CHAPTER 39: THE ART OF SWORDSMANSHIP [2]

"Please... rise," Nyella said gently with a soft voice, trying not to be commanding.

Varek still had his head bowed, and then, slowly, he lifted himself but still lowered his eyes in respect.

Behind him, Ronan, Aeron, and Yvarra stood there frozen. They couldn’t believe that she would visit them after the war. Ronan took a half-step forward as his eyes were still wide. "Princess... Nyella," he said.

Nyella did not look at them then. She was still looking at Varek in shock at what she had just witnessed.

"There’s only one person in all of Ivarion who’s ever matched me that long in a sword fight," she said. "Only one who’s ever withstood that final strike of mine, the high triple leap. That used to be a test... a challenge I gave during training. And only one man had dodged it just like you did."

She took a step closer.

"And now... That makes it two people. And you cannot call that a coincidence."

Varek didn’t respond. He just stood there.

"I must ask," she said. "Where did you learn that technique? That stance, your grip, your speed... all of it. That is not the style of a common swordmaster. And the only person I’ve seen with that exact technique is Ser Devic... so I must ask, "Who are you really?"

He lifted his head just enough to meet her eyes. "My Princess... I don’t understand what you’re saying. I’m a little lost here."

"Oh? Shall I make it clearer for you?" she said as she tilted her head. "Very well then. I want to know what a member of the Phoenix Guard is doing here, in the far North?"

Everyone was stunned as to what Nyella had said. Aeron’s mouth opened, but he didn’t say anything.

"Don’t try to deny it," she continued. "I’ve trained with Phoenix Guards my entire life. Their fighting style is unlike any other. The precision and the patience and the unpredictable rhythm, it’s all there in you. You have the exact fighting skills as my trainer."

Varek said nothing.

"Perhaps," she continued, "you were one of those who vanished after the tragedy... sixteen years ago. When the Phoenix Guard disbanded after that terrible incident." Her voice softened at the end.

Varek looked down at the ground. Took a deep breath and then said. "How is Ser Devic, my long-time friend?"

"I knew it, I knew those skills of yours matched his, just that it’s been a long time since you gripped the sword against a worthy opponent. Well, he’s good and difficult as always." Nyella said with a smile.

"Indeed, I missed the days of having a duel with him. I had to retire, it was time for me to." Varek responded.

"This village is really lucky to have someone like you. And it seems," she added, glancing toward Aeron, "you’ve chosen to train the Dragon Rider himself."

Varek nodded once. "It’s the least I can do. For what’s coming for him."

Nyella folded her arms. "And I appreciate that. Truly. But... if I may be honest, you’re pushing him too hard. You’re trying to force mastery into a boy who’s barely slept. The art of swordsmanship takes years to learn. You cannot expect him to be ready in just a few days."

"I know," Varek said. "But I have to try. Even if it’s just a few moves... even if it’s not enough. We all know what’s coming for him. What he’ll face sooner or later. I have to give him something before it’s too late. ."

Nyella narrowed her eyes. "Too late?"

"What do you mean by that? What’s going on?"

Varek turned slightly. "It’s nothing to worry about."

Nyella stepped in front of him again. "What happened?"

He hesitated. His eyes flicked over to Aeron. Then back to the princess.

Finally, he let out a long breath. "A day ago... some men came to their house. They wore the colors of the royal guard... but they weren’t royal guards. I’m sure if it."

"What?!" Both Aeron and Nyella shouted together.

Aeron stormed toward them with his fist clenched. "They came to my house?! And you didn’t say anything?!"

Varek turned to him calmly. "Your mother and I were with her, so she asked me not to."

"And you agreed to that?!" Aeron’s voice was full of anger. "You knew something dangerous could have happened to her, and you said nothing?!"

"You wouldn’t have been able to do anything," Varek said quietly. "If you had known, there was still nothing you could’ve done."

"I still deserve to know!" Aeron snapped. "That was my mother. That was my home. You don’t get to keep that from me like I’m a child!"

Varek didn’t reply. He simply stood still.

Nyella stepped in between them and said That’s enough.

Then Varek looked away first. He turned to Ronan and Yvarra and gave them a nod. "Let’s go."

"But..." Ronan started to protest.

"Now."

Without another word, Varek turned and walked down to the village. Ronan followed and looked at Aeron once more. Yvarra quietly closed her sketchbook and went after them.

Now it was just Nyella and Aeron, standing alone in the forest clearing.

He stared at the ground, breathing hard with anger and his fists still clenched at his sides.

"When will they ever stop treating me like a child. Like I know nothing and can do nothing. I still can’t believe he left me in the dark with something as important as this," Aeron said, shaking his head.

"All this time, he just went on and on about me having to be strong myself and not bringing out Draco to the world. He kept pushing me to be stronger. But not once did he trust me enough to tell me what had actually happened."

His voice was full of frustration. "He should’ve said something. I should’ve known. I had the right to know."

Nyella walked to him quietly and placed a hand on his arm.

"Aeron," she said. "How are you doing?"