Chapter 14

• When I stepped into the practice room that looked was more the size of a coliseum, I stood there trying to take it all in. This is what heaven looked like to me. It was a gym, with all the usual equipment in it, large mats and all the necessary items. Except the wall on the far side was medieval meets guns and ammo—all types of weapons hung on it.
• Chase brushed past me, chuckling and headed over to the wall. When he reached it, he looked back and studied me. Turning, he moved past the guns and went to the wall with blades, knives and batons hanging on it. Picking up a long thin sword, he turned and looked me up and down again and then shook his head and placed it back in the holder. Moving his hand over the wall as if the right weapon would speak to him, he paused with his hand over what looked like a police baton. Grinning at me over his shoulder he pulled it down and turned to watch me walk toward him. He waved it around, spinning it and showing it off. I shrugged; having one like it at home it was at least familiar to me. When he bent the handle, a four-inch blade popped out the end and I know my jaw hit the floor.
• Wiping the imaginary drool off my chin, I held my hand out like a child would in a toy store, wanting to touch it. Retracting the blade, he tossed it to me while I was still five feet away. I caught it with ease and turned it over in my hands. The total length when held by the small handle to the side was no longer than my forearm. Reaching behind me, I measured it against the length of my spine. It was perfect.