globe looked like Aunt Eileen drugged Carrig, and whoever came into the room afterward did something to him. It wasn’t a compulsion spell, because he would still have recognized Sinead in her glamour. Hopefully Professor Attwood could determine which one was used.
The sense of something big going down freaked me out, and I wished the Sentinels were back from their mission. I really needed someone to talk to.
“Uh, do you think we could try real swords today?” I asked, wishing I had my Converse and jeans on instead of battle gear. My boots weren’t broken in yet and they felt stiff.
Amusement lit Carrig’s face. “You think you’re ready for real swords, yeah?”
No. But I needed his blood to find out the truth. “I’m ready. I’d like to see how it feels. You know. Feel the weight of the sword. See what it’s like when steel hits steel, and all.”
“You don’t say? You wish to be one with the sword?”
I frowned, slipping my arm into my shield. “Are you trying to be funny?”
“That’s an American saying, isn’t it?”
There he went again, flashing his Irish charm. The man ran hot and cold so frequently, I couldn’t keep up with his moods.
“All right, then.” He pulled his sword from his scabbard.
I slid my blade out of mine.
“One has to be careful with real swords. No lunging with it.” He readied his stance. “Make sure to keep the blade at a distance. We wouldn’t want an accident now, would we?”
“I know. I know,” I said. “Just like the wooden ones, no body contact.” Except he hit me all the time with the fricking wooden ones.
“Okay then, give me your best.”
I took a deep, calming breath, ignoring the little voice in my brain that screamed using real weapons was a very bad mistake.
I brought my feet shoulder-width apart and raised my sword, my shield clanking against my belt. We waltzed around each other. I was definitely in better shape than Carrig, but he had more strength and experience. I steadied my breathing and glided my feet across the grass, never raising them more than an inch off the ground. In fencing, breathing and balance made all the difference in control, and I needed the advantage that our age difference gave me.
Carrig swung his sword. I parried. He flew by and turned quickly, sending another blow at me. I pivoted away, and his blade missed me by an inch.
I tossed my practice globe at him and he dodged it effortlessly. It thumped to the ground and rolled down the hill.
He threw a slow shot at me, as if I would fall for the fake. I beat his sword in the middle of its blade with mine. His shoulder hinted at a counter, so I swung low to block the strike. I was totally on the defense, which didn’t leave me open to cut him. I shuffled around to make myself a harder target.
When Carrig started panting, I knew I had him. It always surprised me during our sessions that he’d wear out first. For a trainer and a leader, he was out of shape.
“What’s the matter? Tired?” I mocked him as I spun away.
“Late night, is all.” He advanced toward me.
I was mentally in the fight, flexible and ready for an opening. Carrig brought his feet too close together and stumbled a little. I jumped at the opportunity and flicked my sword, slicing his cheek.
“Shites!” He groaned. “You drew blood.”
“You fell into my blade,” I protested.
He wiped the blood from his cheek with an irritated growl. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.” He darted across the pasture and disappeared through the double doors leading to the dining room.
When he was safely inside, I turned so my back faced the door. I swiped Carrig’s blood from the tip of my sword, smudged it into my hand, and recited the charm. The globe sprouted in my hand.
“Is Carrig McCabe true?”
His image blinked across the sphere. “It is unclear.”
I gasped, dropping my sword. My hands shook and I couldn’t catch my breath. Unclear? What does that mean? It’s not clear if he’s true or not? What is he up to? So many questions pinged my brain, causing white flashes of light in the corners of eyes. I swayed on my feet, dizzy, pain stabbing my temples.
“Why is it not clear?” I asked the globe.
Carrig’s face faded, and an image of a black flag with a red flame blazing in the middle flickered within the globe.