Lana and Sil woke feeling fully rested, a level of rest that Lana had not felt in a few months. She looked at her watch and realized they missed Qi class. They heard the babies cooing and laughing in the nursery. Peaking in the door, they noticed Caser making animal shapes with his tentacles making them laugh. If a cat could smile, he would have been wearing one full of joy.
Lana smiled as she opened the door the rest of the way. "It's time to start our day. We need to go eat."
"Do you want another sword spar today?" Sil asked tenderly.
Lana chuckled, "if you're offering, I'm accepting! Quinn could take you away again any minute!"
Not long later, breakfast was being eaten as it was already almost time for martial arts class. Breakfast was consumed quickly as a result so they could rush off to the training hall.
Sil sat on the side and realized there was still a lot for them to learn. He never really was into the martial arts scene, that was Raten's area to shine. Sil was the only one who could beat Raten of all the kids.
"Caser, can you watch the babies?" Sil asked.
The nanny-cat purred and wrapped his tentacles around them lovingly. Sil smiled and went to his wife's side.
"Let me show you something." Sil swung his leg out to the side and spun a spinning kick which would have gotten someone in the face.
Lana watched carefully and duplicated it. They then decided to spar and practice the kick. Sil was shocked at how strong Lana was. He'd experienced her sword skills but Raten was the one sparring with her before. The longer he sparred with her, the more impressed he was. That didn't mean he didn't go easy on her. He could tell she wasn't on his level yet. She needed more experience. A more advanced teacher would also help her. In short, they needed a professional martial arts teacher to fill in the gaps she had from not attending the class.
Soon, he called a sword over, a different one from the day before, to give his wife more exercise. This sword was heavier. He was hoping it would make him work harder as well. Lana's technique was improving as she almost managed to get past Sil once or twice. He wasn't going to tell her he left the opening to see if she would catch it and exploit it. At the end of the session, Lana was coated in sweat again and Sil was mildly winded.
"Is there anyone on the Cursed Ship that could teach you?"
Lana shrugged, "really it's just you or Nate. You are both in a high position and more likely to be called by Quinn for missions. I think we need to hire someone. We lucked out with Steven."
Sil nodded, thinking. "Maybe Nate would know someone you could hire?"
Lana smiled, "that's a great idea to ask! Let me go shower and we can go back to the ship together. "
As they approached the exit, she looked at the girls. "I want you guys doing speed drills with our ability today. Step out of the shelter and practice using your ability faster."
They all nodded and walked out.
Sil wanted to join Lana in the shower but she reminded him they both had things to do, although his was sitting around waiting for Quinn to emerge from his shadow. On the Cursed Ship, they found Nate returning from the hanger bay. Among those with him were Cia. Lana didn't hate her so much since she lost her memory and started adjusting to life. Things were just very hard for her in the beginning. Still. If she laid her hands on her man again, she'd be dead.
"Nate, I was hoping you'd have a solution to an issue we are having," Lana stated.
Nate chuckled, "When you put it that way, should I be worried?"
Cia glanced at them and excused herself. She knew Lana wasn't a friend from their time in the vampire world and it was best to just stay away.
"We are looking for a really good martial artist that would be willing to teach the whole Plantwell faction." Sil spoke softly, showing little confidence, head not down as far as normal but still angled toward the floor.
Lana nodded, "I recognize you are an important asset for the cursed and I can't monopolize you. I want all my faction members to be proficient, especially since we are small."
Nate nodded, "What we can do is I can teach it around my schedule while we put up an ad requesting someone to get hired on, a job opening so to speak."
Lana smiled. "That sounds good. Currently, we conduct training around 9 am. That's another thing I need to speak to Quinn about. He said after the duel, we could post ads for travelers for my family. I need able-bodied guards for my family members. I don't know if now is the time he wants to help me or if he wants to wait more."
Sam nodded from behind Nate, "let's get the ad up for the martial arts instructor. I'll handle that for you. When Quinn is ready, I'll ask him about your travelers."
Lana nodded, "sounds good. I don't think it's been a full two weeks yet but I think I'm going to go ask Alex how he's doing on the project I gave him."
"Project?" Sam asked.
Lana giggled, "a saddle for Caser!"
-----------------
In the forgery, Alex could be seen hammering away with the apprentices and other forgers working along side him. His wings fluttered excitedly as yet another piece was almost done.
"No, no, no," Alex said as an apprentice ruined a minor piece. Alex had given them minor parts to play in this so they would feel like they were helping Lana. He didn't know Lana meant so much to so many until he started hearing these three people talk about her. It was like hearing about heroes in comic book stories. One of his favorite customers had become important, just like Quinn, but in a different way. He was proud to work on this project, to be trusted with something so important.
As he was instructing the apprentice the right way to work the piece, he heard the door open.
"Lana, it's good to see you! I see you brought, Sil? Correct?" asked Alex, unsure if he recalled the blond man's name correctly.
Lana giggled, "yes, this is Sil. I wanted to show him what I tasked you with if you've made any progress?"
Alex was creating small gusts of wind as his smile lit up his face. "I'm glad you're here, actually. Can I measure this piece on Caser's back?" as he lifted a long piece which seemed like the base of the seat.
Caser didn't wait for a response and made himself bigger to have the saddle placed on his back.
Alex chuckled and set the base in place and looked at it critically. He circled around Caser visualizing something only he could see. He placed his finger in his chin in a thinking gesture which Lana had never seen him do before. He nodded, more to himself than anyone else, and removed the base.
"Give us 3 more days and it will be done." Alex said with certainty in his voice.
Sil looked confused, "what exactly is this contraption?"
Lana smiled, "it's a seat to carry the twins in. It will enable us to bring them on hunts so I can be able to feed them but still keep them safe."
Sil smiled, "have I told you how much I love you, today?"
Lana giggled, "only about three times."
"Thank you, Alex," Lana said as she nodded and smiled toward her apprentices. She and her entourage left the forge.
They stopped by the infirmary to see if Quinn had returned yet but there was no news. Sil walked her back to the teleporter and kissed her goodbye. "If he stays like this, I'll be back tonight."
Lana nodded and headed through to go check on her request for a book. She still didn't have a notification but that wasn't going to stop her from checking!
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