Training (Kaybai Stories)
“No, no, no. You need to have your feet like this,” Lerah said as she nudged Kaybai’s foot with her own, so that his back foot was perpendicular to his front.
“But-”
“I said what I said.. I don’t care what those fools taught you. They gave you to me, and so I will teach you how to fight my way.”
Lerah walked around him, studying his pose. He heard her feet crossing the smooth stones behind him.
She hummed. “Bend your knees a little more.”
He wobbled as his aching feet struggled to learn the new position. Kaybai was certain that his feet would be black and blue by the next day.
Lerah rammed into his side, sending him careening into the ground. He was more surprised than hurt, but his hip throbbed where it hit the stone. Using one of the pillars, Kaybai pulled himself up to face his unimpressed mentor.
“You lost your center.”
He sighed, his face red and mouth pinched with embarressment. He picked himself up once more, and set himself in the stance that Lerah was trying to teach him. It felt odd and unnatural, and the old woman once again corrected his posture. He was more aware than ever of her presence. Kaybai waited for the strike that would inevitably come. He would be prepared this time.
Her ankle swept under his legs. He was on the ground, again, with the breath knocked out of him. He lay gasping and all that he could comprehend through the pain and embarrassment were the fractals carved in the temple ceiling. It was easy to get lost in the spirals. It took several minutes until Kaybai sat up again, but when he did, his mentor was waiting for him.
“I think we’ve done enough for now,” she said as she helped him to his feet.
Kaybai only nodded, avoiding Lerah’s eyes. The walk back to their shelter was steeped in tense silence, and the silence continued even after they ate. It was only when they were heading to their separate cots that Lerah spoke.
She cleared her throat. He heard the rustle of fabric as she suddenly began to fidget with her blanket. “You know, you did well today.”
He didn’t say anything in response. What was he supposed to say to that, anyway? Her words weren’t true. He failed to hold his ground against her.
Kaybai sat at the edge of his cot, watching her stoke the dying embers back into a fire in the metal stove. He mulled over her words he nodded off, watching her silhouette against the bright orange flames.