Page 46 of Up in Smoke

“I am,” Sandro confirmed, and as Batbayar had invited him to, he snagged me by the ear, although he opted to rub my fur between his fingers rather than pull me inside. “When I want her to go somewhere, I just bribe her with salsa. That gets her on the move more often than not. She’s being shy, but she wanted to check in on you and the kids. I’m showing her around Asylum today and giving her a chance to get settled.”

“Last I’d heard she’d gone to the East.” Batbayar turned his attention to one of the boys and made a soft correction, observing until the child did as told. To my amusement, several others in the class realized they made the same mistake and worked to correct it without the man having to say another word.

I could only guess Batbayar had already made an example of one of the students in a painful game of chase to prove the importance of his teachings.

“Once she started getting fidgety, I let her loose to roam. She wanted to return to Tulsa, so we wandered back here. Since her station changed when she became my wife, I wanted to give her a chance to adapt at her pace. Turns out her pace is faster than mine, so I’m sure she’ll keep me on my toes.” Sandro gave my ear another rub before moving his hand to my back and pushing until I stepped into the room. “Maybe you can work out some of that excess energy, although I suggest you give her a stick rather than let her use Peace.”

I handed Peace over to Sandro, and I took care to keep my tail from exposing my delight in the possibility of getting some good exercise for even part of a class.

“Everyone, halt,” Batbayar ordered. “These ones are new and raw, Jade, so I’ll give you a good chase to see how you’ve been healing. I’ll even take it easy on you, as I wouldn’t want to damage your clothes, as you’re not in proper attire right now. Students, this is Jade, and before she took an unfortunate injury, she helped instruct my classes. She’ll give you a better taste of what you’ll be learning. Normally, I would ask her to change, but as we are near the end of our lesson anyway, I’ll spare you all the wait.”

“And your other classes?” I asked.

“Don’t fret, Jade. All of the students are fine and are staying at the dormitory here. More than a few were orphaned in the last spawn, but all of the children survived.”

I grieved for the loss of their parents and added those deaths to my list of those I would seek justice for. “I am glad they made it.”

Batbayar, as he had shortly before I’d been shot, instructed the students on what they were about to see before he took up one of the practice blades carved to resemble a katana and tossed it to me. “We shall spar, but she will inevitably run, for Jade is as wise as she is beautiful, and she understands her best chance is to escape and bide her time for a better opportunity to strike me. I will be entertained. I have remained in practice. She has not been to class for a long time.”

“That means I’m about to be tenderized in amusing fashions, Sandro.”

“I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Sandro stepped into the room and joined the children sitting along the wall for a good view of the show. “And if you don’t put up enough of a fight, I will bring you back daily until he beats self-defense into you.”

I flattened my ears at the potent threat and shot a glare at him before backing safely out of Batbayar’s range and bowing to the old man properly.

He returned the bow, which signaled the end of my pain-free day. Abandoning all semblance of being a kind, caring teacher, Batbayar lunged for me, whipping his wooden weapon my way. I yelped, jumped back, and bolted. As the bastard had grabbed my tail the last time, I held the katana in one hand and clutched my tail with the other. “Not the tail!”

Sandro cracked up laughing, and even Batbayar snorted his amusement.

I took advantage of the moment of good humor to reverse direction, dart forward, and smash the wooden blade into Batbayar’s shin.

He yelped and swung his weapon at me, which I parried with mine.

Then, as always, Batbayar chased me like he meant it, and I ran as though all the devils of hell followed behind me.

Thursday, June 25, 2043.

Asylum, Oklahoma.

The Alley.

Outside of three hits,I dodged Batbayar’s onslaught, and long before I exhausted myself, Sandro tired of the lesson, got up, and grabbed me, picking me up and tucking me close to his side. He plucked my weapon out of my hand, blocking Batbayar’s swing before I could earn a rebuking whack to the rump or a pulled tail.

“I’ll bring her back to play more tomorrow,” Sandro promised. “We still have some errands to handle before our day is done, and your other students seem moderately alarmed over how you resemble a hungry wolf in pursuit of a newborn fawn.”

Batbayar chuckled, relaxed his stance, and bowed. “I looked forward to having her grace my classes again. If you don’t mind waiting a few minutes, I can give you a copy of the class schedule. I’ll make notes of the classes she usually helped with.”

“That would be appreciated.”

“You are welcome to come and be tenderized as well. You might make a good sparring partner for Jade, though I suspect you have much to learn. She has much to learn as well, so it would be my honor to have the teaching of both of you.”

“I have some knowledge of the basics, but I was often on the road and had little time for dedicated study. But as Jade needs to learn how to use Peace well, I will make the time.”

I wiggled in Sandro’s hold, but he maintained a tight grip on me. My fox adored his possessiveness, and it took most of my concentration to keep my tail still. “I can bring Sandro to classes?”

“Of course, Jade. He will make a good partner, should he be able to keep up with you. This might give him the fortitude to accomplish that lofty goal.” Batbayar turned and clapped his hands. “As you like to claim you can handle the dojo without my breathing down your necks, prove it. Be aware the failure of one will be the failure of all, and you will begin learning the basics of how to escape my blade. You will not be as successful as Jade, but you will learn.”

Without waiting to see how his students reacted, Batbayar stepped out of the dojo and waved for Sandro to follow. It amused me the hot ass bounty hunter refused to put me down. Only when we were led into Batbayar’s office did Sandro relent and set me on my feet.