The blade sang through the air as it sailed right at Alac's chest. Stepping deftly to the side, he used the flat of his own sword to knock Kailynn's dagger out of the air and to the ground.
"Damn it!" He growled at her. "Hold on to it!"
"It would be easier to do that if my hand and arm weren't numb from hitting this post with the damn thing!"
Alac leaned over, picked up the dagger and marched over to her. She held out her hand.
"No." Alac shook his head. "Make a fist and hit the post with it. Do it ten times."
"I'm not doing that." Kailynn's voice was flat, leaving no room for argument. "My hand already hurts."
Alac reached out and grabbed her wrist, folding her fingers into a loose fist. "What do you think will happen if you have to actually use that blade? When you have slashed and stabbed for hours?"
Kailynn snatched her hand back and held it against her chest. She stood there for a moment. Would I have to do that? Can I do that? Will I be able to thrust that dagger into someone's chest? Annie's face flashed in front of her. Cold, lifeless eyes that stared into nothing. I am going to have to stab that dagger into someone else's daughter, brother or friend.
As Kailynn stood there staring at him, Alac jammed the dagger into the top of the post and it stood there gleaming, taunting her. Something in her surged. She balled her fist and slammed it into the post. Annie counted on you. A little voice in the far corners of her mind whispered to her. You failed her. Kailynn hit the post again, harder. You should have been the one. They wanted you. Tears of anger and guilt escaped down her face as her fist struck the post again. Little impostor. Kailynn choked down a sob and hit the post again. Her knuckles were starting to bleed and tear open. Ash Princess of Death is more like.
"My Lady." Joseph stepped forward from the fence where he had been observing her training for the last four days. Alac silenced him with a look.
My Lady, Murderer of the innocent. Kailynn screamed with the heartbreak of loss and all the strength of unbridled rage as she drove her bleeding hand into the wood once more.
"Shut up!!" Her scream was half pleading, half command. "Stop it!"
Weak child. You can't do this. Give up.
Kailynn exploded with the force of someone who had held it in too long. The beatings, all the missed meals, the fake parents she still mourned and the death weight of crushing unwanted responsibility. She lashed out at the post, kicking it, punching it over and over with her hands as blood flowed freely from her knuckles.
"Alac!" Joseph called as he ran toward them. "Make her stop! She will hurt herself!"
Alac narrowed his eyes at Joseph, who slowed to a walk, then stopped altogether. Turning away from him, Alac watched the sobbing Kailynn as she threw wild erratic punches. She began to slow, losing steam. Alac stepped in closer as she leaned against the post with one blood covered hand, catching her breath.
"Can you use the dagger?"
Kailynn shook her head. "I'm done."
"Is the fight done when you are? You need to train through this."
"I said, I'm DONE." Kailynn snarled at him. Her hand gripped the post as if she was going to try and throw it at his head. Alac looked at her and the post for a moment, then drew himself up to his full height.
"Be done then. I don't train brats anyway." Alac snarled back at her. He called over his shoulder, "She's all yours Joseph. Good luck."
Kailynn made an obscene gesture at him and stalked off toward the house, Joseph in tow.
Alac waited until the door had shut behind them. He stepped forward to the thick wooden training post. There. Where her hand had gripped the post, was the faint outline of her hand. An outline made of ash.
Alac whipped his sword from its sheath, swinging it at the post. The blade pinged a high note as it cleanly cut the top of the post with the ash handprint off. Alac stooped to pick it up. He studied it for a moment and a smirk crossed his lips. "This just got more interesting. I wonder if..."
He shoved the post fragment into his bag and shouldering the bag, he headed to the barn.
❧
"What a fucking asshole!" Kailynn dropped into her favorite chair by the fireplace. She felt as though she would never be warm all the way through.
"My Lady, it is his job to push you, as it is mine," Joseph appeared at her elbow. Handing her a bowl of water and some strips of cloth, he continued, "There is much for you to learn and so little time."
"I know." She sighed as she accepted the supplies and began cleaning up her hands. "I just needed a break though."
"There won't always be time to take one," Joseph settled into the chair across from her and gently set the little table containing the antique silver chess set in front of them. "The best time for an enemy to strike is when you are tired or wounded with your guard down."
Joseph moved his pawn forward.
"I understand." Kailynn moved a pawn in response leaving a bloody fingerprint on the chess piece. "I'll do better tomorrow."
Joseph nodded in affirmation. "All any of can ask, is that you keep trying and learning. We will be with you for every step and bloody knuckle." He slid another piece on the board. "You can do it."
"Joseph." Kailynn's face was suddenly very serious. "What if I can't do this?"
"Do what?"
"Any of it. What if Sera is wrong and I am just an imposter?"
"Sera wouldn't have done all of this on a maybe or a guess. She's extremely sure. Ask her when you see her to show you. Your move."
Kailynn studied the board, selected a piece and moved it. "I will ask her then."
Joseph moved his queen, "Checkmate. In the meantime My Lady, focus on what is in front of you."
"How did you.."
"Not every move makes sense when looked at individually. You must see the whole picture, Princess. Lives will depend in it." He smiled kindly at her as he reset the board. "Again?"