the ground, each trying to find a gain. He didn’t want to let her win. Not this time. This time, he had to be the one to make her submit.

When they stopped, he was on top, fingers gripping her wrists and pinning them to the ground. She struggled against him, heaving.

An unholy-like sense of pleasure went through him. The way her body bucked along his length made him aware of his power over her. Finally, he’d won.

“Yield,” he told her, staring down into her eyes, seeing the golden hue.

She struggled some more, bucking under him in attempt to free herself.

“Get off her!” a thunderous voice bellowed. The next moment, a hand hooked into the cuff of his vest and lifted him off Uchida—
sensei
. Ken fell on his backside, hard.

Alderic stood before him, his massive body trembling with rage.

“You’re nothing more than a counterfeit descendant of Rhychard—
sama
. How dare you try to subdue Uchida-san
?”

“Alderic, leave us!” Uchida—
sensei
shouted. She’d risen from her position of submission, dusting her clothes off.

Had he made any kind of impact on her? Was her submission a clever counterfeit?

“I will not. You think you are so strong, fight me, Descendant. Fight me!”

From the fury bristling about the man, Ken had a suspicion Alderic had been waiting for a moment like this. Although he had tried to avoid him, the man made his dislike of him apparent. Only his father’s presence had kept the thin veneer of restraint on.

Now, the gloves were off.

Alderic’s meaty hand fisted and slammed into Ken’s face.

Dots and stars exploded in his vision. Before he could think of his next move, a well-aimed punch doubled him over.

He fell to his knees, terrified he was about to be sick.

“Ha! You can defeat Uchida-san
but you can never defeat me!” the giant taunted him.

Keep moving.

Ken stood to his feet, spitting the blood out his mouth. He thought about it. Alderic’s punch had more strength, but the man counted on his strength to aide him. Uchida—
sensei’s
tactics were much more subtle. She depended on her wits, using each blow to her advantage. His teacher stood back, her amber gold eyes devoid of emotion. She didn’t intervene which had to mean she thought he was capable of taking on this giant in his state.

The silent vote of confidence made his back straighten. He’d prove that her training and efforts were not in vain.

One way or another, he was going to win this.

Rin watched the men face off. There was more to this fight than just the fact that Ken almost beat her.

Almost, but not quite. She never yielded.

The triumph she saw in his face as he held her down amused her. He’d thought he’d really had her. It was probably timely that Alderic challenged the man when he did. After all, she would have easily slipped away from him a second later.

Alderic lambasted the Descendant with angry ridicule. Most of it was hot air, so she didn’t hear exactly what was said. She watched Ken, noting a subtle change about him. There was a peculiar charge in the air. She could feel it along the hairs of her arms. However, she wasn’t surprised by the sensation. For a long while now, she’d been waiting for it.

It seemed now the time had come.

“Uchida—
chan
.”

She turned to the Elder who sat, flanked by Callen and Michel, who, along with the others, watched the spectacle unfold.

“
Hai
,
Senpai
?”

“Come and sit. Watch.”

She wanted to protest, but the Elder’s word was law. Rin obeyed and sat cross legged on the ground. She winced at her cut lip and the swelling near her eye, bruised and sore—but she hadn’t been that way in a long while.

Tambo came and sat next to her. She rubbed his back.

Alderic ran at Ken, his massive body light on his feet. Ken dodged the blow, sweeping to the side. Alderic met air, a bewildered look on his face. He turned and saw his opponent standing there, unharmed.

He snarled and came again at the Descendant, who jumped back from the blows and then kicked the other man in his chin. An audible gnash of teeth could be heard across the clearing and Rin winced.

It became war. The rage fueled Alderic and lent him the strength. Rin saw him start to gain ground on the Descendant. Ken seemed exhausted, as he’d already fought for over an hour with her. But he refused to stay beaten. More often than not, he moved a split second before a particularly crushing blow would ruin him.

The charge in the air continued, growing stronger. The hair on Tambo’s back stood up in reaction to it. Goosebumps skittered across her skin but she ignored them.

Alderic had Ken by the throat. Then he bent to the man’s ear and whispered something to him, a nasty laugh erupting from his lips.

Suddenly, a light sparked in the air. It happened again and again in a constant rhythm. Rin steadied her eye on Ken. The breath stilled in her lungs.

Was this it?

Then it happened.

A burst of electricity emanated from the Descendant, sparking from the tips of his fingers and down along his arms and his feet. A roar sounded out, like that of mighty lion.

But Rin knew it wasn’t the roar of a lion.

