He danced back out of the way and held his hand up to signal a stop. Craig retreated, his attitude clearly suspicious when Larem moved to stand beside him.
“You’ll get yourself killed if you make that mistake in battle. Watch me.” Then he went through the correct maneuver in slow motion, repeating it several times.
“Now you.”
Craig mimicked his technique, flinching only slightly when Larem took hold of the kid’s thick wrist and corrected the angle just a bit. “Good. Go through that several times slowly so that you do it right. Rushing only reinforces bad habits.”
At least the kid listened. After a few more repetitions, Larem faced off against him again. “Okay, bring it on.”
This time the young Paladin grinned, clearly loving the challenge. They both went at it full tilt, laughing when one or the other managed to score. Larem finally called a halt when he could tell the younger man was tiring. There was no use in risking injury to either of them by continuing.
Maybe next time their paths crossed, the encounter would be a peaceful one. To his surprise, Craig held out his hand.
“I apologize for my behavior the other night, sir. I’d heard that you and Barak were handy with a sword, but you’re flat-out amazing. I appreciate the lesson.”
Larem accepted the peace offering. “Anytime. And I mean that. You have great potential. If you and your friends would like me to work with you, don’t hesitate to call me.”
“I will, sir.” Craig looked past Larem. “I guess I’d better go let Devlin pound on me some.”
“Go easy on him, Craig. No use embarrassing him in front of everybody.”
Larem was fully aware that Devlin and Trahern had walked up behind him. His new friend tried unsuccessfully to hide a grin, a mistake he’d no doubt pay for with a few bruises. Luckily, his Paladin DNA meant he’d heal quickly.
Devlin gave them both a narrow-eyed look. “Craig, go guzzle some water and collect your buddy. I’ll be ready for you in a couple of minutes.”
Craig gave Devlin a sloppy salute. “Yes, sir.”
But before walking away, he turned back to Larem. “If you meant what you said, I will be calling you.”
Larem nodded. “I’ll look forward to it.”
When he was gone, Devlin smiled at Larem. “That was well played. Looks like you’ve gained a friend—and a student. You down with that?”
Devlin was well aware of Larem’s conflicted feelings on the subject of helping the Paladins in a way that would be used against his own people. However, this was his world now, and he needed to feel useful.
“Yes, oddly enough, I am. Especially because with a little help, in a couple of months he’ll rival you and Trahern on your best day.” He wiped down his sword, checking for any nicks to be smoothed out.
Trahern looked skeptical and a little insulted. “Care to put some money on that?”
“Sure. Say ten dollars? In two months, he’ll face one of you in a match and win.”
“A measly ten bucks?” Trahern snorted. “That’s what I thought. You don’t think he can do it.”
“Okay, make it a hundred.” A bet Larem was sure he was going to win. “Unless you’re afraid Brenna will kick your ass when you lose the grocery money.”
Trahern didn’t rise to the bait. “A hundred it is. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to show these kids how it’s done.”
And he would, too, Larem had no doubt. The man was a legend among the Paladins as a killing machine with his broadsword. He tried not to think about what that meant for those Kalith who sought the light of this world, out of their heads with sickness and screaming for blood.
It was what it was.
Larem toweled off some of the sweat before putting his shirt back on. The whole time he forced himself to keep his eyes focused on his immediate surroundings instead of straying back up to Sasha. What was she doing there? Watching, obviously, but the real question was why? Was she worried or merely curious?
After putting his sword back in its scabbard, he sought out Hunter in the crowd. He spotted his friend standing off to one side with Penn and Lonzo, watching Trahern and Devlin square off against Craig and several others. Larem paused long enough to study the trainees, assessing both their strengths and weaknesses. Not bad, not bad at all. Working with them would be satisfying.
He walked up to Hunter. “You want to come to our place and chill for a while? Maybe get some carryout?”
“Sure. I’ve got time to kill while Tate hits the mall with Brenna and Laurel. I’ll get my things. And, by the way, you’re buying after making me look bad in front of my peeps.”
“Fine,” Larem agreed. “But how is it my fault that you left yourself wide open to attack?”
“Good point, but give me a minute and I’ll figure out some way to blame you.” Hunter headed back over to the bench to pick up his workout bag.
While he waited, Larem at last gave in to the need to see Sasha again, even if only from a distance. As soon as he looked up, she stepped back from the window, her attention now focused on something—or someone—on her own level. Why had her expression abruptly changed from curious to puzzled, even worried?
He checked the other windows along the balcony to see what had caught her attention, but all he could see were a couple of shadowy figures at the far end. They were standing at the wrong angle for him to see them clearly. But then it didn’t matter who they were, not if they were bothering Sasha.
