She entered a narrow passageway that flickered with candles burning in sconces. At the end was a small red door. She unlatched it and ducked her head to enter a spacious, windowless room that was empty but for the lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The walls were painted with a series of murals that depicted the battle between heaven and the underworld. Kira wondered exactly which side the monks belonged to. On both sides of the room were several racks filled with spears of many sizes.
At the other end there was a set of black double doors that were suddenly flung open to reveal the figure of a tall, muscular man holding a fearsome spear as long as his body. He was one of the largest men Kira had ever seen. His head was completely shaved and his handsome face was hard and angular and looked like it was chiseled from rock. He had hooded dark eyes under heavy brows that stared unblinkingly at her. Wearing only black trousers, his naked torso was smooth, bronzed, and hairless. Glorious muscles rippled with his every breath. He was an intimidating sight.
If the first of her tests was this monk, Kira was worried. He looked impossible to beat.
The doors slammed shut behind him. Kira bowed in greeting but the monk ignored her. He walked to a weapons rack and picked out a spear with a wicked tip. Turning to Kira, he threw her the weapon and beckoned her closer. Kira caught the spear in midair.
She studied him, watching as he settled into a strong stance, his rear foot planted firmly, as immovable as an oak tree. With his long arms and spear, his reach was far greater than hers. She would have to be quick or she’d be dead.
They circled each other, neither saying a word. She was not about to make the first move. She studied his movements, trying to learn his pacing and his breathing, anything that might give away his technique. He spun his spear slowly, trying to entice her to attack. Kira smirked. He clearly thought she was a beginner.
The monk probed his spear forward. Kira blocked the thrust by reversing her weapon and stepping into his low stab, binding it to the right. She tapped away several of his blows before making her first move. Parrying his downward thrust, she switched to a quick jab at the abdomen. He redirected it to the left side. Kira used the momentum to set up a high strike, just missing. Blocking another strike to her head, she feinted and was shocked when he almost struck her high in the chest. Barely able to parry it aside, the blade ripped through her sleeve, leaving a long cut across her upper arm.
In a desperate move, Kira slipped her spear in a one-handed parry using the base of the spear to try and extend her reach. Then she thrust it at his neck. His spear smashed hers out of her hand, sending it flying across the room. Kira leaped away from his attack and ran over to the rack, seizing another spear, this time one that was a little shorter and less heavy. Cold sweat pooled at the back of her neck.
“Flow like a river, Kira.” She heard the whisper of her father’s voice. These were his words when they were in training. “Rock on your feet, balance is key. Don’t be heavy-handed, be light. Think light. Watch your opponent. The spear will always betray him.”
This time, Kira matched her movements to the monk’s. Watching carefully for the little cues of his body language to see where he would strike. She blocked and parried all his blows, seeing the rhythm with which he fought.
“Attack immediately, don’t wait! Any commitment on your enemy’s end is an opening on yours. Don’t hesitate!”
The monk twirled his spear and tried to smash it on Kira’s head. She blocked, parried, and rolled her spear, then went immediately on the offensive. On a high feint, Kira circled his spear with the tip of hers and separated it from his hand, stabbing at his jugular.
“Yield!”
The monk punched his hand down on the spear, snapping the wood. Kira whipped the remainder of the staff around and smashed him on his head with the butt of her spear. With the recoil, she brought it around for an immediate side bash across his temple. He fell to his knees, stunned.
This was the opening she needed. One killing blow. But Kira couldn’t bring herself to kill him. Although she knew he would not have hesitated, something stopped her from doing the same. Instead, she spun the broken spear high and slammed it down on his head again, knocking him out.
The black doors at the far end of the arena flew open.
Breathing hard, Kira wiped the sweat from her forehead. She picked up her sword and water bag and entered a hallway that led to a winding staircase. Holding on to the wooden railing, she began to climb. On the next landing, another hallway led to an open doorway.