DORIAN PUSHED HIMSELF into training the next day.
And the next.
And by the time the week was over, Hagen had joined them in the training ring. Hagen, being the beast he was, made pushing the massive boulders they had in the stadium look easy. When Dorian tried it, he fell flat into the mud.
Hagen grinned and offered him a hand. "You should see Nadir trying to push it," he said as Dorian got to his feet.
Dorian brushed off the excess dirt from his pants. "I wasn't aware the Commander came to visit."
"He and Draven would travel upriver with supplies— we'll work up to that one—“ he gave Dorian a nod to the smaller boulders instead “—try those. You're moving them across to a pile," he told him. Dorian nodded and did as Hagen instructed. He struggled with the rocks but gritted his teeth and didn't complain.
"Nadir is made for the water," Hagen said, continuing the conversation as he stood back and watched Dorian. "He's strong, but speed is more his style. You should see he and I battling."
"Did the three of you do a lot together?" Corbin asked as he, too, stood back and watched the Prince.
"We did," Hagen replied. "Draven and I used to race with those boulders," he said, pointing to the two largest boulders in the stadium. "Crowds would come to watch when he was here. Naddi was such an ass. He'd stand atop them and jump back and forth, showing off his balance and shouting taunts for us to move faster. Clapped in our faces. Bastard."
Dorian threw down the third boulder and straightened, his abs already spasming as he rested his hands on his narrow hips. He could see the fond smile threatening Hagen's lips. "Why do I get the feeling Draven was the mediator between you and Nadir," Dorian teased.
Hagen looked like he might grin. "Keep tossing, Prince," he ordered.
Dorian nodded shortly and started working again.
"You're right— other shoulder—“ Hagen said once Dorian had picked up another. Dorian shifted it as he said, the left side a little weaker than the right.
"Draven was usually the best at everything. It left Naddi and I to constantly battle for second."
"Sounds like a grand time," Corbin said.
Hagen pressed his hand to the back of his neck, and Dorian saw a sadness stretch over his features. "It certainly was," he said in a soft tone.
Dorian tuned the pair out as he fought the cave of his muscles. The boulders got heavier with every walk, and with the last one, he threw it to the top of the pile and fell to his knees. Hagen helped him from the ground, asking if he wanted a break, but Dorian shook his head and started moving the boulders back.
For the next three days, Hagen met them in the stadium and helped Dorian get stronger. He still wouldn't tell Dorian what he would be up against in the trial.
The day before the trial, Hagen insisted that Dorian let his muscles relax.
But Dorian, being him, refused and instead went to the stadium on his own while Corbin and Reverie chatted with the traders that came through. He was honestly starting to worry about his sister. He'd heard nothing from the Umber nor anything from Bala. He took out his frustrations on tossing the boulders that day instead of walking them.
Despite the snow falling, Dorian didn't bother pushing on the fur cloak to walk back to the Temple when he finally retired himself late in the afternoon. He passed a few women along the way, and as the Blackhands seemed to be warming up to him, he felt no awkwardness in returning the leer they smiled at him with.
Perhaps after the next day's trial, he would be accepted enough to walk his way into their beds.
Reverie was waiting for him outside the Temple, arms crossed over her chest as the wind blew her bangs off her face.
"I see you're making friends," she said, her eyes darting to the women who had walked by. "Should I think they're noting you because they watched you practice or because they think their giver favors you?"
A smirk flashed on his lips, but he didn't stop walking upon pushing past her. "Jealousy suits you, Rev," he uttered, pressing the door open.
"Keep dreaming," she mumbled as she followed him.
Dorian almost laughed. "Says the Dreamer," he leered with a wink over his shoulder. "Tell me, woman. What did you find out?"
They reached the steps, and she followed him upstairs. "Nothing," she said shortly. "Nothing at all. And they were very suspicious about it. I don't trust them."
"Is there anyone you trust?" he asked.
"I trust you. And Corbin," she admitted.