“What’s up, Larem?” Lonzo followed his line of sight. “Who is that up there?”
“Sasha’s standing by the far right window, but I can’t see who’s on the other end. But whoever it is, Sasha’s not looking happy about it.” He drew his sword again. “I’ll be right back.”
Lonzo blocked his way briefly. “Don’t do anything stupid, Larem. I’ll snag Hunter and we’ll be right behind you.”
“Fine.”
That didn’t mean he’d hesitate one second to skewer anyone who threatened Sasha. Lonzo and Hunter could provide backup if he needed it, but guarding that woman—his woman—was his job.
He rounded the corner and ran past the first staircase to the second one even though it cost him a few extra seconds. This route would bring him up on Sasha’s end of the hall rather than risking her being trapped on the far side of a potential enemy.
The soft soles of his Kalith boots made only the slightest noise as he took the steps two at a time. He slowed his pace as he neared the top, not wanting to frighten Sasha by charging in, sword drawn. The stairs brought him up to the second floor just around the corner from where he could hear Sasha’s voice along with the deeper ones of three human males. He didn’t recognize the first two, but the third one was that bastard Duke.
Larem brought his sword down to his side and slightly behind him in case he’d totally misread the situation. He paused for a few seconds, hoping to determine what was going on. Clearly Sasha’s temper was running high, but he had no way of knowing why.
He listened for footsteps coming up behind him. Lonzo appeared at the top of the steps armed with an automatic along with his sword. Hunter must have decided to come up the other staircase, flanking the enemy. Not for the first time, Larem thanked the gods for the privilege of having such fine warriors ready to fight beside him.
“Guards,” he whispered and held up three fingers.
Maybe he should let Lonzo take the lead as they rounded the corner, figuring the guards would be less likely to immediately go on the offensive against him. But when he motioned for Lonzo to go first, the Paladin shook his head.
“It’s your party.”
All right, then. He started forward with his friend only a few steps behind. Sure enough, two of the guards had Sasha cornered, her back against the wall.
When she tried to shove Duke away, he caught her hands and pinned them over her head. He leaned in closer. “No need to get violent, Sasha. We just want a few of the fringe benefits you’ve been offering the Paladins—or at least their pets. Surely our needs should come before that alien scum.”
Before Larem could rush to her rescue, Sasha jerked her leg up and kneed the bastard. Duke howled in pain and raised his hand to retaliate. The guard standing watch caught Duke’s hand on the downward swing and signaled to his friends they were no longer alone. The three men immediately turned in Larem’s direction. Their facial expressions changed from smirks to frowns, then looks of fury, but at least they put some distance between themselves and Sasha.
“What’s going on here?” Larem demanded, aiming the question at Sasha. It was Duke who answered.
“We were just discussing some special requests we guards have for the new administrator.” His laugh was ugly.
“I’m guessing from the way she handed you your balls on a platter that the answer is no.”
“Let’s just say we tabled the discussion.” The guard puffed out his chest and spat on the floor. “By the way, that was some freak show you put on down there, Other. It’s a shame your buddy Hunter is too crippled to kill you while he had the chance.”
Before Larem could respond, Sasha stepped right between him and the trio of assholes. “That does it! You’ve attacked me and insulted my friends. You three are suspended without pay pending an official hearing.”
Okay, so much for keeping the situation from escalating out of control. Sasha wouldn’t cower, but he’d hoped she’d at least use some common sense and stay out of the way. Now wasn’t the time to tell these three that she’d back Larem over them, even if it did warm that spot in his chest that had grown cold since he’d left her bed.
While she was talking, Hunter appeared behind them. He’d obviously heard Duke’s comment about his injured leg. Knowing the Paladin, there would be hell to pay for that crack. The guard would be lucky if Hunter didn’t carve him up and leave him standing there holding his guts in with his hands.
The irate Paladin stopped just short of where the guards stood. “Gee, Duke, I’m sorry you were so disappointed in my performance. Why don’t we head back down to the gym right now so you can see if you do better against Larem than I did? Or maybe you’d rather face me?”
Duke’s face went pale. He was in a no-win situation. If he refused the challenge, he’d look like a coward. If he accepted the challenge, he’d bleed. Duke knew it, his friends knew it, and so did Larem and the Paladins.
As entertaining as it was to watch the fool squirm, Larem’s priority was to get Sasha out of the line of fire. When she started to speak again, he caught her hand in his and squeezed, hoping she’d take the hint. She did, but she clearly didn’t like it.
“Tell you what, gentlemen,” Larem said, keeping his tone reasonable. “If you apologize to the lady now you can at least walk away in one piece.”