“I know you want to find the forge and the ships,” I said. “But I also want to free every single prisoner and crush that mine into rock and stardust.”
Aiden’s green eyes warmed, and a smile curved through his dark beard. “Now,thatis the best idea I’ve heard in years.”
After a surprisingly dreamless sleep,Nikella woke me for training.
My eyes still burned after all the crying. I drained several cups of water and shoved some dried deer meat into my mouth before running after Nikella.
The sun had crested over the wet trees, their needles glistening with frost like crystals. Several older children tended the horses in their paddock.
Nikella faced me in the middle of the damp meadow, her expression impassive. She didn’t mention my appearance or the events of last night. But her jaw was tight. Probably because of what Ruru said about Renwell arresting Librius.
After an hour of making me stretch my muscles and run circles around the busy clearing, she handed me a wooden staff, similar in length to her steel spear.
I lifted my eyebrows. “I thought you wanted to teach me physical combat.”
“Not today.”
She whipped her double-ended spear in a set of dizzying movements. The metal whistled in the cold air. She ended with a lunging strike that would’ve impaled three men.
Fucking Four, who was she imagining on the other end of her spear?
“That’s what you’re aiming for,” she said, barely out of breath. “Here’s where you start.”
She slowed the movements down and led me through each one at a snail’s pace.
I’d nearly memorized the pattern when a happy shout reached us.
I smiled as Ruru jogged over to us, looking much better than he had last night.
“Aiden said you were out here.” His eyes widened, and he pointed at my shoulders. “Did you know you’re steaming like a cooked fish?”
I shrugged, feeling the layer of sweat under my long-sleeved shirt. “Keeps me warm.”
Ruru grinned. “Can I join you?” He looked at Nikella for approval.
She jerked her chin toward camp. “Get a staff from Frieda.”
Ruru raced off, then joined us again, carrying a staff like mine. Nikella led him through the same movements while I practiced nearby.
We didn’t speak much, but gods, it felt good to be with Ruru again. After the emotional turmoil of last night, his sweet, uncomplicated friendship was what I needed.
After my arms began to feel like warm dough, Nikella declared that was enough for today.
She strode off without another word, her spear gleaming like a streak of lightning.
I collapsed into the wet grass, not caring if the bits of snow still clinging to the blades soaked through my pants.
Ruru dropped next to me with a huff. “Fucking Four, I always wanted to train to be a warrior, but that’s brutal.”
I laughed. “Now you just need to do it a thousand more times, and you’ll be a true warrior.”
“We both will,” he declared. “Although, I guess you had years of training before this.”
I ducked my head, staring at my scarred hands. Renwell’s voice rattled around in the back of my mind, taunting me, insulting me, telling me not to be weak.
“I had some training, yes,” I said quietly. “But not the kind I’d want to continue.”
Ruru nodded, then elbowed me in the side. “Think you could keep teaching me how to throw knives? I was getting pretty good before... before everything happened.”
