Talisman (58 page)

“Oh,
and Shiloh…The most important thing to know about a sword is
never, ever
draw it unless you’re
prepared
to use it.  Always keep that in mind.”  With that said, Beatrix led me over to a small rock formation in the center of the cave.  “Climb up there, dear.  We’re going to work on your balance and reflexes for a while.  That’s important when learning the art of swordplay.”

I climbed up a mound of wobbly rocks that were stacked about seven feet off the ground.  Once up there, I was able to see a circ
le that had been dug in the cave’s floor surrounding the base of the rocky pillar.

“Let’s see ho
w hard it is to knock you off your pedestal,
so to speak
,” Beatrix announced as she placed her hands together in a very ceremonial way.  “
But
…I think you need more of a challenge…Something that will
spark
your attention…Keep you on your toes.”  She snapped her fingers.  “I know just the thing.  How ‘bout a little
fire
.”

I looked down at the circle that lined the
rocky mound’s perimeter and started to speculate about her golden topaz.  I thought about yesterday’s exercise with Tanner, when he’d revealed his stone reigned as a water element.  I was left with the clear impression that Beatrix Sutherland’s golden topaz was unmistakably a
fire
stone.

Alert and ready, I steadied myself on the unstable
mound of rocks while I watched Beatrix wave her hands around in a circle dramatically, like she was about to perform a great mystical feat.  When her arms came to a stop, her third eye popped open abruptly.  I still found it quite shocking, but I jumped a little less each time.  Beatrix cupped her hands and started to reveal something hidden in them.

I told myself,
Get ready
…

Beatrix looked directly at me with her most intimating of stares, opened her hands, and flicked
…
a little gold lighter
.

I thought,
A lighter?  What the heck?
  Astounded by the misconceived notion I’d concocted, I watched as she lowered herself to the ground and ignited the circle with the lighter’s help.

With a freakin’ lighter
, I kept thinking.  I watched the fire struggling to flow around the base of the rocky pedestal. 
You’ve got to be kidding
.  I’d seen birthday candles that kicked up more flames than what she had. 
Well, that’s impressive
, I mocked silently. 
Oh, yeah.  This is really going to be challenging
…

“I take it your
golden topaz isn’t even remotely associated with fire —
Is it?
”

“No, dear.  It’s
not
.”  Beatrix noticed the grin on my face and let out a boisterous laugh, acknowledging what I must have been thinking.  “That’s funny, Shiloh.  No, no.  Mine’s different, dear.”  Her brow rose.  “I reign over the
air
,” she boasted with a crafty grin.

W
ith that said, Beatrix took her hands and waved them violently at the circle’s feeble flames.  Nervously, I watched the fire’s intensity grow from that of candlelight’s flicker into the towering blaze of an inferno.  The fire was now reaching out for me like groping hands, trying to ensnare me with its scorching flames.  I stood on the mound of rocks — trying to avoid their grasp — all while keeping myself steady on the wobbly, makeshift pedestal.

After a few minutes of dodging the fierce flares shooting out from the ring of fire
surrounding me, I found myself still safe, secure, and steady on the rocky pillar. 
This isn’t so bad…I haven’t fallen off yet.
  My reflexes had always been well above average, and now knowing I supposedly had these talents buried in me all this time, I finally understood why.

“You’re doing very well, dear.  Very well, indeed,”
Beatrix praised.  “But let’s kick it up a notch…
Shall we?
”

If s
he kicked it up anymore, I won’t be in a circle of fire…I’ll be in a daggone ball of it!
  The flames were already fanning over my head at times. 
I just hope diamond-hard skin is also fire-retardant!

While I struggled to keep my balanc
e, I kept one eye on the flames and other on Beatrix.  She began to pace back and forth in a commanding fashion with her stare fixed on me, and my rocky pedestal.  All of a sudden, Beatrix pushed her arms out towards the rocky base, directing them right below me.  I felt a rapid thrust of air channeling under my feet.  Instantly, one of the rocks I was standing on blew right out from under me.  I was thrown for a loop.  My leg raised while the other one tried to maintain its footing. 
I wasn’t expecting “that”
.  As soon as I steadied myself, she blew two more rocks out from under me.  Yet again, I found myself in a state of frenzy, trying to maintain my balance while dodging the fierce flames —
both at the same time
.  She had me shifting my weight back and forth so much I felt like a buoy in the middle of a stormy sea.

After a couple of minutes of blasting
away rocks, Beatrix called out, “How’s it coming?  Are you close to falling off, dear?”

I looked at her,
somewhat shaken and agitated.  “Not
YET
,” I called back in a candy-coated, though flustered tone.  There was no way I was going to let her beat me at this one, not after all the little games she’d played the other day.  My competitive-side wouldn’t allow it.

“Have it
your way
,” Beatrix sang and then like a shot, directed one massive gust of wind towards the remaining stones on the mound.  All the rocks exploded out of the pile.  I even got caught up in the strong current.  My body went sailing backward, headed straight for the flames.

I braced myself for a quick tuck
& roll as I landed in the fiery circle.  As soon as I saw the flames engulfing me, I realized that thankfully my skin was not on fire.  It wasn’t painful, just tremendously
warm
.  I felt somewhat moist too and noticed that I appeared to be sweating
profusely
.

