“Apologies,” he said with a faint nod. “I assumed my message was passed on to you. I had told the young man who brought me here that I wished to receive combat training. My name is?—”
“Leomund of Seven Stars, I know. That much did get passed on.” The poor page had probably forgotten the rest when he’d seen me as I was. And with everything else that had happened today, I couldn’t help but laugh, a good long hearty guffaw. This twig of a man wanted combat training? I’d break him in half if I went against him.
He was a dandy, who clearly didn’t know one end of a sword from the other. He wasn’t worth my time… but… I suddenly had a great idea.
I grinned. “I’ve got just the person you should see.”
CHAPTER 4
Leonin
I leftthe Dragoon’s compound feeling a little shaken. I’d heard of the infamous Kelric Drakoson — even seen him across large banquet halls from time to time — but hadn’t expected him to be quite so imposing andfilthyup close.
He wasn’t taller than me, but somehow in that heavy armor of his, he’d seemed to loom over me. It was not something I was used to. Hopefully this Sera he was sending me to see would be a bit more of a pleasant sight. I was uncertain about taking combat lessons from a woman but given what I’d gone through so far… that might be my only option.
The trouble was my name. And it wasn’t the name I’d given Kelric: Leomund of Seven Stars. My true name was Prince Leonin Pearlece.
I’d had to use the pseudonym with Kelric since he worked for my family. He’d know that we princes had royal combat trainers. He’d also know that training me would be a huge liability for him and have refused instantly… as had everyone else I’d talked to.
Yet, since we’d never formally met, I’d hoped to convince him I wasn’t a royal, but from a high noble family. The Seven Stars family was well respected, but still, Kelric hadn’t wished to take me on. And he’d been my last hope… until he’d given me another name: Sera.
As for why I needed an instructor… it had all begun six years ago, when I’d married Lady Theodora of Vestrea.
I sighed heavily. She had been a good woman. I had come to respect her, even if I hadn’t loved her. But ourverypolitical marriage had started a war. Vestrea had been a province of Eromore, a neighboring kingdom to the north, and the marriage hadn’t been sanctioned by the Eromorn King. Which meant, Pearlia had subtly annexed the province and Eromore had gone to war to retake it.
Many had died because of our marriage, but Theodora had always remained certain and sure that our marriage had been the correct course for her and her nation. She firmly believed that Vestrea belonged with Pearlia, not Eromore. She’d had a warrior’s heart, stalwart in her faith and the justness of her cause. It had inspired me.
I’d always loved books more than blades. I’d been taught weapons, as had all the royal children, but I’d had no talent for it. I’d often skipped weapons training to sneak off to the library and delve into the ancient tales of gods and heroes.
I’d much preferred reading about battle to fighting, but Theodora’s fierce nature had started to sway me.
Then she’d died in childbirth two years into our marriage. The baby hadn’t survived either. I’d vowed to her, on her deathbed, I’d become a man worthy of her warrior’s spirit.
Her death had also meant the end of the war, since the Pearlian claim over Vestrea had vanished. An armistice had been called. Pearlia had come away with the city of Vestrea — almost completely destroyed by the war — and some surroundingcountryside, which made up the southern-most portion of the province. The rest of the province had returned to Eromore.
I’d mourned Theodora for a year, as was right. After that my mother, the Queen, had come to me and told me, in no uncertain terms, I’d be joining the priesthood. An unmarried son was no use to her and she could see how I had no desire to marry again. The first marriage had caused enough trouble.
It had seemed a reasonable course for me, given my more studious nature, but I couldn’t fulfil my vow to Theodora in the priesthood.
Yet my vow didn’t change that I’d always been poor at combat. What it changed was my dedication to learn, to grow, no matter what it took. I rededicated myself and my life to the study of weapons.
But when my mother had found out I’d been seeking combat training, she’d banned all the palace trainers and guards from working with me. She remained adamant I should enter the priesthood.
Thus began a very long quest to find a teacher. Yet, I was too well known. No mercenary captain or guard captain of another noble house would risk training me. If they accidentally hurt me, they’d be in deep trouble with my mother. I’d spent three years sneaking out of the palace when I could, feigning some interest in the priesthood for my mother, all the while seeking a combat instructor.
Kelric had been my last hope.
Now, this Sera was my last hope.
I found her home and stopped at the side of the road to admire it. It seemed a pleasant place, indicating a certain level of wealth. A long front lawn stretched from the road to the small cottage. A low, rough stone wall separated it from the next plot on the one side. The laneway, guarded by two straight lines of trees on either side of it, stretched down the other side of thelawns. Behind the cottage there were some other buildings and what looked like some gardens and small bits of forested areas. It looked quaint and lovely.
I grew increasingly curious about the warrior-woman who lived here. Was she some minor noblewoman who’d learned swordplay, or perhaps a woman who’d worked her way up in the army until she’d earned enough to retire here?
Was she older?
Was she?—?
“Can I help you?”
