The Winds of the Past [Rune Factory 4]

Chapter 65

I groaned inwardly, but nodded agreement. “15:00 it is, then. We’ll all meet here. Dylas, let’s go get our gear ready. Chanda, are you armed?” She shook her head, and I suggested she come with us to see if we had anything that worked for her in our stores. First, though, I said I’d need to test her, to determine her skills.

“What types of combat are you trained in?” I asked her as the three of us descended to the storeroom.

“Avani trained me herself,” she said with a proud lift of her chin. “She taught me to use a short sword, a long sword, and a spear, as well as in hand-to-hand combat. I think I’m best with my fists or with a long sword.”

Dylas snorted. “Your fists, huh? Well, we’ll see about that—that’s my specialty. And I gotta say, I can’t see someone as small as you managing a long sword very well. You’re even tinier than Avani!”

She stiffened at his skepticism, and I grinned to myself. I don’t know if he was intentionally rubbing her the wrong way, to try to put her off her game, or if he was just being Dylas—either was equally likely. I tossed her a pair of lightweight gloves and a wooden sword, tossed another set of gloves to Dylas, and grabbed a safety lance. “Let’s get to it, kids. We don’t have time to waste arguing.”

We hurried back out to the courtyard, but finding it still swarming with agitated townsfolk, we quickly exited through the gates before we could be stalled by concerned friends. There was a small clearing just west of the town gates, and that was where we headed.

I told Dylas to wait to the side while I started, and told Chanda to choose her weapon. I gave her just a brief instant to make up her mind, than attacked her with my lance.

“Hey, wait!” she yelled in protest, jumping out of the way of my weapon. “I wasn’t ready yet!”

“Do you think your enemy will give you time to plan your best course of action? Do you think he’ll stand patiently and let you have that advantage?” I shouted, whirling and sweeping my lance low, knocking her feet out from under her. “No! He’ll take every advantage he can get, and deny you whatever he may! You need to think fast and act faster—now on your feet!”

She scrambled up and crammed the gloves into her belt, then she gripped her practice sword, facing me with flashing eyes. My lips curved into a mirthless grin, and I said, “You finally ready? You think you can take me? Then come and get me… if you can!”

She lunged at me, swinging her practice sword. I jumped to the side, using my lance as a pole to vault past her, then jerking it free from the soft earth, I swung it around, catching her in the back of her head and sending her sprawling. She jumped up and spun around, seething, then crouched and leapt into the air, a feeble imitation of one of Avani’s moves. I quickly raised my lance and used it to block her blow and to shove her away, knocking her onto her back.

I leaned against my lance and looked down at her in amusement, saying, “You say Avani trained you? I find that rather difficult to believe.” I looked over to Dylas and nodded, and he strolled over, pulling his gloves on.

Chanda jumped up, throwing her practice sword to the side as she, too, pulled out her gloves. “And why is that?” she snarled as she lunged at us, attempting to knock us both down at once.

We jumped easily aside, avoiding her fist, then I whirled around, striking her in the back with my lance. “Because…” I said as she staggered under my blow.

Dylas dove in and knocked her feet out from under her with a sweeping kick. “…Avani…” he said, continuing my words.

Then I swept my lance beneath her, catching her up and flinging her into the air, while Dylas caught her by her legs midair and flung her down onto the ground.