No one had been hurt in the sparring, so Oresa wasn't sure what to do. She'd never liked fighting anyway, and that wasn't her job. She was supposed to protect and heal, which she was good at. Well, healing, really, she wasn't very good at protecting her friends just yet.

King Sahshir had spent most of the time on the trip within his quarters. He occasionally spoke to the soldiers or directed them on some task. However, he never had anything to say to her or the others. And that made her wonder why he'd personally requested their presence anyway.

Urus had suggested several theories. Cadas had said nothing, of course. Isamu wasn't interested as he parried a thrust from one of the sailors. Oresa crept up toward the door of Sahshir's cabin. She saw Alkela enter it just before she got to the top and wondered what they were talking about.

Oresa drew out her Listening Stone, the one Father had given her for her twelfth birthday. Yet she heard nothing at first from within. Of course, Oresa was so stupid; Alkela was using sign language.

"Again?" asked Sahshir. "The man lives for fighting, it seems. How many men have done well against him?

"As expected, few. No matter, it is of no concern."

More sign language.

"Alkela, I am well aware that Isamu is trying to bait me into dueling him again," said Sahshir. "However, since he is shallow, I shall concern myself with deeper subjects." What deeper subjects? Sahshir had not spoken at all with anyone. Oresa guessed Alkela had given him an answer.

"I defeated him once before, hoping to shut him up," replied Sahshir. "He just rechallenged me."

"You could defeat him instead of fighting him," suggested Tuor, who had been silent until now.

There was silence for a moment.

"...Excellent point, Tuor," said Sahshir. "Tell me, how many have been injured, Alkela?

"No one, that's a surprise."

Why did King Sahshir seem to hate Isamu so much? He was acting as if he was just a thug. But Isamu would never permanently hurt someone in a spar. He was always careful to avoid doing it. And Oresa was always on hand to heal the bruises.

Isamu challenged people because he wanted them to become stronger themselves.

"Has she played any part in the spars?" asked Sahshir.

She? Who was Sahshir talking about? It couldn't have been Alkela, but he must have been talking about Oresa.

"I believe her idea of training is to heal injuries," said Tuor.

"Well then, I believe I have my target," said Sahshir.

And then Oresa heard Sahshir coming toward the door. In a panic, she drew up the stone and ran to the lower deck. There, Isamu had stopped sparring. Urus and Cadas were in battle with several of the guards. They were fighting very well, actually. Especially since the Silent Guard had been left behind.

But why?

Why had Sahshir left the Silent Guard behind?

"So, who's next?" asked Isamu. "Come on, beat Urus or Cadas, and I'll take you on myself."

Urus finished parrying a thrust and knocked the man flat with an open palm. At the same time, Cadas threw down his own enemy. Oresa immediately healed them while Isamu stood with his sword at the ready. The guards, meanwhile, seemed to be speaking amongst one another. As if deciding who ought to try next. They'd put forward quite a few of their own.

"Isamu, we have an audience," said Urus.

Oresa looked up and saw that, sure enough, Sahshir had emerged. With him were Alkela and Tuor, both of them observing. Isamu looked irritated at their presence. "Abdul, what do you want?"

Oresa thought Sahshir would flare up at this, yet he did not. He merely looked over Urus, Cadas, and Isamu last. "I'm seeking an opponent to spar against if you must know."

"Fair enough," said Isamu as Urus and Cadas formed before her. "So, take your pick."

Sahshir motioned with his steel hand. As he did, Isamu smirked. "Urus looks like you up."

"I was not pointing to him," replied Sahshir. "Step aside."

Urus did step aside, and Oresa looked up from her healing to realize Sahshir was pointing at her. She looked behind her and saw no one. Standing up, she backed away.

"Princess Oresa," said Sahshir simply.

"What?" said Oresa. "You... you're challenging me; why?"

"What are you doing, picking on a girl?" asked Isamu.

"A girl who is part of your warrior companions. I assume she can fight," said Sahshir.

"I... yes, I can," said Oresa. "Or, well, I got some pointers from Isamu."

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"Leave her alone!" snapped Isamu. "If you want a fight so badly, then fight me, you ugly bastard!"

