Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign - By Phillip Jones Page 0,166

sides of his head. “So ... I’m protected. You act like I should know this already.”

Kael snapped. “Of course, you should! You’ve commanded my flame on a million occasions.”

Bewildered, Sam looked at BJ, and then he reached down to pick up the blade. “What do you mean, Kael? How could I have possibly commanded your flame on a million occasions?”

Kael went silent for a long series of moments. Only a slight hum emanated from the blade as the group waited for the god-sword to respond.

“Well?” Sam urged. “Are you going to answer me, or not?”

The blade’s response was harsh. “I meant nothing! Continue your training, and don’t drop me again, or I won’t let you train with me!”

Sam desperately wanted to ask another question, but he figured it was best not to push. “I said I was sorry.” The fighter paused. “You know what? I’m the master here, not you. I’m not sorry at all. From now on, you’ll do exactly what I tell you. I’m sick of being pushed around. And I’m sick of your attitude. Just because you’re a sword doesn’t mean you have to be a prick.”

The sword went silent, and even the blade’s hum could not be heard.

Sam refused to speak first.

Eventually, the blade broke the silence. “Perhaps you’re on your way to becoming a leader after all, Sam. I will mind my place.”

“Good!” Sam jeered. “Finally, a moment where I get some respect!”

Again the sword paused before it spoke. When it did, its pulse was a soft glow. “Please ... try again, and speak the words of power.”

Sam stared at the blade, conflicted. On one hand he wanted to continue to berate the sword, and on the other, he wanted to continue his training.

It did not take long before BJ snapped. “Enough of my moments have been wasted! I’m tired of waiting. Just say the damn words, son!”

Sam lowered the weapon. “Can’t a guy think around here?”

“Shut up and say the words!” BJ commanded. “You can think during your own moments!”

Sam frowned, lifted Kael high above his head and shouted, “Val arna, nuar!”

The blade ignited.

As Sam moved Kael around, he admired the trail of fire that was being left behind by the weapon’s wake. He touched the blade to his skin. In spite of the sword’s explanation, he was surprised the blade felt cold. He extended it toward BJ. “Can you feel anything?”

“Of course, I can, bonehead. Kael told you how his power works. Have you become dense?”

Kael laughed at Sam’s expense, but when Sam’s hand tightened around his handle, the blade stopped laughing and then pushed forward with the lesson. “Now that you’ve commanded the power of fire, and it is active, you can build upon it. Imagine you’re in battle, and the enemy is lining up in front of you, and you need to bring them down quickly. You can extend my blade without changing my weight or balance.”

The skin between Sam’s eyes wrinkled. “How is that possible?”

BJ was the one to respond as he shook his head. “Because of magic, bonehead.”

When Sam did not respond, the blade spoke with caution. “May I continue, Sam?”

The fighter shrugged. “Just proceed.”

“Once my blade has been extended, you may swing at will and not worry about your allies. This power inside the words will allow me to kill your enemies and pass through your allies without harming them. Lift me up and say the word, nug.”

“Hold up a moment,” Sam responded. “So after I say this word, if there’s an enemy on the far side of BJ, I can kill him without killing BJ?”

“That’s right, and it doesn’t matter if it’s an enemy beyond BJ or not. If you consider BJ an ally, then I’ll pass through him during any moment. Sam, you may not realize this, but we are connected spirit to spirit. I shall always know what your heart desires.”

“No way!” Sam’s smile widened. “This has to be the coolest thing I’ve ever heard. Okay, okay. So how do you pronounce that word again?” Once Sam understood, he lifted the sword and released the power inside the word.

Kael extended another three paces.

Again, Sam swung the sword around. It felt as if nothing changed. Even when he brought the sword to his side, the blade adjusted without hitting the ground, then re-extended as he brought it up. Sam spun around and around, and after a bit, he caught BJ off guard and passed the blade through the trainer’s mid-section.

“Watch it, bonehead!” BJ shouted. “Just because