Well, I’m not on fire or even “soaking” wet
(which was a relief).  I rose from the flames, and with a confident stride, I strutted over to where Beatrix was standing at the base of the wand’s rock formation.  As I approached, she made an insinuating gesture by clearing her throat and pointed to my clothes.  I looked down at myself. 
Crap! I may not be burnt, but I’m as sure as shit covered in a horrible film of soot!

“If you hadn’t changed into that tracksuit, which has been dyed with
rubies,
you wouldn’t have on any clothes at all I’m afraid,” she revealed with a smile.  “Just keep that in mind.  Rubies emit their own special fire.  They never absorb another’s.”

Wide-eyed, I mused to myself,
That would definitely be a problem
.

“Allow me
, dear,” Beatrix insisted.

My eyes nar
rowed as she pushed me backward.  Beatrix puckered her lips together, and then with the force of a hurricane, she blew a ferocious gust of wind my way.  The blast rattled my body and caused my clothes (and my ponytail) to whip violently.  When she stopped, I checked my clothes and skin. 
Not a trace of soot
, I noted.

“Thank you, Bea.”

“You’re welcome, dear.  It was the
least
I could do.”  She licked her finger and used it to wipe one remaining smudge from my cheek.  She stepped back and smiled. “There you go. 
Perfect
.  That’s the unfortunate thing about fire.  Even though you’re resistant to its destructive effects, it leaves a hideous film of soot on your skin.  Plus, it makes you…
very sweaty
,” Beatrix claimed with a stout grimace.

I nodded in agreement as I climbed up the rock formation, following her lead.
  I pointed over to the bonfire still burning wildly in the center of the cave.

“How do we put out the fire?”

“Do you have an extinguisher?” Beatrix asked playfully.

“
No
.  Not on me,” I acknowledged as I checked my pockets and smiled.

“The old fashioned way it is then,”
Beatrix replied and then waved her arms once more, forcing a gust of air to lift some dirt off the ground.  The sandstorm-like cloud covered the fiery ring and put out the flames in an instant.  Beatrix clapped her hands like she was knocking dirt from them and announced, “That’s done.  Now we can work on your form and some basic movements. 
Oh
, and we mustn’t forget the
rules
of swordplay.  Those are
extremely
important.”

Beatrix was
now standing across from me, on the other side of the wand.

“
Um
, if I can’t pry the wand loose…then what are we going to practice with?”

In one sweeping motion, Beatrix
pulled out two long wooden swords from behind her back.  I jumped as she flourished them in the air.

“
Play swords
, of course,” Beatrix announced proudly as she handed one of them to me.  Hesitantly, I took it and managed to muster a grin.

“Thanks,”
I replied, still somewhat leery.

As she motioned me back to the center of the cave, I thought nervously,
So we’re REALLY doing this
.  The idea of fending someone off with magic seemed less “physically” intrusive for some reason.  Though I suppose realistically, it was the same as using a really big stick.  They were both a means to an end. 
How hard could it be?

I stood as she requested, in the center of the cave with my wooden swo
rd in hand.  Beatrix circled me for a solid minute.  Her strut was assertive and calculated.  Finally, the tense silence was broken with a purposeful clearing of her throat.

“A swordfight is
like a dance between two people…like a
tango
.  Its essence is aggressive and enticing…but unlike a tango, the only passion that’s spawn is from the victor’s desire
to live
.”

My eyes inadvertently drifted off into space while my mind conjured up a particularly humorous vision. 
I wonder if Ty ever had a lesson like this?
  I couldn’t get the picture of Ty and Beatrix dancing a sultry tango out of my head.

My distraction didn’t g
o unnoticed —
nor unpunished
— when Beatrix swiftly smacked my butt with the wooden sword she was holding in her hand.

She c
ontinued, “It’s simple, if well-executed, but difficult to master if your confidence is hindered, or you’re…” she cleared her throat again and added, “
NOT PAYING ATTENTION
to your challenger.”

I straightened my stance as a show of
apology.

“And like a
tango
, there’s always a predator who takes the lead and prevails over their partner in the exchange.  All tactical movements, whether directed at you or from you, must be fielded from your body.  Your desire to dominate your opponent will manifest itself from the cunning recesses of your mind.  But most important, the passion to kill your enemy must burn from the depths of your soul.”

Though her words were echoing in the hollowed out cave around us, I felt them churning in my mind as well.  That in turn, kicked up a whole lot of nervousness throughout my entire body.

Beatrix went on, “You must listen to your instincts, and let your mind guide your body’s movements.  Measure them twice and strike once.  Keep yourself engaged with your opponent, just like you would in the dance.  With a sword’s length between you and your opponent, your upper body must both fend off and strike out at them, while your feet strive to keep you steady and nibble, allowing you to anticipate your adversary’s next move so you can seek out their
weakness
.”  She took a deep breath and exhaled.  “All right then, dear.  Let’s get started. 
Shall we?
”

Beatrix stood behind me and adjusted my stance.  She kicked my feet ap
art and held on to my shoulders.

“You need to relax, dear.  You’re
too stiff
.  You need to be as agile as possible,” she insisted.  “Now,” Beatrix began, “First things, first.  Once you have made the decision to
‘use it’
, you must draw your sword as quickly as possible.  So, go on…Whip it out there.”

Still sli
ghtly hesitant, I gave the wood-fashioned sword a quick twirl at my side to ease some of my nervousness and started to lift it towards my chest.

Beatrix grabbed hold of the swor
d before I could raise it fully.  “
Please
.  Don’t ever do that…
EVER
.”