Free Heart of Stone by Arwen Jayne

“Full marks for
acting ability Tyra but I have to tell you that I can sense certain
things. You just spoke to someone telepathically. Now lets have
honesty between us if I’m going to teach you. What did your contact
have to say?”
    Tyra went with her gut. She told Yan
what she had seen of Uncle Jack’s body and what she had seen in
someone’s aura, although she kept Steven’s name out of it. She
described the size and shape of the beast to Yan.
    Yan considered this “Hmm...but it must
take physical form to do damage like that. Has anyone seen one of
these beasts in the flesh, seen how they move and
fight?”
    Tyra felt she was getting in deeper
water here but decided to plug on. “There is but I’ll need to make
telepathic contact again. If you can give me a sec.”
    Yan nodded for her to do
so.
    Tyra reached into her mind again. “I
don’t suppose there’s a way he can talk to you?”
    Actually there is but
you’ll need to yield to my mind more fully, can you do
that?
    She relaxed and imagined herself
surrendering and opening to him, it was almost sexual. Suddenly her
mind stepped aside, Thex’s mind became her mind and she the
observer. She felt like a backseat driver as he took control of her
throat as well.
    Tyra’s gave a slight husky cough and
then a deep rumble of voice came out of her mouth. “You are Doctor
I-Wayan Agung, healer for this town. I am Commander Alexios Thex,
you may call me Thex”.
    Yan straightened himself a little.
“Pleased to meet you Thex and you can call me Yan. You have fought
these demons before I gather. Can you tell me how they take
physical form and how they move?”
    “ We believe they can use
the force of their minds to fully take form in matter, separate
from their slaves. They don’t usually take on their beast form in
this world as it makes them rather conspicuous. They are large and
ponderous but have a great deal of strength. Knowing something of
the animals of your planet from what Simon has shown me I believe
their fighting style is a cross between that of a lion and a very
large komodo dragon. Like a lion they will use their front limbs as
clubs to give a killing blow to the side of the skull or neck. Like
komodo dragons they can immobilise you in a bear hug and use their
bulk to throw you to the ground, landing on top of you to wind you
before they get your throat in a jaw lock for the kill. Their teeth
and claws are their innate weapons but they can use hand held
weaponry too. I’m sorry that’s all I can give you for now? My voice
is straining Tyra’s throat. I have your word you will speak nothing
of this except to Tyra and Simon?”
    “ You have my word, thank
you.”
    Tyra slumped a little and had a
coughing fit. Yan put his hand out to support her.
    “ Well I would have to say
Tyra that that was one of the most interesting as well as
informative conversations I’ve ever had with a prospective
student”.
    Tyra was still a little hoarse but
managed a whispered “you’ll help me then?”
    “ I’d be honoured Tyra. I’ll
need a little time though to consider which techniques to train you
in. They will need to be simple so you can over learn them and use
them without thinking if you meet one of these things plus I have a
couple of weapons in mind that will improve your odds. Always
remember though the first rule of fighting.”
    “ What’s that?”
    “ If there is even the
remotest chance you can, run like bloody hell. The best battle is
won by a hundred yards.”
     
     
    George was waiting for her outside.
“How’d the lesson go?”
    “ Interesting.”
    “ Wow, that’s a nasty cold
you’ve got there.”
    Tyra coughed out a laugh then froze as
she saw who was across the street. Steven was leaning against a
lamppost, watching her intently.
    “ Don’t pay no mind to him.
He’s just trying to intimidate you. If he get’s you on the
defensive you’re easier prey.”
    Tyra sighed at the implications.
“Guess I’d better learn my lessons