Nena by Ann Boelter (digital book reader txt) 📕

has given you inferior weapons to use. They are poorly balanced and far more difficult to wield.”

She saw him scowl from the corner of her eye.

“But I am sure he has done this on purpose to simulate battle, where often you must use whatever is available, and you may face an opponent with far superior weapons than yours.” She turned back to him. “I am ready.”

“Would you like a different set?” he offered.

“No, these will be fine and will better make your point.” And mine.

He tapped at her with the sticks, tentatively at first. Nena blocked each blow but did not counter. He grew more bold and pressed her, his blows coming faster and harder. He twirled one pole in an unsuccessful attempt to distract her while he struck with the other. Nena continued only to block. With no warning, Nena went on the attack, in three strikes, the instructor was on his back on the ground. Nena turned to the group.

“Always aid your sparring partner to rise when they have fallen. It shows you have no hard feelings and are only training.” She reached for his hand, but he rolled away and bounced to his feet. Nena smiled to herself.

Gone was all trace of the cocky smile now. He came at her hard this time. Their sticks clacked and clashed, the sounds resounding in the small meadow. Nena made him pay with multiple hits to his body this time before she humiliated him again and threw him on his back. She reached out her hand. Again he refused it.

The third time, she beat him severely, raining blows against all parts of his body. She wanted to make sure that his aches reminded him of this lesson for days after it was over. She spun to one side and put her whole body into a blow across his back. He stumbled forward in pain, but did not cry out. When he faced her again, she saw the fear and defeat in his eyes. He clearly no longer wanted to continue, but didn’t dare say so. He had yet to reach her with a single blow. When he was on his back for the third time, Nena pounced and straddled him, using a pole against his neck to cut off his wind. He held up the first two fingers of his left hand to signal his submission.

Nena leaned down and whispered in his ear. “This is how you teach them. Do you think this is a good way? Did you learn much today? I suppose you did, but what I meant was, did anything I taught you today improve your skills with the sticks? No,” she answered for him. “You are these girls’ instructor. It is your job and should be your pride to see them excel. Any failings they show are a direct reflection on you. This is not a game. One day your life and mine may depend on the level of skill they achieve. Do you understand me? From now on, I expect to see you take care in teaching them properly. Their weaknesses are not to be exploited for your amusement; they are to be corrected.”

He nodded, his eyes bulging. Nena released him and stood, extending her hand. He took it this time, and she pulled him to his feet. She heard single slow hand-clapping behind her and turned to find Gentok approaching. “That was quite a display,” he said.

Still angry from the session, and caught off guard at being witnessed, Nena tipped her head to acknowledge him.

“You are done for the day,” Gentok said to the instructor. “And I will have words with you tomorrow before you return.” The youth nodded, his hand still on his throat, then limped away. Gentok turned to the wide-eyed girls. “Take a short break, but do not leave. It will only be for a few minutes and then your training will resume.” The girls all split up and moved to the shade, whispering excitedly. He turned back to Nena. “What was the subject of today’s demonstration, might I ask—how to thrash someone?”

“I merely continued the lesson he was already teaching, exactly as he was teaching it. The only change I made was to make him the recipient.” She defended herself. “He is not a suitable trainer. The girls will learn nothing from him.”

“I’m not judging you. I’ve heard other complaints, and I will speak to him tomorrow. If he does not change his ways, he will be replaced. And I will make sure he knows it will bring great shame on him if that happens. Though I think you made the point well enough today; my words may not be necessary.” He paused and looked at her. “Now for the matter at hand. Would you like for me to aid you in giving them a proper demonstration? Was that truly your intent? Or would you rather try to give me a thrashing, too? If it’s just a good fight you need, I’m willing to oblige that as well, though we should probably conduct that somewhere else, so as not to intimidate them.”

Gentok spoke in a teasing tone, but Nena could see he was serious. He knew her well. He could see the tension bottled beneath her controlled surface. She considered his offer. She would appreciate a good fight, and might, in fact, take him up on that later, but at the moment teaching the girls was more important to her.

“Your offer to assist in their instruction today is most appreciated,” she said.

“Very well then. And my other offer still stands for another time.”

Nena nodded and called the girls back. “As a female warrior, you will often be called upon to fight a male opponent who is bigger and stronger. To do so you must be faster. But you cannot rely only on quick reflexes. You need to read ahead, to anticipate the opponent’s moves by their subtle signals. Gentok and I will now demonstrate. Every time we identify a tell