"Bee, I will never punish you. I really don't think that there are many males in our kingdom that will either. Please, look up, look into my eyes, things are not like here, as they are in your world." Hartwell said.
Bee's eyes very slowly rose, her body still cringing, 'til Hartwell pulled her to him, holding her tight. Bee's eyes flew wide when he realized that there was no pain or ridicule.
"This is truly strange, Lord Sir, it might take a very long time to grow used to this everyday." Bee said.
"I told you I would answer you after all this is done. I don't think that I can wait that long." This had Bee staring up at Hartwell, her eyes wide in wonder. Hartwell looked deep into her eyes, "I am finding that the thought of being without you is starting to terrify me."
Bee's face held shock, her mouth having dropped open, unable to speak. "You... you wish to bond with me?"
"Yes Bee, bond with me, be my partner," Hartwell said.
A still shocked Bee could only stare, then started to nod her head, yes, vigorously.
Nearby Lucie had tears falling from her eyes. Finally, her brother had found someone.
________________________________________________
Jimison and Difina were both panting, sweat pouring off their bodies. Both stood almost vanishing as they attacked their master Dempsy again.
The sound of two thuds were heard as both of them hit the wall again. The two of them were shocked when Dempsy appeared next to them. The thing is neither had felt nor seen him move.
Kimon shook his head, had they not learned anything? "So both of you wish to remain worthless. All that you have learned 'til now is more than important and, yes, it is that simple. Forget what you see, reach out as you learned, use the other senses, remember the eyes can lie."
Jimison was panting hard as he went through what he'd learned before, simple?
It was then that Kimon noticed a slight smile come to Jimison's lips. This time Jimison seemed to vanish, as did Kimon. There was the sound of several blows, then they both appeared in the middle of the room.
"The worthless one is finally showing that I might have to spare him. Much better, you need to show your mate, remember everything, no motion or action, is taught for no reason." Kimon said, then bowed leaving the room.
Jimison looked at Difina, amazed at what had just happened. He had been able to feel where his master was going to be, and his strikes.
"I am amazed that I was able to do that," Jimison told Difina.
"You were moving more like master, the both of you vanished. I am ashamed that I was not able to follow either of you," Difina said, hanging her head.
"It is as master said, remember all that we have learned before. Reach out, feel where I am, where I will be." Jimison said, trying to explain. "Concentrate, feel me."
Difina thought a moment, then something seemed to click in her mind. Difina slowly closed her eyes, then reached out. Jimison smiled slightly, then vanished.
Less than a second later, Difina also vanished. There were the sounds of hits and thuds for a few minutes, then both appeared with smiles on their faces.
Kimon smiled. They were finally moving in the right direction. Now, at least they had a chance. There weren't many out there that weren't masters that could defeat them.
Kimon reached up, tapped a comm. "Another hour, then cool down meditation."
Kimon turned as he went to the room that was his. He stepped into the extremely sparse room, opening a small com.
"I have need of my mate, they have finally reached the first level. You have a much finer touch when it comes to teaching. I am afraid I won't get them much past level two without your help." Kimon told his mate.
Onai bowed to the image of her mate, "You honor me mate. I will be there soon. I will bring your first student if you wish."
"If you have passed him to active duty. You, I am afraid, are the only one that can. Mother hasn't much in that field. Has she cleared him of any brain damage?" Kimon asked.
"She has, though I am afraid that I need another time with him. He has cleared almost all of the malady. Soon mate, then I will depart to you." Onai said.
"Very good mate, please come soon," Kimon said as he cut the comm. off.
It was good that his two students were finally progressing toward where they needed to be. He then stepped out, heading to where the Delcron had a semblance of a dining hall.
As soon as he stepped into the room, he felt that there was going to be trouble. As many times he had shown that they could not touch him, he'd have thought they had learned.
Kimon stopped in the middle of the room, "before you begin, be aware that I am a master. That means, I have mastered my art, an art that encompasses more than one form. Now, I wish to eat, please all come to me so that I might relax."
He heard several scoff at his statement, causing him to sigh and shake his head. He estimated that the room held over 150 places to sit. They were all full.
Right before everyone there, Kimon seemed to vanish, only to appear near the back wall. The front of the room gasped as those in the back of the room seemed frozen, then fell. There were a few growls as Kimon asked, "do you still wish to continue?" There were more than a few growls as Kimon nodded, "Do not say I didn't warn you."
Those still awake smirked feeling they were ready, that was 'til Kimon again vanished. All those in the front of the room fell except for one.
The one still standing started to applaud, "very good warrior, though I think not a master."
"One does not need to use advanced moves to defeat the untrained. Though I am sure you noticed that I removed the arm of your shirt," Kimon said, a small smile on his face.
The one still standing looked at his arm, shocked for a moment, then covered it up. He wasn't as good as he thought, Kimon thought, as he had noticed the quick shocked look on the other's face.
"We will have to take this up at a later time. Ah, so you know he who ends you. I am Vilox, third master of the Rilcon order." Vilox said as he started to turn.
Kimon had vanished as Vilox had turned. Vilox stopped short when Kimon appeared in front of him. "I think not, I know that you are after the princess, probably her mate. As of today, I think that you will have a much more difficult time defeating them. They have after all reached the first level."
Vilox growled, he hadn't felt Kimon move, he tried to slip out as he vanished. He then, found his self propelled toward the wall at an accelerated rate. With a bounce back, he smiled this Kimon had no power, that was 'til Kimon hit him far harder than he had as of yet.
Kimon watched as Vilox hit the wall three times faster than before. This time, the Delcron was unable to stop as he smashed into the wall hard. Sliding down the wall, Vilox's eyes were wide, before he lost consciousness.
Kimon went through Delcron's clothes, then his body, removing vials and capsules of poison, acid, sleeping potions among several other chemicals. Kimon could only shake his head. They truly were far below his clan in the art.
Then Kimon was pulling out a great number of weapons, far many more than Kimnon felt that the Delcron needed. This was more the mark of an assassin, than one of the art. So he thought, I am dealing more with a clan of semi-amature assassins. Well, he thought, things just got even more interesting.
A moment later, more than twenty guards appeared, "are you in need of help, Master Kimon?" The leader of the squad asked.
"No, not me, though I think that the rest of those here might. This one," Kimon pointed to the one on the floor at his feet. "I need to take to the Emperor.
The squad looked at all the bodies on the floor, then at Kimon. They quickly moved out of the way when Kimon lifted the Delcron off the floor as if he weighed nothing.
A few minutes later, Kimon walked onto the bridge carrying the still unconscious male. Unceremoniously. Kimon threw the male at Kandra's feet. "This one claims to be a third master of the Rilcon order. I take it, you as Emperor know who and what they are?"
Kandra's were wide in surprise, a third master? "They are a band of secret assassins. It is said that once hired, that they will not stop. Even if the one who hired them is killed. Do you...?" Kandra started.
"I suspect your daughter, possibly her mate. That makes it my concern, one that, if needed, will involve the death of the order," Kimon said.
Kandra smiled. This was a good thing, they didn't realize that they had thoroughly pissed off the wrong person. "So, what do you plan to do?" Kandra asked.
"I will need to go to where they are, convince them to stop, or destroy them. At the moment, I need to complete as much of your daughter's and the Lt. Colonel's training as much as I can. They are deadly now, though with this new threat they will need more," Kimon said.
"I can not say that this is a bad thing, this order has given the Empire trouble for a long time. You, of course, have my permission to deal with them as you see fit," Kandra said, trying to hide his smile.
