Heretic

Chapter Eighteen

"Drop your weight, stomp with your heel, and then whip your head back." I do what Colt says even though I've already learned it. When he grabs me from behind in a bear hug, I instantly grab his arms and drop my weight. Then I step out, smash my heel into his toes and whip my head back into his face. I add on a hard kick to the shin just for fun. His moment of surprise gives me enough time to wriggle out of his arms and face him in a fighting stance. He laughs and shakes his head.

"You're good, Emery. Much better than anyone else who's walked through those doors. For a beginner, that is." I drop the stance and wipe sweat from my brow.

"Thanks," I pant, somewhat thanking him for the compliment but mostly thanking Rain for the training.

"You ready to do sparring yet?" he asks, wiping some blood away from his nose with the back of his hand. He isn't dressed in Admiral apparel today. He's changed into an outfit that matches mine: black tank top, black cargos, training boots. You'd think we were in the army or something.

"I'm ready for whatever you wanna do," I tell him, not wanting to ask for a moment to catch my breath. We'd been to the Conditioning Room this morning for exercise. Cranky Colt was the one who drilled me. After that we'd done archery training and he became his normal self. It took a while to adjust the compound to me and get used to the feel of it, but it was basically the same as the recurve I used back home. There were more sights on it, too. After archery we'd done kicks and punches on the bags and then moved onto self-defence. I told him I didn't need training in it but he'd insisted. I think I just proved my point, though.

"Yeah?" he tests. "You sure?" I nod and get back into fighting stance; fists up, knees bent, legs apart. It amuses him.

"I like your spirit, Emery." Colt mimics my stance. His buzzed hair has a shiny sheen of sweat on it but he's not as worn out as me. That'll give him an advantage. He's also stronger, another advantage. Taller... I can use his height to my advantage. I should be able to duck and dodge faster, but I won't let that comfort me. I don't know how fast he is.

"Any rules?" I ask before I get carried away and sent to the Sovereign General. He's the last person I wanna see again.

"Don't kill me, but don't hold back," he answers. I like that a lot more than Stroud's version. I can't help the excited smile that creeps onto my face. I quickly wipe it away, though. Remember: If I'm not holding back, neither will he.

We assess each other for a while before he makes the first move, feigning a punch with his right and then moving in with his left. I'm fast enough to dodge but he isn't stopping. He's close enough to kick and uses it to his advantage. He sweeps my feet out from under me and I collapse onto my rear end. He lets up to give me time to stand. I wish he doesn't. I don't want him to take it easy.

"Always be prepared for any kind of attack," he teaches, slightly out of breath. "You never know what your opponent might have up their sleeve."

"You're not wearing sleeves," I joke. My hands come up to defend me while my foot strikes his groin. He makes a little grunt but isn't fazed enough to be hit by my next attack. He redirects my fist with his forearm and I block his incoming punch with mine. I twist to try and dodge his next kick, but he manages to hit my hip. It hurts, but I ignore it, turning the hand he redirected back around his arm to move him to my other side and gain distance between us. He's panting heavier now and so am I. A sweat bead rolls down my face. My heart is working steadily just like my lungs. I can feel the place he kicked will bruise well. But that doesn't matter. Keep focused.

"You done?" he asks.

"Nope." I shake my head, not letting my position down.

"Alright," he accepts. This time I make the first move. I swing my right fist at his jaw, forcing my body into it. He dodges easily, even when I follow through with my left and then repeat it. I don't give up, letting a flurry of kicks and punches fly at him. None of them hit, but he is backing up into the corner. If I keep it up he won't have much to work with soon. I keep releasing my fury in kicks and punches. It's when I try to sweep kick that he gains the upper hand. I sweep too slowly and he gets a kick to the back in, followed by a punch to my jaw. I grunt with the pain but push it to the side. Focus on protecting yourself.