"Overreacting as always," said Sahshir as his guards set hands to swords. "No one is going to be harmed within it. It is merely a means by which we test our skills against one another. I've noticed that Oresa has not participated in any matches, and I'm curious about her abilities."

"I..." Oresa shifted. She'd been afraid of getting in the way all this time, but it was a legal move. She was one of Isamu's companions, so beating her was a legitimate move. "Well, I..."

"Don't do it, Oresa," said Urus.

"Why don't you let her answer for herself," said Sahshir. "Does she not outrank you?"

"It's fine, Isamu," said Oresa. "I've got to prove myself stronger." It was just a spar, anyway.

"Then let us begin," said Sahshir, drawing out the Sword of Order. "Alkela, would you take the Sword of Order from me." And he handed it over.

Tuor, who had moved away while no one was looking, returned. "Sahshir!"

Sahshir glanced back, and Tuor hurled a blade at him. It spun through the air, and Sahshir caught it. Then, Oresa saw the markings and realized what it was. "A Ghost Blade..."

"I'm told you broke yours at Zigilus," said Tuor. "I felt I ought to restore one to you."

"As you wish," said Sahshir, voice odd. "Thank you."

Then Tuor hurled another such blade at Oresa. She caught it and nearly fell off her feet with the weight. Raising it up, she took such a stance as she could remember. Sahshir took a similar view, and there was no overconfidence there. No anger or condescension, no underestimation.

Sahshir was treating her as a threat.

As the guards formed a circle around them, Oresa realized she had miscalculated.

"Begin," said Tuor.

Sahshir surged forward, and Oresa saw his blade coming toward her. Acting on reflex, she rolled away in the nick of time. Even as she did, however, she slipped and landed on her knees.

"Oresa!" said Isamu.

Oresa knew Sahshir would be doing a killing blow next. Ghost Blades sent people to sleep so he didn't have to hold back. So, she created a shield around herself as best she could. However, the orange defense was hit and shattered as she stood. She barely ducked in time and felt the wind of his blade go over her head.

Her sword was struck from her hand and sent spinning away. Turning, she sprinted to grab it but slipped and fell onto her knees. He could have ended it there, but Sahshir waited as she raced across the deck and grabbed it.

Turning around, Oresa took a stance as best she could.

"Oresa, forfeit! You've got to forfeit!" said Isamu.

"No, no, I won't give up! Not this time!" said Oresa, more to herself. Then she raised a shield and moved forward, using the shield to cover her side. However, Sahshir surged forward and leaped over her as she moved forward. He shattered her shield with one blow of his sword, then drew it back. Then, as Oresa turned to parry, he moved around her to remain behind her.

Oresa turned again, but he backed away. As he did, he caught her blade with his own, made a motion, and disarmed her.

"That shield is useless against me," said Sahshir. "You are not using your will as you ought to. Alkela, give her my sword."

Alkela moved forward, the Sword of Order, and handed it to Oresa. As she took it, she felt power flow through her arms. It was as if she was holding a star in her hands, and the light of it made her every move easy.

"I..." Oresa adjusted the blade in her hands, and as she did, she remembered her old training. She'd been holding the blade wrong; that was why he'd disarmed her so easily.

Then Isamu stepped forward quickly between them. "Oresa, stand back. Let me handle this guy."

"That would be illegal," said Sahshir. "The terms set were that I must overcome one of your warriors to face you. Are you going to give me special treatment because I am royalty?"

"That's a technicality, and you know it. Oresa is-" began Isamu.

"Let her speak for herself," said Sahshir. "Does Isamu possess control of Oresa's will? Is she no more than an automaton to be commanded to stand back?

"Do you choose to forfeit, or do you not?"

"I..." Oresa realized why Sahshir had targeted her. He'd observed that the others were always sheltering her because they knew how weak she was. "I..."

"Your grip on that sword is too tight," said Sahshir, moving forward and sheathing his weapon. "You need to be able to move it." Then he grasped her hands and adjusted them with his own. "Like so."

"Good," said Sahshir. "Unfortunately, that is not your only failing.

"You have a weak footing. Your feet are too close together. Without a strong foundation, nothing stands." Setting a hand to her shoulder, he put pressure, and Oresa stumbled back.

