Obi-Wan had since found peace about Bruck’s death, but he wasn’t looking forward to meeting up with Sauro again.
He pressed some credits in the man’s hand. “Thank you. Buy your friends another claing.”
The man grinned. “Sure you don’t want to join us?”
Obi-Wan winced. “I don’t think I’d survive.”
The man took off. Obi-Wan looked down the street, then across the frozen wasteland. He could understand a boy wanting to leave this place. He could understand how poverty might mark him. But why Granta Omega wished harm on the Jedi, he still didn’t know. He had a feeling that if he solved that mystery, he would find the man.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Anakin had expected that after his breakthrough his next practice session with Soara would bring him to the next level. Instead, she had him do more simple drills. At least this time he did not have to leave the Temple.
He had to activate his lightsaber from different positions, again and again. He had to practice a midair thrust. He had to practice a double reversal. He had to practice moves he had done a thousand times before.
Not once did Soara mention the spaces between
particles,
or concentration, or the Force. She just repeated, “Again,” over and over until he thought he would break his lightsaber hilt in two.
And then the session was finished. Anakin leaned over, trying to catch his breath. Disappointment swelled in him and he felt as though he were choking on it.
After getting a glimpse of the fighter he could be, he was reduced to being a student again.
He slammed his training lightsaber back in his belt. What he needed was something to eat and a fresh tunic. He took the long way back to his quarters in order to compose himself.
The illumination banks were mimicking dusk as he passed by the lake. The green water looked inviting. The splash of the waterfall in the deep pool was tinted pink. He thought about taking a quick swim, but he was too hungry. Soara had kept him a long time, and he had missed the midday meal. He had a feeling she had kept him deliberately. She wanted him to feel hungry and empty. She wanted to see how far he could push himself. He hoped he had passed the test.
Then he realized that his test was yet to come.
He was tired. So tired that he almost missed the blur at the corner of his vision. A lightsaber had been activated and someone hurled at him from a tree branch above. It was another one of Soara’s sudden attacks. She had enlisted another Padawan to surprise him
Anakin forgot his fatigue and jumped back just in time. To his dismay, he saw that his attacker was Ferus Olin.
If only it had been anyone else! Anakin didn’t like to see Ferus under the best of circumstances. He certainly didn’t want to fight him when he was tired and hungry.
Soara appeared on top of the waterfall where she could watch. He knew he had no choice. As Ferus came at him with a somersaulting reversal, Anakin kicked into fight mode. She had sent the best Padawan fighter in the Temple against him. She wanted to see what he would do.
He would win.
What Soara could not know was that this time, friendship would not gentle him. Not with Ferus.
Ferus was starting out slowly. He would fight smart. He would save his energy and pace himself. Anakin decided to surprise him.
He launched an assault so fierce that he saw Ferus’s eyes flare with astonishment. Ferus retreated fast, needing to collect himself. Anakin came after him, swinging his training lightsaber without pause. He almost touched him, but Ferus twisted away just in time, turning the movement into a twisting leap. He surprised Anakin by immediately swinging back a backward blow. Anakin ducked, feeling the whistle of air created by the power of Ferus’s swipe.
Ferus was tall and solid, but he was also agile. He was expert at using the ground.
Unlike Tru, he used both hands equally well. The rocky terrain was perfect for his style.
He jumped, spun, and leaped, keeping Anakin off guard. Now he was driving the battle. Anakin did not know how Ferus had regained the upper hand, but he wasn’t happy about it. He was reacting to Ferus’s moves instead of the other way around. What was Soara thinking?
Anakin feinted to his left and then leaped straight ahead. To his dismay, Ferus dropped to the floor and rolled underneath Anakin, then sprang up in one smooth movement. He was behind him now. Anakin had only a split second before he felt the touch of the lightsaber on his shoulder. It only just missed his neck. When he twisted away, he saw the gleam of triumph in Ferus’s eyes.
Fury roared through him. Ferus wanted to humiliate him in front of Soara!
He did something Ferus would never expect him to do. He copied Ferus’s move, dropping to his knees and rolling underneath him as he made his next leap. He flipped up onto his feet and then charged at the rock wall.