The door burst open, bright light and fresh air spilling around Nyah’s silhouette. Something was wrong. She ran to the table, her arms gesturing for us to stand. “If your baby sitters come in the shape of four monstrous guards each decked out with swords the length of my arm, then they are right around the corner heading this way.”
We didn’t need to be told twice. I swiped the cloth from the table and stuffed it back into my pocket. Hadrian called for Nyah to follow and he pulled on my hand. I maneuvered around chairs and tables while he led us towards a shadowed door at the back of the tavern. The barmaid screamed after us, her voice raging with anger. Tables were knocked over in our haste. Once we reached the door, Hadrian kicked it open. His boot smashed into its weak wood frame and sent it crashing into the stone wall of the alley.
The narrow pathway that greeted us was lined with rotting food and sacks of steaming waste. I lifted my empty hand to cover my nose and mouth, but it didn’t help shield me from the rancid smell.
Hadrian still held a firm grip on my hand. He stepped over piles of rubbish, avoiding mysterious looking puddles as we ran down the alleyway. Nyah’s muffled complaints trailed behind, swearing under her breath.
“I need to get back to the Palace,” Hadrian said.
The alleyway came to an end. We stopped before the crossroad, Hadrian peering around the corner, checking each side before turning back to me.
“I would like to carry on our conversation later. I shall send someone to collect you for dinner.”
“How romantic.” Nyah chuckled, coming to a stop behind us. “Since we are all friends, am I invited?”
“Not this time.” His reply was short, he still looked at me intensely as he spoke. “We still have a lot to discuss. Try and keep your head down.”
“I will.”
“Time to split up,” Hadrian said, dropping my hand. “Nyah, it has been a … well, interesting.” He nodded to her and she smiled.
“Petal…” He reached for my aching hand and pulled it to his mouth. His warm lips against the back of my hand sent a blush to race up the back of my neck. “Remember, keeping secrets is something I have perfected.”
He lifted the heavy cloak hood and covered his head, shadowing his face. A glint of metal flashed at his side beneath his cloak as he straightened it. A dagger.
I didn’t look away from Hadrian until he turned a corner and disappeared from view.
Nyah placed a hand on my shoulder. “We should get back, I still want to sign up to join the military even if it is only for the gold bands that are rumoured to being given out.”
“Go without me,” I replied, “Until this is figured out, I’m not joining.”
MY ARMS BURNED and my lungs screamed for more air. Shallow cuts laced most of my exposed skin, a result of Nyah’s advances. It was her choice to fight with metal rather than wood during training, a decision I wasn’t comfortable with.
I lifted a hand and swiped a trail of sweat from beneath my hairline, smudging blood amongst my sticky forehead. The salt from my sweat stung my open wounds, like needles driving into my skin.
Despite the bruises and cuts, I was thankful that my mind was only occupied on my next move and how to balance the sword. I didn’t bring up the mornings events and neither did Nyah. The only time it was mentioned was when she found me in the throne room, a gold band wrapped around her forearm.
I was getting used to the way she moved. I’d focused hard on memorizing her steps just like I would do with the constellations during hunting season, marking each one. It had worked at first, but as soon as my energy dwindled I began to fall behind.
Sparks burst beneath my sword when I slammed into the gold band on her wrist. She stumbled backwards, yelping. It only took her a second to regain her composure before she ran at me, sword drawn above. She brought it down on mine knocking it from my grasp.
I was empty handed.
I extended my claws, exchanging one weapon for another. It was the first time she would see me using them.
A loud clap sounded as I stopped her next volley with my open palms. I closed my metal hands into fists around the tip of her sword and yanked it down to the floor.
Once. Twice. On the third time, it came free from her hands.
“Ha!” I shouted, throwing it behind me into the shadows of the room.
Nyah cocked her head to the side and smiled. “Careful now, don’t get ahead of yourself.” She sprang forward like a cat, her movements animalistic and rushed.
She unsheathed a dagger, but my ears didn’t pick the movement up. It sang through the air, and she sliced it at my chest. I dodged to the left, but it caught my shoulder. Shit.
“Meet Clarisa…” Nyah sang, bouncing from one foot to the other, her dagger held before her. “I was glad to see she was still there when I finally picked my weapon. Thanks for the suggestion, she is pretty…useful.”
“You seriously named your dagger?” I asked, not taking my eyes off her face. I wouldn’t give her a moment to move without me seeing.
“Yup, just like the great warriors in my books, I named it.”
She jumped forward and kicked at my shins. I gave way to the attack and fell against my will to my knees.
When I looked up, Clarisa was pressed against my throat.
“I win,” Nyah said, her emerald eyes pleased.
I laughed. “Are you sure?” I looked away from her for a moment, enough for her to follow my gaze. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Nyah.”
My claws were pressed into her inner thigh, inches from ripping one of her main veins open.
***
“HERE…” NYAH PASSED a vial of water she’d collected from the well in the room down the corridor. “I know there’s no point suggesting for you to see Healer Browlin.”
I popped the cork, and tipped the glowing blue water onto my arms and neck. My wounds began to fade, skin knitting together in a flush of fresh pink. “Great session today. I could get used to besting you,” I said.
Nyah laughed, “Well don’t get used to it, you have a long way to go till you can beat me without relying on luck.”
“You know. I’ve never believed in luck. Only skill.”
“Sure!” Nyah rolled her eyes with a smirk. “Skill. Don’t get to cocksure, it won’t do your ego much good the next time you’re sprawled on the floor with a dagger to your throat.”
I threw the empty vile at her, but she caught it with speed.
“Watch it…” She snorted, wiggling her freckled nose. “We should think about getting back. You look like shit. I suggest washing before your little meal with Princey tonight.”
I had forgotten about the dinner as well as everything else during our sparring. “It’s odd, but I’m actually looking forward to it.” It wasn’t just the possibility for answers that excited me.
“I know you are. You’re burning with excitement right now, it’s all around you.” Nyah patted my shoulder and passed me.
I blushed, and I could tell Nyah didn’t miss it. “Is that some creepy empath thing?”
“Yes. Although you don’t need to have my power to see you’re excited. It’s written all over your face,” Nyah replied, “Whatever happens tonight, I expect a full debrief in the kitchens in the morning.”
“I won’t be in the kitchens tomorrow. King Dalior has relieved me of the work.”
“Well, aren’t you a lucky one.”