Aija grumbled quite a bit after the meeting with the Kappana Council and Ilo was now worried that he had gone overboard. But then Aija slept in very late the next morning and Ilo made a point to deliver a large breakfast once she had woken up. After this, her mood lifted by leaps and bounds. She hardly seemed to recall ever disagreeing with the Council's decision.
"Would it be alright to show you the Academy then?"
"Of course."
Ilo took Aija to the main path that led to the Paret Academy. They went from the entrance hall to the library and then to the mess hall where many cadets stopped in their tracks as they walked by together. He found himself hurrying Aija along to the training fields where the stares would not be so obvious.
"I'm meant to be with my martial instructor but it can wait."
He felt Aija tug on his ear.
"What?"
"That is not right, my Ilo. If you are meant to take lessons, then go there now."
"No problem. Do you want to watch me?"
"I want to watch you apologize for skipping classes."
Ilo groaned but led her to where his instructor, Domitian, would normally be waiting. Instead Jaugan stood beside the waiting training dummies set up for combat with spears and swords. The warrior adopted a meditative face as he moved slowly with his sword drawn, whirling and flipping it within his grasp.
Ilo stopped short but Aija continued past him to wait. Jaugan finished his exercise and stood as if he had been rudely interrupted. Aija looked back at Ilo. He shuffled forward and bowed his head to Jaugan.
"I'm sorry for arriving late. Where is Domitian?"
"Illness."
"Oh. Did he cancel lessons then?"
"The duke wished that I substitute."
"And you agreed?"
"I do not shirk my obligations, unlike you. Do not let me force you however. I know how much you wish to disappoint people when they hold you to account for such things."
"I intend to stay. Which weapon would you have me use?"
"I don't care."
Ilo chose a spear. Jaugan knocked it from his hand.
"You're too small for that. Pick something else."
Ilo picked up a dagger this time. Jaugan pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and tossed it to him.
"What's this for?"
"To clean up the blood after we're done."
"What?"
"The only things you do well are crying, running away and wasting time. Since you've already wasted time, I assume you will do one or both of the other two. And if you do not cry or run away from my sword, then trust me little prince. You will certainly will bleed."
Ilo did not answer. A hot surge of hate and embarrasment ran through his body. He wished deeply that Aija were not watching him now.
"My Ilo."
Ilo turned to Aija.
"Perhaps you do not need the dagger or the cloth. You have had lessons with Gu before, they should work here."
Thinking back to his time at One, Ilo remembered spending the morning hours in the kappa fields with Gu as they waited for Aija to finish her morning rounds. Ilo had waned to try Gu's long bo staff. He quickly discovered the staff to be one of the heaviest objects he'd ever put in his hands.
"I can see why you're so strong Gu. I don't think I'll be able to keep off thieves with this."
"You don't need my old stick for that, my Ilo. Just your little foot will be enough."
"Firstly, my foot is not that little. But I still think the staff is better for fighting."
"Getting by in a fight or battle is not about what people would prefer. Sometimes there are no tools or weapons to use except our bodies. My people in Nakamar do not carry weapons unless they are in war but they know they do not need them if a fight happens. My people prefer their little feet over my staff any day. I will show you why."
Gu dropped his staff and stepped a few paces away.
"Alright, I am going to knock you silly now."
"Huh?"
"But you have all you need to stop me. When I am near to you, all you need to do is fall down onto your back!"
"That's it?"
"That's it. And try not to let Tahti kill you from behind."
Ilo spun around to look behind him. Tahti was nowhere to be seen.
"HA!!" Gu yelled.
Ilo spun and found that Gu had closed the distance between them. He then lurched back and fell onto the soil. Gu towered over him now, laughing into the bright sun rays gleaming upon his skin.
"Now you see, your back has saved you from being knocked silly. And I know my Ilo is smart enough to see what his little foot can do in this situation. What do you think?"
"My Ilo!"
Aija's voice snapped Ilo back to the present. And at present, Jaugan was inches away from him with the flat of his sword closing in.
Ilo forced his feet out from under him. He fell, slamming himself down onto the dirt. Jaugan stood over him now just as Gu had.
Gu was right. Ilo was smart enough to see what was needed in this situation.
He slammed his foot up between Jaugan's legs.
Ilo's foot made Jaugan lurch forward into a fall of his own. But the warrior rolled himself to a crouching stance, ready to go again despite the pain written upon his face.
Jaugan lifted his arm to strike down as Ilo lay there. The prince also rolled, hoping for a miss. Instead a ringing sound caught his attention. The sword in Jaugan's hand had met with Aija's blade now.
In a blink, she yanked her own blade back. Jaugan's sword somehow followed, as if pulled. The weapon left his grip long enough for Aija to grab hold of its hilt.
Ilo had never seen anyone move so fast. Within a moment, she had disarmed Jaugan and now stood before him with a calm glare.
"Gu would be very proud, my Ilo. But I do not think these lessons are safe for you."
Ilo went calm also. He stood up from the ground as Aija brushed dirt from his uniform.
"Yes you're right. Jaugan, I will inform the duke that my lessons are to be given by another instructor in your place."
"Your hair is unclean again," Aija grumbled.
She was genuinely upset by this by this as they walked away from Jaugan. Aija did not look back at the warrior. It was as if Jaugan had never crossed their path to begin with. One would never guess that Aija was at all cross or worried about what just happened.
Jaugan was still behind them, standing with pain and awkward movements from the ground. At least, that was what Ilo guessed had happened.
He too had decided not to bother about looking back.
Aija already juggles a dangerous life of hiding slaves from ruthless merchants. Now she finds herself caring for a young boy who turns out to be a runaway prince! If that were not bad enough, he is also the younger brother of the most ruthless man in the kingdom, the Paret Duke Casulo de la Cera. Are the dark rumors about the duke true? Can Aija protect the prince and still keep her own identity secret? With so many people relying on her, one wrong move can bring Aija's entire world crumbling down.
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