"You know I can't." My breath hitches. "You know he doesn't want this."
"My brother has a lot of secrets that keep him trapped in his own darkness. You might be the one who can help him into the light. Don't give up on him just yet."
I nod and push away unhappy thoughts as I swing my sword, practicing the moves Fen has drilled into me over weeks of training. I have muscles where none existed before, at least none you could see. I even have abs. I'm quite impressed with myself, to be honest.
"What's its name?" Daison asks.
"What?"
"Your sword. Every proper sword needs a name. What will you call yours?"
I raise the blade, admiring the swirls and eagles etched into the steel. "Spero. It means hope."
"Fitting," says Kayla.
Daison shrugs. "I would have gone with Dragonslayer or Heartbreaker personally."
I sheathe Spero and sigh. "Do you mind if I beg off today?"
Kayla laughs. "Let me guess, you want to show your sword off to Fen?"
I blush. I'm too easy to read. "Yeah. Basically."
She shoves me out of the smithy. "Go. Show off. You deserve it. But I'll expect you back here tomorrow ready to work."
I salute her in mock seriousness. "Yes, ma'am."
She rolls her eyes at me. "Cheeky girl. Get gone."
I walk quickly back to the castle, enjoying the weight of steel at my hip. I feel like a kid at Christmas and can't wait to share my excitement with Fen.
He's in the training arena talking to his soldiers when I approach.
His eyes fall to my hip, and he raises that one sexy eyebrow with the scar. The soldiers leave us, and he walks to me. "It is finished?"
"Yes!" I draw Spero and hand it to him to examine.
He studies the design, then raises the blade and considers its weight and balance before handing it back to me. "You did well. It's a perfect fit for you. Are you ready to begin training with real steel now?"
I nod.
He grins. "Very well. Prepare yourself." He pulls out his sword, and our blades clash together as he takes me through one of our sparring forms.
I can feel the difference in using a real sword versus wood, and I know I'm going to need to get even stronger to be a decent fighter. Working in the forge has helped build muscle, but I need more stamina then I have. I know I have untapped potential in me. I just need to push harder.
I'm sweating hard when a messenger runs at us, as if being chased by lions. "Prince Fenris! You must help! The Fae. They're at the walls."
My heart drops into my gut. I freeze, but not Fen. He's already shouting commands, rallying troops.
He turns to me and grips my arms so hard they will bruise. "Get into the castle and barricade yourself until I come back. I'm sending Roco and Marco with you for protection."
"No, Fen. I'm not going to hide when people in Stonehill need help. I'll find Kayla. We can evacuate the city while you and your soldiers fight off the attack."
He frowns. "You are too important to risk."
"I'm not a piece of property, and I'm not a political prop to use when it suits you," I argue. "I make my own choices."
"I could have you locked in your room until I return." He looks serious, and I can tell he's worried.
"Fen, listen to me carefully. If you lock me away, the consequences will not easily be undone."
He places a hand on my shoulder. "And if you die or get hurt, those consequences will undo me. Do not die, Princess."
"I won't."
He finally nods. "Fine, but stay within the city walls. There's a secret way out through the mountains. Kayla will know where it is. Get them out and get to safety. I'll find you."
I consider whether I should use my horse or just run, and I decide on running. Kayla's forge isn't that far away, and I won't have time to deal with my horse.
Heavy snow falls from the sky. It crunches under my feet as I retrace the steps I took just a few hours ago.
My mind is focused as I approach the center of the city. Fen's soldiers take formation at the gates and archers line the walls. I run to Kayla's forge and fill her in on what's happening. She looks at Daison, who has dropped his tongs. "Ring the bell and alert the people," Kayla says. "We need to get everyone out."
When he's gone, she pulls a leather bag from her counter and begins filling it with bandages, vials and jars she keeps on a shelf in case of injury. "Hand me that one over there," she says, pointing to a jar filled with brown sludge on the shelf behind me. I hand it to her.
"We must hurry," she says. "Go help Daison round up the people. We must lead them through the mountain pass quickly. There is a storm brewing tonight. If we aren't fast enough, we will be snowed in." She shoves the bag at me as she fills another one. "Keep this with you, just in case."
I take it from her. "I'm on it!" I run out and find Daison.
He rings the city bell and yells for people to hurry. "We haven't much time. Raiders are coming!"