Eda followed, trying to hide the slight limp as her leg throbbed. There was no way she would admit to being injured on her first day of training.
‘That was impressive,’ Hadewaye said, falling into step with her. ‘No one normally lasts that long against him.’
She glanced sideways at the round-faced recruit. He was short and well built, with kind eyes. Younger than her judging by his distinct lack of facial hair. ‘Thanks.’
They joined the others, watching the demonstration. Eda took mental notes for next time. She also took the opportunity to size up the other recruits. Alveye looked to be around the same age as Hadewaye, but a slimmer build. He had red hair and matching freckles that covered his face and hands. Tollere was the only one among them who really stood out as having come from a noble household. His speech was stiff, while the others had relaxed into a less formal way of communicating. He stood sniffing the whole time Roul was speaking, until Blackmane eventually shoved him to make him stop.
Blackmane.
There was no way Blackmane had come from the noble borough. It was evident in his speech, his stance, his alertness. The enormous chip on his shoulder. Eda did not know if he was in a bad mood that morning or if that was how he was normally. His black hair was swept to one side, falling over one eye. She was surprised Roul had not made him cut it. His jaw was sharp and his stare penetrating. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest, scowling. The scowl deepened when he spotted Eda staring at him.
She immediately looked away.
‘We’ll be heading to the butts for archery,’ Roul was saying. ‘Collect the weapons and take them to the armoury and get yourself a bow.’
Archery she could do. If he had told her to do a three-mile run, she would have probably cried—inwardly, of course.
Eda held back, wanting to walk behind everyone so they would not see her limp. But Roul also waited behind, eyes on her.
‘Problem?’ he asked.
‘No, Commander.’
‘Then catch up to the others.’
She began walking, concentrating so her steps were even. But they must have been too careful, because Roul called to her, ‘You’re injured.’
‘I’m fine.’
He caught her arm, pulling her to a stop. ‘Go to the port. Legs in the water for a half hour. If you can walk properly after that, you can come back. If not, go home. We don’t train injured soldiers.’
She let out an exasperated breath. ‘I just told you I’m fine.’
‘We don’t train liars either.’
She searched his eyes. ‘If I leave, I look weak.’
‘I don’t care how you look. I care how you perform. Go.’ He walked away before she had a chance to argue.
Eda watched his back for a moment, then, throwing her hands up, went to retrieve her cloak.
CHAPTER7
When training finished for the day, the exhausted recruits announced they were going to the port borough for an ale. Roul decided to join them, because he wanted to check if Eda was still down at the water. She had not returned to training, which meant the so-called “cramp” in her leg had not subsided.
The port was quiet that afternoon. There were no supply ships moored to the dock, only a handful of fishermen dragging empty nets from the water. As the recruits filed into the tavern, Roul spotted Eda seated alone on the beach.
‘I’ll meet you inside,’ he told the others before making his way over to her.
She sat with her legs stretched out and feet crossed at the ankles, staring out at the water. Her trousers were rolled up, ivory calves dusted with grainy sand. Her boots were next to her, woollen socks stuffed into them.
Dropping down onto the sand beside her, Roul drew up his knees and rested his arms upon them. He had a profile view of that pretty nose of hers. He really did not want to be around the first time it broke.
Whenever the pair sparred, he always took care not to hurt her. The recruits, on the other hand, would do whatever they needed to in order to advance. Roul had broken many noses in his time. One became immune to the pain of others after a while. Seeing Eda in pain was another matter. When that shield had crashed into her leg, he had felt it like it had collided with his own. It was the reason he had ended the fight—whether he cared to admit it or not.
She glanced in his direction, her eyebrows knitted together in annoyance. ‘You and Harlan did me no favours by holding back when we sparred.’
‘Did you honestly expect us to knock you unconscious to show you the way of things?’ His gaze fell to her purple knee. ‘I gather the cold water wasn’t the miracle cure we had hoped.’
