Book 2 Ch 47: New Orders

Trina managed a surprisingly cunning feint that nearly got around Michael’s shield, but he sidestepped and batted it aside. She was quick and light, but he was used to fighting in fullplate and outside of it when sparring he was quicker than she was.

“That was well done. Lys teaching you to fight less honestly?”

Trina smiled and threw out a few more testing strikes in his direction. “She’s been a big help. I thank Seras for giving me so many tools to help me fight those stronger than myself.”

Michael smiled as he threw a strike of his own. It was hard and to her center, but he pulled back when he realized he was going to hit her, making her frown.

“You know I can take the hit.”

“It’s not about your toughness, it’s about my control,” replied Michael as he swapped his stance and went back to the weapon rack to grab a spear. He hadn’t practiced with one much lately, but he felt like he shouldn’t let himself get too rusty. There were many situations in which a spear would outperform his mace or sword.

He squared up and started sending probing strikes out with his spear. As they fought he decided to divine her. He’d been meaning to practice divining in combat anyway, and he was curious about how far she’d come since he’d first looked at her titles and deeds.

Titles:

Trina Grantus

Servant of Seras

Deeds:

Brother Saviour

Elder Healer

Rift Closer

Blessings:

Healing Touch

Michael took a nasty blow to his hand while he tried to look more closely at Trina’s new title. He winced and took a quick step backward. Getting hit when he had such a drastically larger range than her was a foolish mistake. Still, he was glad to see that she took advantage of his opening so well, and saw a smile on her face.

“Well done.”

She nodded. “You’re slipping in your old age.”

He laughed and lunged back at her with his spear, choosing not to divide his focus this time. He fought conservatively, taking advantage of his defensive strength to wear Trina down. Her cardio had definitely improved and she managed to keep up a solid pace for several minutes. Michael felt a lot of pride in her even as he smacked the side of her head with the shaft of the spear, making her stumble a bit.

“Beating up your little apprentice? What would your gods think about that?” asked Lys as she approached.

Michael smiled at her. “Nykas is laughing in my ear, Seras is glad I’m helping her improve her defense, Bruntus values hard lessons, and Veras values tough love as much as the other kinds.”

“I do like Veras, “ said Lys, giving him a sultry smile. “She’s done me more than a few favors.”

“Gross,” said Trina as she healed her bruise with a hand to the side of her head and brought herself back to her feet.

Michael chuckled a bit. Almost everyone in Gemini had started to talk about the gods of the divine, at least casually. Some had taken to actual worship after fighting with him at the rifts, or just asking him a few questions. Trina had taken the most to it. He felt a bit odd about it, he was pretty thoroughly against indoctrinating his own children into religion, but when the world you’re in has provable divine power it alters how you think of things. Especially when those gods needed people devoted to them to regain strength and hopefully grant them whatever it is that they needed to stop the rifts or at least slow them down.

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“Did you want to do some sparring?” Michael asked Lys.

“I’d rather save our sparring for my room.”

Trina made a gagging noise.

“The twins are having a meeting, I’m helping gather everyone for it.”

“Where?” asked Michael.

“Front of the farmhouse. Where are your friends?”