25

"She actually admitted to missing you?"

Seth Vernier"s eyes widened in surprise as he gaped at his friend.

Uri lowered his gaze. "Yes. It shocked me, too."

The two were standing at the wall of the training arena, observing the goings-on there.

"Well," Jeiel said, eyes crinkling in amusement, as he slapped him companionably on the back. "That sounds like a good sign to me. You"re obviously wearing down her defenses."

The commander snorted softly, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "It would appear so."

"So," Jeiel continued. "What next? Do you have a new job in mind for her?" The larger man stepped away from the wall, moving toward the exit.

"Actually, I do," he said, as his friend sided him. "I want to begin her training, Jeiel."

The man halted. "Seriously? Already?"

"Yes. It"s what I should have done in the first place. Along with educating her on Jupitar."

He gave Jeiel a firm look. "And I want you to do it, Jeiel. Train her in all areas of combat, fighting, military intelligence - everything. I have Kitar in mind for her language lessons, so you needn"t worry about that. And he"s an expert on Jupitarian history and culture."

The Seth fell silent as he considered this. "It will take awhile to do all this, you realize."

"Yes," Uri said. "But I can think of no one better for the job. You know more about her than anyone else in Jupitar, next to me, Paxis, and the Aemonses, of course. It may also help her learn to trust you. She must not be afraid to come to any one of us when she needs to. Especially if I am not here."

Jeiel gave him a somber stare. "You do know how busy I have been with the other one. What about him?"

Uri frowned. "You"ve been extremely thorough, but I can trust no one else as I trust you." He put a hand to his shoulder, meeting his gaze. "Can I trust you to do this for me, Jeiel? Please? We are not at war right now, so it would be the best time, wouldn"t you agree?"

Jeiel fell silent as he considered the matter. "Aye," he said slowly. "I will do it. By your

command."

"Thank you, Jeiel. You will be well compensated. And don"t worry. I have plans for your other student, on Ulstra this time."

The Seth nodded, understanding. He only hoped that Casina would be as good a student as the other was.

"You may begin in three solarities. I want her well rested," Uri said. "Direct any concerns to me, of course. I doubt you"ll have too many problems though. The report I received from A"lam at the aviary about her work ethic and conscientiousness was exemplary, so I don"t doubt she"ll be able to handle it." He paused momentarily. "Had she trained first, before she worked in Zaratan, I imagine she would have been able to defend herself, unlike what really happened. She must be able to protect herself, Jeiel, especially when we or other H"San are not there to help."

"I understand and will see to it personally. But what about, well, you know? Your...other plans?"

The commander sighed with disheartenment, staring at the ground as they walked. "There is little I can do now to change anything. I have to follow through."

"Well then. In that case. How about a drink?"

Uri shoved open the heavy wooden doors leading out of the arena, laughing. "Something to mellow you out as you consider what you"re up against?"

Jeiel joined in his laughter. "I know very well what I am up against," he replied soberly. "I remember well how the girl slapped you the first time she met you. And yes, for that, I will definitely need a good stiff drink. And no doubt each and every morning after that."

Still laughing at this, Uri shot him a knowing look, then placed a friendly arm about him as they headed for the nearest H"San club.

* * * *

Three solarities later, on Kubera, Casina found herself staring up at the large H"San standing before her, a large broadsword in his hands. Swallowing nervously, she wondered how she had found herself in such a predicament.

When the commander had mentioned something new to keep her from being bored again, she hadn"t realized he had meant sweating it out in a training arena with his men. And especially with that Goliath who had stopped her from trying to steal the spaceship from the airstrip that time, then carted her back to his office, the day the commander had first kissed her. That other alien, Jeiel.

"Chol!" he told her, lifting the weapon he held aloft. "Higher!"

"Um, okay." Casina quickly did as he instructed, although the sword she held was heavy and cumbersome. Her arms trembled with the exertion it took for her to even hold it that high. Still, determined not to mess up again, she planted her feet firmly in the dirt and clamped her hands about the hilt with sheer determination, maintaining control of it.

"Yes," Jeiel said, moving toward her to readjust the angle of the weapon. "That"s it. You"ve got it now." He stepped back. "Now, as I swing my sword at you, lift yours up to deflect its blow.

Hold fast, because it may easily be knocked from your hands."

Casina nodded and readjusted her feet and hands. Then, just as he had said, he swung at her, waited for her to deflect, but she panicked and loosened her grip, only to have the sword go flying out of her hands. It landed in a humph of dust several feet away.

"I"m...I"m sorry," she said, frantic hands flying to her head. "I got scared."

Jeiel lowered his blade. "It"s all right," he said. "You did well up until that point. But you need to overcome your fear. Fear may well be your downfall if you are not careful."

He watched patiently as Casina moved to retrieve her weapon. She returned and resumed her stance.

"All right," she replied, still wondering why he couldn"t just give her a pulse gun. "Let"s try it again. I want to get it right."

Grinning, Jeiel raised his blade and came at her again.

Again and again, she failed. Again and again, he patiently waited for her to learn the skill he was intent on teaching her.

An hour later, when Casina finally managed to keep the sword in her hand, she shouted in glee, lifting the sword high for all to see.

"I did it!" she squealed happily, much to the Seth"s amusement.

"Good. Now let"s see how many times you can continue doing it," he said. "Once you"ve mastered that, we"ll move on to something else."

Smiling at him, Casina, more confident now, resumed position and practiced over and over again. By day"s end, she had gotten the feel of the sword in her hand and felt the way her body was supposed to feel as the powerful broadsword came at her time and time again. Jeiel noticeably increased the weight of the weapon against hers until he felt she knew it. As he attacked her heavily, she managed to recalibrate her efforts for each deft weight against her. By day"s end, she felt confident in her efforts and ability to deflect Jeiel"s attacks as well as keep the heavy weapon in her hand every time.

"Well done, my lady," Jeiel told her. "Well done. Shall we call it a day then?"

Grinning with satisfaction, Casina repeatedly nodded her head, as she handed him her weapon, its hilt now covered with sweat.

"Tomorrow we shall see how much you remember."

"All of it, I hope," Casina said. "I think I"m starting to like this. I want to learn more."

At her words, Jeiel"s lips curled. "That"s good. So off with you then," he said. "Kamon will see you back to your suite. And I will see you bright and early." He watched as she giggled and scampered away, like a child who had just been given a shiny new toy. When he reported to Uri later, he told him this, relating to him that she was just as good a student as the other he had just trained. Only not as strong.

"Well, I"m sure that will change over time," Uri said. "The time wasted at that fanged institute weakened her muscles, but her training should help remedy that. The fact that she is enjoying her training is a first step in the right direction, that"s for sure."

"I only hope she doesn"t start bouncing around like the other one," Jeiel remarked, chortling. "If that happens, I may need a vacation."

Laughing at shared memories of the Seth"s previous student, they lifted their gold tankards, quickly downed them, and slammed them, with simultaneous satisfaction, onto the old wooden table they shared at the private H"San club.