The electricity arced in the clearing and then—

Waves of brilliant electricity crawled along the terrain and grabbed Alderic like a giant invisible hand. It corded around his neck, sending his back arching. Ken stood unaffected, his eyes wide, mouth hanging open. The electric waves increased in intensity, flashing bright enough to send everyone’s hands covering their eyes. Alderic’s body shook, a macabre dance. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air.

“Kenzo—
sama
!” the Elder called out.

The electricity went away as suddenly as it came and Alderic fell to the ground, unconscious.

Silence filled the clearing, most of the bystanders in shock. However Rin nodded, pleased but not surprised.

He truly was Rhychard—
sama’s
descendant.

She got up along with the Elder as he gave orders to those around him to lift his son and carry him to the healer.

“Come to me, Kenzo—
sama
.”

Ken stumbled over to him, barely able to stand. The shock of his ability had his mouth hanging out, eyes wide, and a pulse ticking along his jawline. Rin couldn’t blame him for that. After all, it wasn’t every day this sort of thing happened.

“You’re finally ready to know the truth.”

“What truth is that, old man?” Ken gasped out. His body was losing all ability to stand.

Then he collapsed to the floor.

The Elder, with her help, bent down to the prone figure and gently massaged the dark hair.

“That you are not human.”

The spy realized the grave mistake he’d made. He’d underestimated the power of the Descendant. That foolishness could cost him his life, and then he would be unable to serve his lord.

Several men carried in both men’s bodies, but a reverent silence hung over them. There was no mistaking why the air was thick with suppressed excitement and fear. They, like he, had lived for this moment of meeting the Descendant, but the reality of it frightened them. They were used to the legends, but over time the stories had lost their sense of wonder. After all, they’d waited so long for the Descendant to come, but perhaps some had doubted his arrival would mean anything.

Then Alderic—
kun
literally got fried by Kenzo and the legend became reality.

Such power that would only get stronger.

The Elder called his name and he rushed over to him. “See that medicinal supplies are brought and call the healer.”

He bowed and ran out to do as he was bid. Down the corridors he moved swiftly, hearing the whispers of the
juusha
talk about the fight that took place. The same fear he held inside was reflected in their faces.

The spy reached the chamber where the healers kept their medicinal herbs and ointments. Water dripped into a large pond toward the back and the air was much cooler, almost chilly. The woman was already gathering her medical bag and merely nodded when he told her of her task. He led her back down the hall, now more crammed with the
juusha
. The line led to the Elder’s chamber as everyone wanted to see the Descendant. He pushed his way through, finally obtaining his goal of bringing the woman to do her work.

Laboring over the bodies of both men, the spy became aware of the opportunity to do what he was meant to do – steal either the blood gem or the Vessel and leave this place tonight.

His searches in the past for the blood gem had come up empty, so he figured Kenzo kept the gem on his person.

There he lay, like a sacrifice on an altar.

Uchida-san
called him. “Can both of you help me turn his body this way so that Healer has more use of the firelight?”

It was almost as if she’d heard him speak his thoughts aloud!

He knelt next to the Descendant along with the Elder’s other aide and hefted the man into the air. The vest had been ripped in the fight and hung upon. No inner pocket along the inside. Blood smears, bruises, and cuts, plus a definite bulge along his ribcage showed he had broken at least one bone. He would be out of action for a while.

They turned and he used the opportunity to feel along the pocket closest to him.

“What are you doing?” the aide asked him. “Why are you—?”

“My grip is slipping,” he responded immediately, and then was told to grab the man by his leg. As they moved him, he once again tried to feel if there was a compartment along his legs, too. A hidden strap where one might keep a precious object.

Not there either.

“
Domo
,” Uchida
-san
said gratefully.

They both rose and took their positions back behind the Elder. The spy bit back a sound of frustration. How was he going to get another opportunity to search the man thoroughly? It was his only chance. It was unlikely another would come.

“We must remove their clothing to see the extent of the damage,” the healer said.

The Elder turned to them. “Please see that everyone leaves. We will give them notification when both my son and the Descendant are well.”

It took a few moments of effort, but soon the door way was cleared of eager gawkers. The only ones left in the room were himself and the other aide, the healer with her assistant, and Uchida-san
and the Elder.

“Uchida—
chan
, please leave.”

“
Senpai
, I can be of service.”

“Leave a man his dignity.”

Uchida-san
’s eyebrow lifted. “Why does a man or woman need dignity when they’re unconscious?”

“Leave, Uchida—
chan
.”

She left in a huff of indignation.

The healer gestured for them to remove the clothing, but even here he was thwarted. The other aide was charged with the removal of the pants while he pulled at the upper garments. Biting the inside of his cheek with impatience, he threw the soiled clothes on the floor but the other aide held onto the pants and leggings.

Deciding to use kindness as a vehicle, he reached out for them. “I will take them to laundress.”

