one that he knew would kill him. He was too weak to survive here. He would be dead already if it was not for finding her father, Dr. Walt, and her.
Wait. Dr. Walt was presenting a new idea to him. He looked at Sam with sincerity; he felt bad for the newcomer. He was like that, always picking up strays and trying to help. He was a good man, but he was definitely not a warrior. But that was acceptable, she reasoned. He had his own code of honor and Nalia respected him. Besides, she and her father had decided to follow him, so they were honor bound to do as he asked.
Narrowing her eyes, she studied Dr. Walt as he explained his idea to Sam. It was inconvenient that they were speaking that crude language from the other place. The only word she recognized was “Telani.” No, it could not be! She fervently hoped that Dr. Walt was not suggesting what she thought he might be suggesting.
Turning to Nalia and her father, who was still shoveling food into his mouth—how did he still eat like that at his age?—Dr. Walt spoke: “Rindu, Nalia, I have a favor to ask.” No, please. By my mother’s grave, please do not ask .
“I would like you two to help Sam here in two things.” He is actually going to ask. Why? Why does he hate me so?
“First, I would like for you to help him learn Kasmali. It would be better if he could speak to us in this world’s tongue.” He did. He asked. How can I endure it?
“Second, I would like for you to train him to defend himself. I don’t know how long it will take me to find the answer we seek, but if we have to go looking elsewhere, he will need to have some self-defense skills.” No! Does he want it to happen again? Does he want us to train our own killer?
“I know it’s a difficult task I have asked you to take on,” Dr. Walt said, “but I think he may have some natural skill in vibrational energy. As for physical combat, well, that will be good for him to learn, too.” He obviously does NOT have natural talent in that. He is a clumsy oaf.
Her father looked at her with those all-knowing eyes. Even through the mask, he could always read her, always knew what she was thinking. He stared at her for a moment and then moved his head slightly in an imperceptible nod. Imperceptible, that is, to anyone but her.
She shook her head in the same imperceptible manner, one he was well-accustomed to. His gaze intensified, looking right into her eyes, though her eyes were not visible to him through the mask. How did he do that? After all these years, he still surprised her in what he could do.
“We must Iba , my heart. We are honor bound to do as Dr. Walt says. Also, there is something about this one. Perhaps he will help us as we help him. I feel in him some ability with the rohw . I would like to see if this is so. You will train him in physical combat and I will try to train him in the use of energy. We will both do our best to teach him our language.”
Nalia raised her chin defiantly, but when she spoke, it was soft and respectful. “Yes, father. I will act honorably. I think it is a mistake, though. Do neither of you remember the last time we trained a stranger?”
“I remember,” her father said. “However, just because we bite into one rotten kimatar fruit does not mean that we should never again enjoy eating the fruit for fear of repeating the experience. We must do what honor requires and then we shall see. Without our honor, we are little better than mindless beasts.”
“I will do so, but I remain suspicious. If there is any deception, I will detect it and my reaction will be swift and decisive. I have lost too much to allow some outlander to take more from me.”
While the exchange was happening, Nalia was watching Sam. He paid close attention and seemed distressed that they were discussing it. When she forgot herself and moved her head to glance at him instead of just moving her eyes, he averted his to look at her. Dr. Walt turned to Sam and spoke to him again in their
Wait. Dr. Walt was presenting a new idea to him. He looked at Sam with sincerity; he felt bad for the newcomer. He was like that, always picking up strays and trying to help. He was a good man, but he was definitely not a warrior. But that was acceptable, she reasoned. He had his own code of honor and Nalia respected him. Besides, she and her father had decided to follow him, so they were honor bound to do as he asked.
Narrowing her eyes, she studied Dr. Walt as he explained his idea to Sam. It was inconvenient that they were speaking that crude language from the other place. The only word she recognized was “Telani.” No, it could not be! She fervently hoped that Dr. Walt was not suggesting what she thought he might be suggesting.
Turning to Nalia and her father, who was still shoveling food into his mouth—how did he still eat like that at his age?—Dr. Walt spoke: “Rindu, Nalia, I have a favor to ask.” No, please. By my mother’s grave, please do not ask .
“I would like you two to help Sam here in two things.” He is actually going to ask. Why? Why does he hate me so?
“First, I would like for you to help him learn Kasmali. It would be better if he could speak to us in this world’s tongue.” He did. He asked. How can I endure it?
“Second, I would like for you to train him to defend himself. I don’t know how long it will take me to find the answer we seek, but if we have to go looking elsewhere, he will need to have some self-defense skills.” No! Does he want it to happen again? Does he want us to train our own killer?
“I know it’s a difficult task I have asked you to take on,” Dr. Walt said, “but I think he may have some natural skill in vibrational energy. As for physical combat, well, that will be good for him to learn, too.” He obviously does NOT have natural talent in that. He is a clumsy oaf.
Her father looked at her with those all-knowing eyes. Even through the mask, he could always read her, always knew what she was thinking. He stared at her for a moment and then moved his head slightly in an imperceptible nod. Imperceptible, that is, to anyone but her.
She shook her head in the same imperceptible manner, one he was well-accustomed to. His gaze intensified, looking right into her eyes, though her eyes were not visible to him through the mask. How did he do that? After all these years, he still surprised her in what he could do.
“We must Iba , my heart. We are honor bound to do as Dr. Walt says. Also, there is something about this one. Perhaps he will help us as we help him. I feel in him some ability with the rohw . I would like to see if this is so. You will train him in physical combat and I will try to train him in the use of energy. We will both do our best to teach him our language.”
Nalia raised her chin defiantly, but when she spoke, it was soft and respectful. “Yes, father. I will act honorably. I think it is a mistake, though. Do neither of you remember the last time we trained a stranger?”
“I remember,” her father said. “However, just because we bite into one rotten kimatar fruit does not mean that we should never again enjoy eating the fruit for fear of repeating the experience. We must do what honor requires and then we shall see. Without our honor, we are little better than mindless beasts.”
“I will do so, but I remain suspicious. If there is any deception, I will detect it and my reaction will be swift and decisive. I have lost too much to allow some outlander to take more from me.”
While the exchange was happening, Nalia was watching Sam. He paid close attention and seemed distressed that they were discussing it. When she forgot herself and moved her head to glance at him instead of just moving her eyes, he averted his to look at her. Dr. Walt turned to Sam and spoke to him again in their
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