“Why do we pretend to do this in secret, Cal?”
“What do you mean?”
I give him an exasperated look, “you always have us meet in secluded areas away from Holis and Mana, even though I know they’ve seen us training more times than I can count. You speak in whispers whenever you reference these exercises, but I know they hear us too…”
Cal smiles and ducks his head to the side.
“So why do we continue to feign secrecy with them?”
“We don’t have to with the twins any longer,” he adjusts my arms, eyes darting to my planted feet and core, “this is good, Alex. Engrain this stance in your memory. Teach your body to remember this hold.”
“I will, but can you please answer my question?”
Cal sighs and runs a hand through his beard.
“Two reasons,” he nods quietly, “the first, and always remember this, Alex, is that there is nothing wrong with having your own secrets. The Old World doesn’t need to know your business and everything you do, nor should you let it. Second, and you know this as well as I… we train with green agate. I was unsure how comfortable Holis and Mana would feel being around that.”
“But Mana’s own kedge is made of the stone,” I frown, “Holis’ arrows, too.”
“You know there’s a difference when the stone is handled by a human.”
I sigh.
There is.
It’s another thousands year old rule that was placed on us mortals.
“I would advise that you keep this blade in your boot at all times, away from the prying eyes of the rest of our group. I’m not worried about the twins any longer, but we’ll continue to train in secret for this trip.”
I nod to my friend and glance down at the blade in my hand, feeling Golem’s gaze land on me from afar. He’s staring at the dagger as well, the only weapon in the Old World that can fatally wound him.
Desmond and Alanna walk into the stables right when I urge Millie out the doors. If either of them notice the small beads of sweat that line my hair or my disheveled clothing they say nothing and instead nod as I ride past them, ready to leave for the day.
“Your Golem was standing at the foot of your bed all night,” Alanna’s voice reaches me from behind as she moves her mare out of the stables and next to Millie.
“He’s not my Golem, he’s the King’s.”
I reach down to feel his jar safely tucked away in the bag at my hip.
“I woke up this morning expecting to greet his lovely face, but lo and behold you both were gone.”
I sigh and turn to the cool Discerni. “For someone whose people are known to have little to no interest in human life, you sure are perceptive of mine.”
Alanna smiles in amusement, “and for a human female from the Court of Knowledge, you sure aren’t as modest as your people would have us believe.”
I flush at the words.
“You don’t hide your fluorite,” she continues with a nod, “and you travel alone with three men, both humanandDiscerni. Three men who, mind you, look like they would go into battle for you. Not to mention that you dip away in secret at odd times in both the day and night. So tell me, sweet Knowledge, what do you get up to with those men when no one is looking? I bet you could tell tales that would make even a Warrior girl like me blush.”
What the fuck.
She’s watching me.
Us.
I don’t even dignify her with another glance.
“Like I said,” I shake my head, “perceptive.”
