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and fries instead and took notice that Noah had followed suit, avoiding the haggis too.
Despite the silence that had befallen them at the swim centre, Eden had desperately pushed past it.
Relaxing, she had asked Noah about his life. As the meal had worn on she d found herself moving
closer to him until they were huddled together in the corner of the pub as Noah told her about life
during the fifties and sixties, how the 70s had been such a great era for music and film, the cities he d
been to Paris, London, Budapest, Sydney& - about all the amazing things she had yet to see and
learn.
What about my mom? Eden had finally asked, now that they were so comfortable again.
Noah had smiled at her, his expression warm and caring. Merrit was amazing. I met her a few
times when I was younger because Dad and Cyrus have always been such good friends, but in the
early eighties my parents made a couple of bad investments and we lost everything. We moved in
with Cyrus and Merrit so my dad could get back on his feet and after your mom& well Mom didn t
want to leave Cyrus all alone in that big house& and we haven t left since. I could have gotten my
own place, I guess, but I like being around them all.
So you lived with my mom for a while?
He had nodded. She was amazing, Eden. You could talk to Merrit about anything and she always
had your back. Kicked my ass a few times for& Noah had suddenly trailed off, seeming
embarrassed.
Eden had been able to guess why. For being a player.
He d thrown her a sheepish look that had been so adorable she d foolishly wanted to curl into him.
Yeah. Merrit was a good person and a great warrior. But she also didn t beat around the bush. She
just said it how it was which was kind of a shock for my mom sometimes. They had a few heated
discussions over what was proper language for a lady.
That had made Eden laugh.
Noah had stopped her with a penetrating look. She was beautiful too. You look like her a lot. I
can t imagine what it means to Cyrus to have you in his life.
Having felt her throat begin to close with grief, Eden had glanced away quickly, willing her tears
to recede.
Eden. Noah had placed a warm hand over hers and she d felt his rough touch like a shiver of
pleasure down her spine. I am so sorry for not telling you who I was. For blindly following orders. I
am so sorry I did that to you.
After a tense moment Eden had glanced up at him. She d given him a watery smile and had
whispered, I forgive you.
Eden, Cyrus snapped bringing her back to the present. I have a sword pointed at you. Will you
please focus.
Chapter Sixteen
The first Cut is the Deepest
It didn t matter how distracted a person was, when Cyrus used that tone of voice you snapped to
attention. Eden shook off the weekend and began listening as Cyrus and Noah demonstrated fighting
with the Kopis. It was a frantic, close quarter fight and for a moment Eden was lost in the grace of
their movements. Cyrus instructed as they fought, swinging the Kopis in a semi-loop around his head
so that it came down towards Noah with the full force of his upper body strength. Noah countered the
move, and soon began a hissing of metal on metal as they fought one another off in a flash of figure
of eight movements. After each demonstration, Eden took a turn, starting off tentative until she felt
comfortable in her own skin with the sword. Cyrus said many of the Neith began their sword training
with wooden swords but he didn t believe that was necessary for her. It put the pressure on but Eden
was determined, and like all things that involved fighting and self-defence, she picked it up like she
had been doing it for years. Soon, they moved from the weightier Kopis to the Lakonian and Persian
short swords, from those to the Katana (Samurai), from the Katana to the Broadsword, from the
Broadsword to the Longsword.
Despite the whole powerful, immortal thing, four hours in and Eden s shoulder was on fire. With a
grunt she dropped the hefty Longsword that had been clasped in her sweaty palms. Great, she
winced. Now her other shoulder was killing her because of that damn thing. She looked at it in
disgust.
You might want to be careful with that, it wasn t cheap, Noah said as he picked it up. He threw
Cyrus a look as he placed his sword and hers back up on the wall mounts. I think someone needs a
break.
She curled her lip at him, noticing he had barely broken a sweat. I m fine.
You are using muscles you have never used before, Cyrus assured her. And we have been
going strong for a few hours.
Did I miss anything? Val sauntered into the room, shutting the door quietly behind her. She had
been on patrol that morning.
Any news? Cyrus asked quietly.
She shook her head and turned to Eden with a smirk. You look a little worn out.
Jeez, it wasn t like she was panting on the floor dying or anything, Eden rolled her eyes. I m fine.
I just hate the damn Longsword.
Well, you don t have to fight with the Longsword. I don t know any who do; it s just useful to
know that you can if you ever have to.
Yeah, real useful. Eden grimaced, rolling her left shoulder.
Val grinned at her and strolled over to the weapons. Reaching up, she pulled down one of the
Persian short swords; it was more like a long dagger with a sharp curved tip than an actual sword.
The Acinaces. Val grinned, slicing it through the air with expertise. My favourite.
Darius also. Cyrus nodded, studying her movements. He taught you well, Valeria.
The Ankh shared a quick knowing look with Eden and Eden felt that pang in her chest again for
her mentor. She cleared her throat, Uh, well I have to go with the Katana.
Noah smiled cheekily at Cyrus. I think you owe me twenty bucks, Princeps.
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