Read Online Resistance (Ilyon Chronicles Book 1) by Jaye L. Knight - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jaye L. Knight
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the Draicon Arena out past the wall, a better view than on the streets, but she locked her focus on the building settled at the edge of the smallest training field. Inside the sunlit interior, the air glittered with dust particles and tickled her nose with a mixed scent of dusty wood and oiled leather. Large tables and shelves sat along the walls, but it did not contain as much equipment as the other buildings. The young women had no training in swordplay or the use of such weapons, with the exception of archery and self-defense using a quarterstaff.
At a tall wooden box, Kyrin inspected a collection of smooth oak staves. She pulled one out to weigh in her hand. Satisfied, she walked out to the training yard. A few of the older girls and trainers practiced nearby. They glanced her way, but then ignored her.
In one corner by herself, Kyrin took the staff in both hands and moved through the different stances she’d learned over the years, paying careful attention to her posture and fluidity. She came out to practice so often, her hands and feet moved almost without thought. She enjoyed this exercise. It was almost like dancing, but more precise, and helped calm her mind.
Caught up in the movement, the refreshing air of the outdoors, and the warmth of the sunshine, it startled her to turn and find another person standing a few feet away. The sandy-haired young man responded to her surprise with a broad, flashing grin.
“You look excellent,” he praised. “One of the best I’ve seen.”
“Thank you, Collin.” She let the end of her staff rest on the ground.
Of everyone at Tarvin Hall, he would surely be the number one choice for promotion at the ceremony. At nineteen, he excelled in his training and showed extraordinary leadership and teaching skills. He’d trained the young men and women for years already. No doubt his promotion would place him as a lieutenant in Emperor Daican’s army where he would work his way to captain in record time, and, eventually, general.
Kyrin’s eyes shifted to the staff in Collin’s hand. He was equipped to spar and had another set of sparring armor tucked in his other arm. He followed her gaze, and his grin widened.
“Thought you’d like someone to practice with.”
Kyrin bit back a sigh. She enjoyed her solitude, but Collin would insist if she tried to decline. He was persistent that way, and far too confident in the effect of his persuasive grin. Yet, he had a way of being endearing despite his over-inflated ego and propensity for flattery.
“Sure,” Kyrin responded, but when she glanced over at the other girls, she caught their envious and disapproving frowns. Collin was the catch of Tarvin Hall, and he soaked up every bit of the attention.
Rolling her eyes, she took the sparring equipment from him. Thick leather bracers protected her forearms, gloves protected her knuckles, and greaves covered her shins. A leather breastplate protected her ribs. While none of it would be effective in a real fight, it did help deflect an accidental blow.
Lifting her staff from the ground, she faced Collin. He took a step back. With another wide grin, he bowed gracefully at the waist. Oh, the resentment Kyrin sensed drifting her way, but she didn’t spare the other girls a glance. Instead, she held her staff in her favored defense position.
“After you, my lady,” Collin said. His voice always held a distinct tone of mirth.
Kyrin reacted with a swift and powerful downward attack. The shattering crack of the two staves echoed across the field. After the successful block, Collin countered with his own swift attack. But Kyrin responded almost before he completed his move. After so many sparring sessions with him, he’d become easy to read with every one of his moves cataloged in her brain.
Back and forth, they traded blows. At first, it was hard to look on Collin as an opponent with the grin still attached to his lips and his eyes twinkling. He enjoyed this far too much, but as the
At a tall wooden box, Kyrin inspected a collection of smooth oak staves. She pulled one out to weigh in her hand. Satisfied, she walked out to the training yard. A few of the older girls and trainers practiced nearby. They glanced her way, but then ignored her.
In one corner by herself, Kyrin took the staff in both hands and moved through the different stances she’d learned over the years, paying careful attention to her posture and fluidity. She came out to practice so often, her hands and feet moved almost without thought. She enjoyed this exercise. It was almost like dancing, but more precise, and helped calm her mind.
Caught up in the movement, the refreshing air of the outdoors, and the warmth of the sunshine, it startled her to turn and find another person standing a few feet away. The sandy-haired young man responded to her surprise with a broad, flashing grin.
“You look excellent,” he praised. “One of the best I’ve seen.”
“Thank you, Collin.” She let the end of her staff rest on the ground.
Of everyone at Tarvin Hall, he would surely be the number one choice for promotion at the ceremony. At nineteen, he excelled in his training and showed extraordinary leadership and teaching skills. He’d trained the young men and women for years already. No doubt his promotion would place him as a lieutenant in Emperor Daican’s army where he would work his way to captain in record time, and, eventually, general.
Kyrin’s eyes shifted to the staff in Collin’s hand. He was equipped to spar and had another set of sparring armor tucked in his other arm. He followed her gaze, and his grin widened.
“Thought you’d like someone to practice with.”
Kyrin bit back a sigh. She enjoyed her solitude, but Collin would insist if she tried to decline. He was persistent that way, and far too confident in the effect of his persuasive grin. Yet, he had a way of being endearing despite his over-inflated ego and propensity for flattery.
“Sure,” Kyrin responded, but when she glanced over at the other girls, she caught their envious and disapproving frowns. Collin was the catch of Tarvin Hall, and he soaked up every bit of the attention.
Rolling her eyes, she took the sparring equipment from him. Thick leather bracers protected her forearms, gloves protected her knuckles, and greaves covered her shins. A leather breastplate protected her ribs. While none of it would be effective in a real fight, it did help deflect an accidental blow.
Lifting her staff from the ground, she faced Collin. He took a step back. With another wide grin, he bowed gracefully at the waist. Oh, the resentment Kyrin sensed drifting her way, but she didn’t spare the other girls a glance. Instead, she held her staff in her favored defense position.
“After you, my lady,” Collin said. His voice always held a distinct tone of mirth.
Kyrin reacted with a swift and powerful downward attack. The shattering crack of the two staves echoed across the field. After the successful block, Collin countered with his own swift attack. But Kyrin responded almost before he completed his move. After so many sparring sessions with him, he’d become easy to read with every one of his moves cataloged in her brain.
Back and forth, they traded blows. At first, it was hard to look on Collin as an opponent with the grin still attached to his lips and his eyes twinkling. He enjoyed this far too much, but as the
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