and parrying quite effortlessly.
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” I said hesitantly. “I’m not really known for my hand-eye coordination.”
“Well, you have to start sometime, so why not now?” Tara said matter-of-factly.
I couldn’t think of a good reason, so I just nodded.
“Okay, Tara, I will leave Callie in your capable hands, and when you are done, please bring her to the main house.” Vikram turned around and left.
Tara gave me a cursory glance, no doubt regretting her earlier offer. Unfortunately for me, it looked like I was not getting off that easy, because she guided me to the other end of the gym and into the locker room. Except it wasn’t your typical high school locker room — far from it. It looked more like a spa than any changing room I’d ever seen. There were large mirrors along the walls. One section of the room had large lockers, beyond which I could see the entrance to the showers.
“I thought you might be more comfortable in something less restricting,” she said. I was wearing skinny jeans and a T-shirt, probably not the most suitable for sword fighting.
“Yes, I think you’re right,” I said, “but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Tara just smiled and walked over to a shelf that held stacks of white clothing. She dug around for a bit before pulling out a tunic and pair of pants just like the ones she was wearing.
“These should fit, I think,” she said, pointing toward a changing area. I took the clothes, thanked her and went to change. I emerged a few minutes later, suitably attired for battle. The linen tunic was soft against my skin. The pants were of the same material and were probably the most comfortable I had ever worn. We walked back out into gym. Tara brought me a sword, not the urumi that I had held earlier, but a regular sword.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to start out with the urumi . It’s a tricky weapon to handle, even for skilled warriors,” she said, handing me the sword. I put my fingers around the hilt. It felt odd at first, cold to the touch, but then my fingers warmed the metal. I brought the hilt closer to look at the intricate design. It looked like it was made of bronze, with a leafy motif in silver. All around the top were engravings of Hanuman and Ganesha, as well as peacocks, all intertwined in floral scrollwork.
“This is absolutely beautiful,” I told Tara, who was brandishing her own sword.
“Well, are you going to just stand there and admire it all day or are we going to see any action?” she said with an impish grin as she waved her sword around. I decided that I liked her, but not enough to let her cut off any of my body parts. I backed up a little, my competitive nature taking over, and arranged myself in what I hoped was a combative stance. Far from impressing Tara, it seemed that I was amusing her, because I could see a little smile playing at the corners of her mouth. I couldn’t believe it, but I actually stomped my foot a little and let the blade of my sword drop to the floor.
“So are you just going to laugh at me or are you actually going to teach me something? I thought Vikram said that you were one of his best trainers,” I said, making no attempt to keep the sarcasm from my voice.
It had the intended effect, because Tara immediately bristled.
“First of all, I am not Vikram’s trainer. I am Rakshakari, not his employee. And secondly, yes, of course I will teach you, but I was having too much of a good time watching you pose.” The last bit was accompanied by a grin, and in spite of myself I smiled back. It was hard not to like her. I made a mental note to ask Shiv about Vikram and Tara, because I detected a definite note of resentment in her tone.
The rest of the afternoon was spent quite productively. I learned the basics of sword fighting, which, contrary to my understanding, had nothing to do with combat itself but more to do with the different parts of the sword and handling
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” I said hesitantly. “I’m not really known for my hand-eye coordination.”
“Well, you have to start sometime, so why not now?” Tara said matter-of-factly.
I couldn’t think of a good reason, so I just nodded.
“Okay, Tara, I will leave Callie in your capable hands, and when you are done, please bring her to the main house.” Vikram turned around and left.
Tara gave me a cursory glance, no doubt regretting her earlier offer. Unfortunately for me, it looked like I was not getting off that easy, because she guided me to the other end of the gym and into the locker room. Except it wasn’t your typical high school locker room — far from it. It looked more like a spa than any changing room I’d ever seen. There were large mirrors along the walls. One section of the room had large lockers, beyond which I could see the entrance to the showers.
“I thought you might be more comfortable in something less restricting,” she said. I was wearing skinny jeans and a T-shirt, probably not the most suitable for sword fighting.
“Yes, I think you’re right,” I said, “but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Tara just smiled and walked over to a shelf that held stacks of white clothing. She dug around for a bit before pulling out a tunic and pair of pants just like the ones she was wearing.
“These should fit, I think,” she said, pointing toward a changing area. I took the clothes, thanked her and went to change. I emerged a few minutes later, suitably attired for battle. The linen tunic was soft against my skin. The pants were of the same material and were probably the most comfortable I had ever worn. We walked back out into gym. Tara brought me a sword, not the urumi that I had held earlier, but a regular sword.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to start out with the urumi . It’s a tricky weapon to handle, even for skilled warriors,” she said, handing me the sword. I put my fingers around the hilt. It felt odd at first, cold to the touch, but then my fingers warmed the metal. I brought the hilt closer to look at the intricate design. It looked like it was made of bronze, with a leafy motif in silver. All around the top were engravings of Hanuman and Ganesha, as well as peacocks, all intertwined in floral scrollwork.
“This is absolutely beautiful,” I told Tara, who was brandishing her own sword.
“Well, are you going to just stand there and admire it all day or are we going to see any action?” she said with an impish grin as she waved her sword around. I decided that I liked her, but not enough to let her cut off any of my body parts. I backed up a little, my competitive nature taking over, and arranged myself in what I hoped was a combative stance. Far from impressing Tara, it seemed that I was amusing her, because I could see a little smile playing at the corners of her mouth. I couldn’t believe it, but I actually stomped my foot a little and let the blade of my sword drop to the floor.
“So are you just going to laugh at me or are you actually going to teach me something? I thought Vikram said that you were one of his best trainers,” I said, making no attempt to keep the sarcasm from my voice.
It had the intended effect, because Tara immediately bristled.
“First of all, I am not Vikram’s trainer. I am Rakshakari, not his employee. And secondly, yes, of course I will teach you, but I was having too much of a good time watching you pose.” The last bit was accompanied by a grin, and in spite of myself I smiled back. It was hard not to like her. I made a mental note to ask Shiv about Vikram and Tara, because I detected a definite note of resentment in her tone.
The rest of the afternoon was spent quite productively. I learned the basics of sword fighting, which, contrary to my understanding, had nothing to do with combat itself but more to do with the different parts of the sword and handling
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