A fist cut the air in search of my midsection, while a kick from another looked to disrupt my balance. I grabbed the searching fist, twisted it, and leaned toward my first attacker. Once I was in range, I forced my elbow into his sternum and was rewarded with a cracking sound followed by a pained cry as he fell.
When I leaned toward the first guy, I lifted my leg out of the way of the kick and then straightened my leg while it was in the air. My foot found purchase in the belly of the second attacker, and the man involuntarily exhaled all the air from his lungs as he too fell to the ground.
I straightened my stance and looked at Rohan, who stood outside the circle.
"Next pair!" He shouted.
Several men came into the circle to drag the fallen pair out to be tended to. As the next two entered, they separated, trying to split my attention. This time, I charged forward to the nearest one, landing three blows before he fell. The other charged me from behind, trying to take advantage of my attention being elsewhere.
He didn't realize that it was a trap set specifically for him. There was only one direction he saw an opening in, and he charged it with all the speed he could muster. Only to be met with a foot to his midsection, just like the man in the previous fight. He hit the dirt and curled up like a shrimp on the grill, clutching his belly and trying to catch his breath.
Mmm, shrimp. God, I miss the variety of food I used to have. Much to my dismay, Yak was aptly named. Not my favorite meat here, though they did have some good sheep recipes. On the downside, though, most everything had the same spices, ginger, garlic, and turmeric. So bland.
Again, my frustration surfaced with my thoughts of home, and I thought back to my return from the ritual a month ago.
(One month ago)
My descent down the stairs was a slow process, but my body was recovering quickly with the return of the fire to my mind. I had lost track of time during the whole thing, but I was still surprised that it was dark by the time I got back to the gate I had started this ritual from.
Torches burned in the courtyard of the Pagoda, and the robed figures stood waiting for my return. The man I assumed to be the Tribal leader stood at the forefront and addressed me.
"You have returned after giving your fire to the mountain, as all that returned have done before you. The tether will form over time, and you will be able to roam free until you feel its pull to return and strengthen your bond once again. If the tether breaks or if you leave before it forms, you will be devoured by your nature."
Something about his words didn't seem right, but my mind was too tired to focus on it right now. I really just wanted to get some food and sleep.
"Rohan. Take him to his grandmother's hut and see to his needs."
Rohan stepped forward and gestured for me to follow him. We wound through the narrow streets until Rohan stopped at a weathered door and pushed it open.
"Wait here, I will return with some food."
As I passed him to walk through the door, I paused and looked into his eyes, trying to convey the severity of my words through my eyes.
"Lots of food, please."
He chuckled as he walked away. I tried to look around the small room, but the darkness shrouded many details. I took note of a few oil lamps on the walls and grabbed one, then went to a torch on the street, and lit the lamp I carried. Then I returned and lit all the lamps in the house to get a better look around.
The only scent in the air was dust. This hut must not have been in use for some time. I wandered around and ended up in what looked to be the main bedroom. There were a few books on a shelf and some chests on the floor that I would inspect later on. Rohan returned with a short knock on the door before he came in with a large platter of food and set it on the table.
"Eat, I will come back tomorrow, and we will begin training you."
As I sat in the silence and began to consume the meal of bland rice and gamey meat, my mind cleared and focused on what the Tribal leader had said. Tether? I felt no tether, and I sure as hell didn't give my fire to the mountain. I can still feel it in my mind. Let's just go along for now and see if anything changes. I don't trust them, but if something goes wrong, it would be smart to be here to get it fixed.
(Current time)
Training me? More like I was training the clans. At first, they treated me like a joke, waiting to see the outsider fall on his face. But when it took four of them to put me on the ground—and even then, I was back on my feet before they could savor it—their laughter died. The sneers they wore so easily that first day turned pale and sickly by the end of the session. Now, whatever disrespect they still hold, they keep buried deep where I can't see it.
Once the day's training was done (Well, me beating the group of them down.), I went to my temporary home to call Bella and wish her a happy birthday. I had been surprised to learn that even as far away as I was, their time was just one hour behind my current time zone. Not that it mattered for talking to Edythe, who didn't sleep, but it helped me stay connected to Bella.
When her voice came through bright and clear over the satellite phone Edythe had gifted me, I felt my shoulders relax a little bit.
"Hey Thomas. You wouldn't believe what they are demanding of me. Making me have a birthday party. So, over the top."
Her tone made me smile. I could envision her pouting face.
I heard Edward's voice in the background, "At least I was able to head Alice off and stop her from inviting the whole school over for it."
I laughed, "Sounds like you owe Edward big for that one, Bell's. You know how hard it is to change Alice's mind when she gets started on something."
She laughed wickedly, "He can take any part of me he wants as a reward for that, but he has that option anyway."
"Whoa, whoa, there Bella. Too much information for my ears."
I could picture the long-suffering look Edward was no doubt giving Bella right now.
"Did you get my gift?" I had gotten Rohan to get me a scroll and did a charcoal drawing of the mountain and village for her.
"I did, and I love it. I want to see if I can get it laminated so it won't wear away with time. I want to keep it forever."
There it was the not-so-subtle hints she had been dropping to Edward about her willingness to accept the change to be with him. Again, I could accurately picture his stony face with the hint of pain in his eyes as he ignored the hints.
After a short pause, Bella sighed. "I wish you were here. I miss you."
"And I miss you too, sis. But it's going to be a few more months before I can make it back. I still have so much to learn here."
"I know, but I miss you all the same." She sighed again. "Anyway, here. Talk to Edythe. I love you."
I heard the handoff of the phone, and then her voice was in my ear, making my whole body shiver in happiness.
"Hey, love, still beating up your clansmen?"
"You know it, love. None here can hold a candle to the training I did with Jasper. Makes me wonder how they can claim to keep vampires out if they can't take me on when I am just touching my fire. I think they are still holding something back from me. I don't know, they just have this look sometimes like they still think they can beat me."
"Well, as close to Volterra as they are and no one ever hearing of one of my kind being there… Something is keeping them out. Maybe you are right, and they aren't showing you everything just yet."
I hear Alice's voice interrupt Edythe, "Come on, Edythe. It's present time. Tell the Brick that I miss him and hang up we are waiting on you."
"Fine! I get it. Anyway, I love you and miss you every moment you are away, Thomas. Find what you need there and come home to me."
"As quickly as I can love."
I hung up the phone and wondered what I could do to get the answers I needed. Then a thought hit me, I haven't shifted since I have been here, and only seen the one Yak that I believed was a shifted person. Time to start asking around.