13 Air Time

Kraem didn't end up killing his little green-eyed training partner. Not because he came to his senses but because he sensed that he could inflict more pain as a very, very diligent training partner. He focused as he never had before.

When sparring he always aimed for Jemman's knuckles. When wrestling he gave an extra twist to her joints. After the first three hours she was black and blue from her shoulders to her shins. Three of her fingers had hairline fractures and she had a new scar that sketched out her jawline.

Rather than berating Kraem, Jardin egged him on.

"That's the way Baby Puppy. She's down, why not lay in an extra kick."

"Ooooh that had to hurt. If you get her other eye she'll look just like a raccoon."

When Jardin yelled, "Kick her in the guts and see what last night's saag looks like." Kraem actually whooped with delight.

Kraem felt proud when he did give her panda eyes fifteen minutes later. Yet Jardin's next comment made him very nervous.

"Okay Only Eight, Karma Time."

It was then that Kraem realised that Karma really is a bitch. Bruise for bruise, sprain for sprain she matched him. Unfortunately, when she went to kick him him in the guts she was a little short. His distinctly non-masculine scream ended the session. Jemman was very apologetic but Kraem didn't really trust the twinkle in her eyes. Jardin, looking very pale, laughed until he initiated a coughing fit.

No one was pleased to find out that the saag was still green but somehow, now, had carrots.

When Jardin finally settled down, holding a glass of watered down wine he guided Jemman and Kraem through a long, dance-like stretch.

As he finished he turned to Kraem, "Kraem, what did you do wrong today?"

Thinking through his fighting Kraem didn't think he'd done anything wrong. He fought better than he ever had fought before. In fact, he was pretty confident he'd started on the road of cultivation himself.

"Nothin'." He responded feeling a little surly.

"Correct. I've never seen you as inspired as you were today." Jardin paused, then added, "Think carefully about that."

"What about you?" Jardin asked quietly turning to Jemman.

"I enjoyed getting beaten up, way too much."

Jardin laughed tentatively, pretty sure that this humour was a little dark for an eight year old. "Oh, and I need a bit more air time if I'm going to kick Kraem in the stomach."

This brought out the onset of another coughing fit from Jardin, and a pretty feral glare from Kraem.

When it was quiet again she concluded, "I'm still not using my energy efficiently. If the training went on for another five minutes I'd have been useless."

"Insightful" was all Jardin said.

It was the end of a huge day. Jardin went and organised an ice bath for Kraem, and a herbal bath for Jemman. He made sure that they had a huge meal, and then told them to have an early night.

Jemman didn't understand Jardin's good night.

"Sleep well Amair" he whispered with a small bow.

Somehow, Kraem's glare was anticipated as she'd been copping it all day. But it didn't make much sense. Well, seeing he was the first blue, shivering, wolof she had encountered it wasn't that surprising, but she had a sneaking suspicion that it was aimed more at her old mentor than at her.

Jemman quickly went to sleep. Unfortunately, this only lasted for an hour before she woke up, completely alert. Unsure of why she'd woken she started to worry. Then, for the first time in four months she began to really settle down to worry. Jemman realised that Jardin hadn't produced any body strengthening materials for her. He hadn't taught her much more than to let her know she had four cultivation methods to perfect and she didn't really know how any of it fit with being a Kenstar. Finally, she wondered why she was pouring her life into this goal that wasn't really that important to her.

To be honest, it wasn't actually her last worry, the next four hours were spent rehashing old anxieties and creating new ones.

She woke up at dawn, exhausted and disoriented, and slowly completed her ablutions. She then went for her morning warmup where she sang her alphabet song. It was significantly better than previously and she only sounded like a marginally drunk baboon for once.

Then after some deep meditation and cultivation of her qi she marched determinedly to speak with a pale, old wolof.