‘You’re distracted,’ Arawn said, on another night inside the training room.
Their routine was now something she’d begun to look forward to.
Not because of the training – gods, she stillhatedthat – but because he’d quickly become a true friend. Someone she could be herself with, no matter how bad her attitude, nor how much she smelled like a raphon.
‘Because your brother still hasn’t shown to check up on my progress with Six.’
She yelped and lifted her wooden sword as he advanced.
‘And that’s a problem,why?’ Arawn asked.
Gods, he was strong, even though she knew he was holding back.
‘Because he doesn’t even care to see me!’ Ezer growled, then lunged forward. ‘He has no clue about the work I have done with Six.’
He tripped her with his sword, then caught her before her face could slam against the floor.
‘As much as I do not wish to defend my brother’s honor,’ Arawn said with a sigh as he set her back upright, ‘he has good reason to be absent. Give him time.’
‘And what reason could be as good as ensuring his Raphonminder isn’tdead?It’s been two weeks.’
She whirled and avoided another hit, proud of herself …
Until the tip of his sword hovered just beyond her throat.
She growled in frustration, sweat dripping down her temples.
His hand slipped into his pocket, where he always kept his speaking stone.
Have you considered that maybe he trusts you to do your job? Maybe he’s allowing you the space you need to succeed on your own?A smirk, and he added,You’re dead, by the way.
I can see that, Ezer thought back as she gripped her own speaking stone.I do not like to be kept waiting. I do not like to be ignored. The gods have done that plenty, when it comes to me.
He frowned.He’ll return soon enough. And … it also sounds like your heart still isn’t right.
My heart?She released her stone to wipe sweat from her eyes, and spoke aloud next, needing him to understand. ‘My heart isfine.I’m just not a warrior, Arawn. I’m a Minder. Hence, I do thingswith my mind,and not a godsdamned sword. Certainly not with magic, for how many nights I’ve tried. What’s the point of this anyway, if I’m only to ready Six to fly with a rider and not go across myself …?’
His face gave nothing away. ‘The point is that you’re a Sacred. It is your birthright to learn. And the gods, much like my brother, are on their own timetable. Sometimes it is to our benefit to wait.’
She tried to strike him in the chest … but he easily batted her sword to the floor.
‘Lose your weapon and die,’ Arawn said gently. ‘Pick it up. Try again but remember to keep your arms strong. Mean it, Minder, when you strike to kill.’
‘I wasn’t striking to kill,’ Ezer said sweetly. ‘I was striking to piss you off.’
He lunged for her, faster than she could evade.
‘You must have clarity of mind –’ he struck, she failed to block – ‘and heart –’ another blow landed to her chest – ‘each time you invocate.’
His body slammed against hers, and she hit the ground with awhooshof breath, and then he was standing over her, with his sword poised just over her heart.
‘Dead.Again.’ He frowned. ‘What will you do when a darksoul or a shadow wolf comes for you? If you cannot invocatenow,how will you do it when your life is in mortal danger?’
She winced, remembering the fit she’d had earlier that evening, when she’d lostallclarity of mind and thrown the candle in frustration. The wind wouldnotcome to her call, despite how well she’d learned to invocate the request to Avane.
Her attempts at wielding were more like …
Furious desperation.
