Chapter Text
In Githyanki customs, if a youth is considered weak or unfit to serve Vlaakith, they kill them. When the child stumbled into their camp, she suggested that the group follow the custom after Gale and the child went to sleep. No one was interested. In fact, Astarion laughed because he thought she was joking.
He doesn't serve any purpose for the camp. She doesn't see why they should keep him. They should leave him in the grove. Wyll and Karlach think it's not safe for him there. Everyone seems to be growing attached.
Today, she was left alone with him and Shadowheart in camp because he died the previous day. She volunteered to watch them both because she still doesn't trust them. Shadowheart went to take a bath in the river. Currently, she is watching the child practice with a long sword. He was terrible at it. Who taught him?
She was bored, so she decided to see if she could spar with him and test whether he could be useful to them.
"Istik, come spar."
He looked hesitant, but eventually, he came over. He got into a terrible stance, which was very much off balance. Also, settling into a stance with her sword, she gestured for him to come at her. He charged at her. She did have enough time to dodge, but she wanted to test his strike.
After his first strike, she could tell he planned to overwhelm her with strength. There was no technique behind it. She quickly knocked him over with how unbalanced he was.
"Again. This time, lean more on your left."
The child grumbles but does as she says. He had more balance and a better swing this time, so she pushed him back. He swang at her immediately after, and on instinct, she punched him right in the nose.
He fell to the ground, holding his nose, which appeared to be bleeding. Well, the others are not going to be happy with her. She was expecting him to start crying, but she was pleasantly surprised when he looked up at her with a grin, blood running down his face. He launched himself at her and tackled her, making her drop her sword. He must have been focusing on the sword before because he was much faster without it.
They rolled on the ground for a bit before she kicked him off her. He came at her again, this time trying to scratch her. His nails appeared to be claws. She twisted him around so his back was to her. He ended up cutting her arm between her armor while she was attempting to put him in a headlock. Maybe she would have to give elves more credit if all their children reacted like this. She finally was able to get him a headlock, but he was thrashing against her like a wild animal.
"What the hells is going on?"
Both froze and then Lae'zel realized the position she was in. Danny was bleeding, and she had him in what probably looked like a chokehold. It probably looked like she was trying to maim or kill him. She quickly released him. Shadowheart pulled out her mace. How does she explain this?
Immediately, Danny started to laugh. "That was fun! I haven't been able to wrestle with someone since I accidentally gave Tucker a black eye."
Shadowheart relaxed when she heard him laugh and put away her mace. She walked over to Danny and started healing his nose.
"That's not how you roughhouse with children, especially after they were just resurrected! You shouldn't be roughhousing with them at all!"
Lae'zel was still shocked by how feral the child was and didn't say anything. She could only think that it was a shame someone that beautiful was this annoying and domineering. He was fine besides his nose. Shadowheart spent the rest of the short wait for the others to return, lecturing her and Danny.
There was a chance that Danny was more useful than he looked. After all, he was able to hurt her. Maybe with proper training and weapons, he could fight. She will keep sparring with him to find out.
Walking past Astarion, she turned to him and announced. "I approve of your chosen son."
He gave her a face, but she kept walking to her tent. She started to dig through her weapons, trying to find one better suited for Danny.