"Leave her alone!" said Isamu. "Or we'll have our rematch right here and now!"

"I forfeit," said Oresa quickly.

There was no more point in wasting anyone else's time here. She was clearly outmatched, and she gave the blade back. Sahshir took it and sheathed it. Then he acknowledged Isamu. "You need not concern yourself; I was done instructing her anyway."

"You call that teaching?" asked Isamu.

"Actually, yes," said Sahshir. "I think she appreciates what it means to be a warrior more now.

"Still, her failure is not really her fault.

"It is yours.

"You have included her in your warrior band purely as a status symbol and nothing else. She is eager to please. Yet you expect nothing from her save for healing your injuries.

"Her failure is your responsibility, Isamu, because you are her leader. And to be a leader is to be responsible."

Well, that was, uh... harsh. Very harsh. Not fair either, was it?

"You could have done far worse," said Sahshir, and then he walked off.

Oresa didn't know whether to be furious, depressed, or happy. On the one hand, she'd been utterly defeated, but that was to be expected. And Sahshir didn't seem to think her weakness was entirely her fault. But that wasn't fair to Isamu and the others at all.

Isamu seemed speechless, torn between rage and shock. Urus was speaking to him in private, and Cadas was remaining silent. The guards, meanwhile, seemed in a far better mood. They were acting as though Sahshir had beaten Isamu. Not just merely humiliating the weakest member of his group. Well, it looked that way.

Sahshir had made it look like Isamu was a bad leader, but that wasn't true. Oresa looked to where Sahshir had gone to the front of the ship with Tuor. She raised her listening stone, a gift from her father. It amplified sounds and brought them to her.

"You've grown, Sahshir," said Tuor.

"Hmm?" asked Sahshir.

"You have become powerful in your own way," said Tuor.

"I had many teachers of great quality," said Sahshir.

"Myself among them, I hope?" said Tuor, a levity in his voice.

"You are among them," said Sahshir. "Your training was the root of what created who I am now. For that, I am grateful. Just as I am grateful to Aresh for the years he spent teaching me."

"And your hostility before?" asked Tuor.

"Your presumption offended me; however, the matter is now behind us," said Sahshir.

The two of them fell into silence.

"Might I inquire about other teachers?" asked Tuor after a moment.

"Nagos, the King of Chaminus," said Sahshir. "His philosophy has great value."

Nagos, the King of the Seas? He'd become a legend in Western Kalthak. Oresa had heard all kinds of stories of his adventures. Once, he'd even slipped into the palace, and no one had even known it was him until after he introduced himself. Oresa remembered he'd seemed very kind.

"Would you share it?" asked Tuor.

"Nagos believes in dealing with the moment. He says that one should only concern yourself with what you can affect," said Sahshir.

"A valuable mindset. But to move without consideration to the future is dangerous," said Tuor.

"No philosophy is perfect," said Sahshir. "But it was Nagos' stance on revenge that fascinated me. When the Emperor of Dinis harmed Nagos, he did not seek to hurt him. Instead, he gave him advice, leading to him dying gloriously and securing his legacy. He also convinced him to heal the injury he had done."

"An interesting concept," said Tuor. "Perhaps a wise policy, but I do not see how it counts as vengeance."

"One is only who they are now, in Nagos' mind," said Sahshir. "If Octavus had gained glory and become a just Emperor, he would not be the same man. When he died saving his fleet, the spoiled Prince who Octavus had been was destroyed. He ceased to be the wealthy parasite and became one worthy of his rank.

"So, from a certain perspective, Nagos killed his enemy."

"I've found that kunai is a much more efficient means of vengeance," laughed Tuor. "Still, do you mean to say that Aresh and I are different people?"

"You are not my father," said Sahshir flatly. "You inherited his responsibilities and powers, but you are not him. You will be disappointed if you wish for me to obey you as a son.

"But, as a teacher and valuable ally, I will acknowledge you as much."

Tuor remained silent for a long time. "...Thank you, Sahshir."

Oresa had come to a decision. She needed to get stronger to help Isamu and the others. And she required training from someone outside of the group to do it. Isamu always treated her as something of protection.

Well, she needed Sahshir's help.