“Don’t test me in front of my men,” he growled, his voice low and laced with fury. Not giving her a chance to respond, he turned and entered the garrison.
Oh, he did not just walk away from her all high and mighty. She stormed after him. How dare he act so egotistical when he was the one who allowed the boy to bleed to death? And then he hurt her for trying to help. She would knock some sense into him.
Passing under the archway, she entered a dark hall that led to a large, open training room. A hand latched onto the back of her neck, shoving her against the wall.
Kerdan’s angry face loomed before her. “This is my domain, my men. You will stand down.” He released her but remained towering above her, making her feel small and insignificant.
“Do not order me around,” she snarled.
“Sometimes I wonder why I bother. Would you rather be in the dungeon? Or in Soma’s filthy hands?” He was so close she could smell a hint of horse and sweat hanging on his clothes.
“I would rather not be here at all.”
“But you are.” He stepped back, putting a foot of space between them. “Shut your mouth and observe your surroundings. And whatever you do, do not challenge or question my authority in front of my men. Deal?”
She nodded, realizing she had pushed him too hard. He had warned her ahead of time that he had a reputation to uphold. Her actions jeopardized that. Plus, she needed to speak to Odar, and, right now, Kerdan was her best chance of making that happen. As far as trusting him or having any sort of understanding between the two of them, well, she couldn’t work with someone so cruel and heartless.
“Try to blend in.” He turned and strode into the training room. A group of men were sparring with one another using wooden practice swords. When Kerdan approached the sweaty men, they stopped and bowed.
The prince gestured for them to resume practicing. Hovering along the edge of the room, Allyssa observed them. They appeared to be in their late teens or early twenties. Definitely younger than most of the soldiers and sentries she’d seen in the castle. They smiled and joked with one another while sparring, at ease before their captain and prince. None of these soldiers wore black paint on their faces. Interesting. And there was something else…these men weren’t as cold and harsh as the other Russek soldiers she’d previously encountered. They offered one another advice, and if someone went down, his partner helped him to his feet. They maintained a friendly banter with one another.
After a few moments, the prince came and stood next to her. “What do you think of my men?” He folded his arms, watching them.
How long had they been under his command? How old was Kerdan? Instead, she asked, “How many do you control?”
“Five thousand.”
The number of men in Russek’s army was astounding. She tried not to balk or appear impressed by this information. Instead, she watched them, mentally taking note of their strengths and weaknesses. While they weren’t as large and burly as other Russek soldiers, they did wield their swords with brute strength instead of precision and skill. However, when it came to hand-to-hand combat, they were exceptional. The key to winning a fight against these men would be to beat them at the blade. She didn’t want to ask Kerdan if Russek employed archers and tip him off. Emperion had some of the best shooters on the continent.
“I see you assessing them.” He rubbed his chin. “I took control of this company less than a year ago. With time, they will improve.” These men didn’t need to improve. They were lethal enough. “Do you want to spar against one of my men?”
She curled her fingers around her arms, hugging herself. While she wanted to spar to not only regain her strength but also to become better acquainted with her enemy, it would not be wise. She shook her head. Protecting Emperion was her number-one priority, and she didn’t want Kerdan or his men learning from her. Whatever knowledge she could gain from them meant they could equally obtain from her.
“You still don’t trust me, do you?” he asked.
“No. And I never will.”
“We live in a world where trust is given too freely. It makes us weak.” His focus remained on his men. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was talking about himself. “You shouldn’t trust anyone.”
“You mean I shouldn’t trust anyone in Russek?”
“No. You shouldn’t trust anyone—ever.” His face hardened, and she wanted to know what happened to him that made him this way.
She leaned against the wall, considering what he said. “I trust my parents, and I have several close friends who I trust.”
“Do you?” He peered down at her. “So, you don’t keep secrets from your friends? Your parents are always honest with you?” It felt as if he’d punched her heart. “That’s what I thought.” He looked away.
“I don’t want to live in a world where I can only trust myself.”
He chuckled. “You trust yourself? Even after the Jarvik and Odar mix-up?”
Allyssa wanted to slap him. Except…there was an element of truth in what he said. She had kept things from her friends. Grevik—her best friend—hadn’t known her identity. Marek, Mayra, and Madeline hadn’t known about Lilly. And her parents. She knew they were keeping something from her. They all had their secrets. But did secrets negate trust?
He shrugged. “If you’re not going to spar, then I am.” He slid off his jacket and grabbed a practice sword.
The prince’s men crowded around him, forming a loose circle. He pointed at one, and that man stepped into the ring, preparing to fight. Their wooden swords clashed. The muscles in Kerdan’s arms protruded as he held his sword high, keeping his opponent at bay. Then he attacked with lethal speed and efficiency. He was an excellent swordsman, but not as skilled as her father or Odar. However, what he lacked in technique, he made up for with his physical strength and prowess.
He knew she was watching him. What did he intend for her to see? He must have felt like he had something to prove. Bloody hell. Why was she standing there while the prince and his men were busy? The soldiers who had ridden here with them were nowhere to be seen. They must have remained outside the garrison. She slid along the wall toward the exit.
A soldier crept out of the shadows of the hallway, blocking the path. She froze. He pointed to his eyes and then at her. Allyssa cursed. Kerdan must have assigned the man to watch her. So much for trying to escape.
She turned her attention back to the prince. He sideswiped his opponent’s legs, and the man toppled to the ground, conceding the match. Kerdan reached down, helping him to his feet. Another soldier stepped forward. The prince removed his tunic, his undershirt dripping with sweat. The two began their dual.
“Faster,” he instructed. “Keep your focus on me so you don’t give away your next move.”