Champion

Chapter 59

Astinus had been right about her, and that was why David barely tolerated her presence. Yet, even though the Champion disliked her, he still risked his own life to save her. That was what Astinus had been trying to explain to her in Wolfsvale. Love was not merely a carnal act to be shared and perfected; it was the belief that the lives of others were so important that you are willing to risk your own for them.

As David began to softly rub her back she looked upon the troubled face of Sapphire, and realized that she was no longer jealous of the Dracian. She was still envious of her relationship with David, but she also realized that the woman was more worthy of the Champion's affections than she was. Even after everything the woman had been through - not to mention all the machinations that Laurena had tried to drag her into - Sapphire had still guided and protected her that night, as well as comforted her after the traumatic events. The acolyte realized that her duty with them should never have been to make them more like every other Erosian. That was foolish and wrong. She should have been trying to learn how to be more like them.

***: Training ***

261000MAR13 DW

A Small Campsite North of the Calavius Road, Erosius

David had spent the night on the cusp of sleep, fading in and out of true wakefulness but never relaxing enough to fully enter the land of dreams. Both Laurena and Sapphire had slept poorly, plagued by nightmares, and had awakened tired. While they broke their fast David explained his plan for the day.

"We won't be traveling the road today," he began, and then gave them both a moment to absorb that surprising announcement. "We will travel a few more miles north, away from the road, and I will teach you," he said, looking at Sapphire, "how to use some of my weapons. I have no idea if the group that attacked us in the city is still in pursuit, but if they are I want to be certain that we are better prepared if they try again."

Sapphire nodded in agreement with his plan. It was Laurena's response that confused him.

"Will you teach me as well?" she asked.

"Huh?" he responded, surprised.

"You both risked your lives to protect me last night," she explained. "If something like that happens again I refuse to be a burden. I want to help, and if that means I need to learn how to use weapons to do it, then I shall."

David was shocked by her announcement, and Sapphire seemed equally surprised. Taking a few moments to consider her request, he decided to test her resolve. "What if the only way to protect us is to kill someone? What about your beliefs?"

Laurena did not seem surprised by this question. "Astinus believed that your actions were wrong, and that you did not value the lives that you took. He did not understand you, and until recently I did not either. For that mistake I apologize. You do value all life, until that life threatens those around it. Then you remove the threat to save the rest. It is like treating infected tissue. Sometimes the infection is beyond healing, and must be cut out before it can spread. I have no desire to kill another person, but I will do so if it means saving either of you, or someone else. I will regret their death, but I will regret the innocent being hurt more."

David looked to Sapphire, and watched as his love stood and hugged Laurena. She had accepted the acolyte's words, and was proud of her decision. How could he do any less?

"Ok. Then I think we may need to take a few more days than I planned and train you both."

***

They traveled a few miles deeper into the lightly forested hills north of the road. Once David found a suitable spot, they set up camp and he began conjuring training tools. He didn't have the time to turn them into experts, but he could give them some basic skills that might mean the difference between life and death.

During the first day he taught them firearm safety and basic marksmanship. He also introduced them to knife fighting, punching, kicking, and grappling. He taught them both how to shoot each of his firearms, but focused on the M9s and M4. They burned through his ammo pretty quickly, but luckily he had figured out the process of conjuring more at Zaffre's, so in the evenings he conjured the ammunition to replace what they had fired that day. He tried to have Sapphire help at first; unfortunately she was not able to reproduce the rounds like he could. She was more than able to reproduce them to the size and precision he could, but they were all duds, despite David's best efforts.

The first evening David also created his pair of short swords, with aluminum blades to reduce their weight and the same enchantments that he had used on his knife; as well as custom sheaths he could either sling across his back or attach to his vest. For the rest of their time there he would pour his magic into them, trying to get them ready just in case. He also began designing a present for Sapphire. He wanted it to be a surprise, so he would have to wait until he had a quiet time away from her to make it. He also tested a few types of defensive wards with his magic, but couldn't figure out how to keep them powered while he slept. So he just settled for the same trip lines he had used earlier. That night Sapphire again insisted on his presence, so the trio slept together on the large sleep mat that she once again conjured, with her cuddled up to him and Laurena sleeping a few inches away, alone.

The second day was a repeat of the first. He stuck to the basics, but he made sure to repeat each lesson from the previous day, and then allow them to practice over and over again. He had both women shoot the M9s and his M4 again, and was impressed with Sapphire's improvement. She had recommended a spell to reduce the noise of the firearms, and once it was cast it made them no louder than air-rifles. David actually wrote it down, thinking that an enchantment like that on a few of his weapons might come in handy. The quieter weapons nearly eliminated the women's flinching during target practice, and David was surprised to find that after the second day Sapphire was almost as accurate with the M4 as he was. She was a long way from his overall skill level with it, or with a pistol, but she could hit what she was aiming at. With the M9 she could hit the target most of the time at twenty meters, and could group her rounds center mass at six meters.