Kael ducked instinctively, the sharp whistle of the flying sword grazing the edge of his ear. The weapon buried itself into the trunk of a tree behind him, quivering with force. His breath caught in his throat.
The old man didn’t flinch. He cracked another groundnut between his teeth as if nothing had happened.
Kael’s grip on his sword tightened. His eyes darted across the shadows of the forest, scanning for movement. The silence that followed was heavier than the blow itself.
“Show yourself!” Kael roared. His voice echoed through the trees, trembling with both fury and fear.
The old man finally raised his head, spitting the cracked nut shells into the soil. “You’re too loud, boy.” His voice had dropped, rough and almost guttural. “An enemy doesn’t show himself when you call. He waits
