Free The Chronicles of Lumineia: Book 01 - Elseerian by Ben Hale Page B

fake blade clattered off the captains’ door and fell to the deck.
    Cheers and laughter burst out from the spectators. Another quick glance showed that now nearly every one of the sailors appeared to be participating in the rampant gambling. I’m glad I can provide some entertainment during your voyage, he thought, his brow furrowed in annoyance. Right now, he just wanted the lesson to end so he could escape to the crow’s nest.
    Like a flash of lightning, he realized for the first time that there might be some benefits to the anonymity he’d had his whole life. Recalling his conversation with Liri on the docks, he thought perhaps there was more truth to Liri’s words than he’d given credit.
    A split second later the other knife came at him but he was still distracted and unprepared, ducking and spinning back to his original position.
    Even distracted, he smiled to himself. I can do this, he thought while stooping to pick up the two wooden knives.
    After tossing them back to Hun he readied himself again. This round he did better, and focused enough to watch the spinning knife slice through the air towards him. By the next attempt, Taryn wanted to see if he could catch it. He watched very carefully as Hun leaned forward and threw the knife. Poised as he was, it wasn’t difficult for him to sidestep again, but this time he reached out and picked it clean out of the air before it hit the door behind him. Even though he’d caught the wood halfway on the knife portion, he was pretty sure he could do better the next time.
    Liri wasn’t the only one to applaud at that.
    “Kid, you are just too good, ain’t ya!” Hun yelled, his voice exultant. “This time I am going to throw it as quick as I normally do.”
    The next throw really came faster, although Taryn was still able to pick it out of the air without too much of a problem. It was also easier to catch it while he spun to one side or the other, because he didn’t have to stop the momentum, but could keep it going. He could imagine himself spinning and whipping the knife back at the thrower. The mental image made him smile inwardly, wondering if it would actually work.
    By the time the next two throws came, Taryn was able to see the handle of the spinning knife and snatch it out of the air without even grabbing the “blade” portion of the fake knife.
    The watching men were pointing and talking excitedly by now. Trin in particular appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, while Mae had her usual inscrutable expression painted across her elven features.
    Hunrin caught the two wooden knives that Taryn had just tossed to him. Without hesitation or warning he threw them right back at him in quick succession. On reflex, Taryn twisted and caught one, and then the other—and then without warning a third wooden knife appeared out of the corner of his eye.
    Looking back at Hun showed him to be already releasing another fake knife in Taryn’s direction. Not only was Taryn off balance from the first two, but he was unprepared for the third. Despite this, he dropped the wooden knives and exploded into motion. In a single lightning move, he turned back towards Hun, caught the third wooden knife by the handle, twisted the way he’d imagined, and whipped it straight at Hun—off balance and slow, but still accurate. A split second later a wooden knife sunk quivering, embedded in the door behind Hun and hands breadth from his head.
    For a moment everyone didn’t move, stunned. Then uninhibited applause broke out. Sailors shouted and called out. Hun grabbed his knives and came to Taryn, shouting to be heard over the din, “Well kid, I don’t think you still need lessons! Just don’t forget who taught you.”
    Taryn forced a thank you, but what he had just done felt surreal, and caused his stomach to tighten. How did he just do that? It should have been impossible, and he knew he should have just dodged. It would have been the smart thing to do. Why did he try for