“
Iie
. These will need to be burnt.”

The spy couldn’t help but think he’d never thought he’d be in a place where he wanted another man’s pants so badly.

He bowed in acquiescence and then stepped back. By now, he was certain the blood gem was in the pants. Should he just leave it, or risk taking the Vessel? The blood gem was easier to hide due to its size and had a more important role to play for Lord Ludovicus.

He wanted those pants!

“You,” the healer called out to the aide. “I need your assistance.”

The spy’s heart stopped as the aide thrust the pants to him without another word and knelt by the woman.

He had them!

Unobtrusively he walked to the back of the Elder, who sat watching the proceedings as the healer went about her tasks, and looked around to see if he was observed. No one was paying attention to him so he reached into the other pocket and felt a bulk. This had to be it! It did not fall out during the fight, so it had to be securely placed in there.

Swiftly the spy dropped the bundle of clothes to the ground and looked inside the pocket. A patch of some sort had been sewn into it. He tugged at the covering, but the threads were tightly sewn. He’d need a pair of scissors, and they were now being used to cut lengths of bandaging for the injured.

How could he be so close and so far away from completing his mission? Twenty years of subterfuge within the
juusha
. Fifteen years of Alderic—
kun’s
taunts and bullying. Twelve years of bowing and scraping to the Elder. All of it for this moment where the blood gem was literally within his grasp.

A pair of scissors hung between him and the completion of his objective.

A low snarl escaped his lips.

The Elder turned his head to look back, and the spy let the pants fall to the ground before he could be caught with them.

“Are you well?”

“
Hai
Senpai
,” he responded. “Did you need something?”

“
Iie
. I heard you make a noise.”

“A mere attempt to not sneeze,” he said, thinking quickly.

The Elder nodded and glanced down at the clothes. “If you would, take those rags and see that they are burned and retrieve a new change of wardrobe from their quarters.”

His heart skipped a beat. Keeping his face impassive, he gathered up the clothes and went down the hall.

Juusha
still lingered about in small groups, but most had returned to their quarters or other chambers. He walked past them, staring into some of their faces knowing it would be the last time he saw them before Lord Ludovicus destroyed them.

The spy made it to the men’s individual chambers and retrieved the new clothes. It was the least he could do before he left. He pondered briefly about obtaining the Vessel from its secret place but then decided against it. The blood gem was easier to hide. In no time, he found a pair of scissors, cut open the pocket and then hid the blood gem on his person. Its weight made him soar with accomplishment. At long last he’d done it. It was time to leave, once and for all.

He made his way back to the Elder’s chamber and gave the clothes to the aide. “I am going to burn these soiled ones right now, but wanted to retrieve a fresh pair.” There was no need for explanation; he just wanted to use those few moments to gaze at the bodies of the Descendant and especially linger over the figure of Alderic—
kun
. When the other man revived, and the spy certainly hoped that he would, he wanted to be there first to see Lord Ludovicus crush him.

One last look at the Elder’s frail frame. Though the old man had always treated him well, he allowed his son to torment him with little or no rebuke. For that alone, the spy felt no remorse; yet, he did hope the old man died a quick death.

He turned and never looked back.

Each turn took him closer to the entry of the cave. His feet raced onward, longing to be free from the clutches of subterfuge. Faces he’d known for many years rushed past him, but they meant nothing to him. They never had.

Someone called his name and he stopped, wondering if somehow he’d been caught. He glanced behind him to see Uchida-san
striding toward him, Tambo lumbering behind with his massive bulk.

That was another thing he wouldn’t miss. The gorilla.

He bowed politely as she neared after a quiet word to Tambo, who obediently stayed back.

“How can I help you, Uchida-san
?”

“What’s the condition of Alderic and Kenzo—
sama
?”

His eyebrow arched at the use of the honorific. For weeks she had been calling the Descendant by his first name after he’d given her permission. She must have been impressed by his actions as well.

Women. Easily mystified.

“There was no change when I left. They are both still unconscious but the healer is tending to them.”

Uchida-san
nodded matter-of-factly. “Did The Elder ask for me to return?”

He shook his head.

She sighed. “Okay. Thank you for your help, even with Alderic. You’re a good man and an asset to both the Elder and the
juusha
.”

A smile brightened her face and she whirled away, the dark red braid whipping around in an arc.

The spy frowned as he watched her walk away, her guardian by her side. He wouldn’t want Lord Ludovicus to destroy Uchida-san
. Though distant toward him, she’d never been cruel to him and she did stand up to Alderic throughout the years. Maybe, when Lord Ludovicus came to retrieve the Vessel, he would ask to take her alive. But what would he do with her?

The thought nagged him as he took the final few steps away from the
juusha
of Rhychard.