Blood Past - By Samantha Young Page 0,48
didn’t beat around the bush. She just said it how it was which was kind of a shock for my mom sometimes. They had a few heated discussions over what was proper language for a lady.”
That had made Eden laugh.
Noah had stopped her with a penetrating look. “She was beautiful too. You look like her a lot. I can’t imagine what it means to Cyrus to have you in his life.” Having felt her throat begin to close with grief, Eden had glanced away quickly, willing her tears to recede.
“Eden.” Noah had placed a warm hand over hers and she’d felt his rough touch like a shiver of pleasure down her spine. “I am so sorry for not telling you who I was. For blindly following orders. I am so sorry I did that to you.”
After a tense moment Eden had glanced up at him. She’d given him a watery smile and had whispered, “I forgive you.”
“Eden,” Cyrus snapped bringing her back to the present. “I have a sword pointed at you. Will you please focus.”
Chapter Sixteen
The first Cut is the Deepest
It didn’t matter how distracted a person was, when Cyrus used that tone of voice you snapped to attention. Eden shook off the weekend and began listening as Cyrus and Noah demonstrated fighting with the Kopis. It was a frantic, close quarter fight and for a moment Eden was lost in the grace of their movements. Cyrus instructed as they fought, swinging the Kopis in a semi-loop around his head so that it came down towards Noah with the full force of his upper body strength. Noah countered the move, and soon began a hissing of metal on metal as they fought one another off in a flash of figure of eight movements. After each demonstration, Eden took a turn, starting off tentative until she felt comfortable in her own skin with the sword. Cyrus said many of the Neith began their sword training with wooden swords but he didn’t believe that was necessary for her. It put the pressure on but Eden was determined, and like all things that involved fighting and self-defence, she picked it up like she had been doing it for years. Soon, they moved from the weightier Kopis to the Lakonian and Persian short swords, from those to the Katana (Samurai), from the Katana to the Broadsword, from the Broadsword to the Longsword.
Despite the whole powerful, immortal thing, four hours in and Eden’s shoulder was on fire. With a grunt she dropped the hefty Longsword that had been clasped in her sweaty palms. Great, she winced. Now her other shoulder was killing her because of that damn thing. She looked at it in disgust.
“You might want to be careful with that, it wasn’t cheap,” Noah said as he picked it up. He threw Cyrus a look as he placed his sword and hers back up on the wall mounts. “I think someone needs a break.”
She curled her lip at him, noticing he had barely broken a sweat. “I’m fine.”
“You are using muscles you have never used before,” Cyrus assured her. “And we have been going strong for a few hours.”
“Did I miss anything?” Val sauntered into the room, shutting the door quietly behind her. She had been on patrol that morning.
“Any news?” Cyrus asked quietly.
She shook her head and turned to Eden with a smirk. “You look a little worn out.” Jeez, it wasn’t like she was panting on the floor dying or anything, Eden rolled her eyes. “I’m fine.
I just hate the damn Longsword.”
“Well, you don’t have to fight with the Longsword. I don’t know any who do; it’s just useful to know that you can if you ever have to.”
“Yeah, real useful.” Eden grimaced, rolling her left shoulder.
Val grinned at her and strolled over to the weapons. Reaching up, she pulled down one of the Persian short swords; it was more like a long dagger with a sharp curved tip than an actual sword.
“The Acinaces.” Val grinned, slicing it through the air with expertise. “My favourite.”
“Darius’ also.” Cyrus nodded, studying her movements. “He taught you well, Valeria.” The Ankh shared a quick knowing look with Eden and Eden felt that pang in her chest again for her mentor. She cleared her throat, “Uh, well I have to go with the Katana.” Noah smiled cheekily at Cyrus. “I think you owe me twenty bucks, Princeps.” Eden watched, brow furrowed as Cyrus wearily handed over the cash. “Did I miss something?”
“Noah bet you would