‘You have to work that clumsiness out of them,’ she heard Shapur say to Roul. ‘And send Tollere home. He doesn’t have what it takes.’
Roul shifted his weight. ‘He’s a fine shooter, sir.’
‘Shall we inform our enemy of that when they arrive with the wrong weapon?’ Shapur replied, staring him down. ‘I want him gone.’
Eda looked over to where Tollere was lying on the ground clutching his chin, blood seeping between his fingers. His parents would be humiliated by his dismissal, and he would carry their shame for the rest of his life no matter what came of him.
‘Tollere,’ Roul called. ‘Collect your weapons and go clean yourself up. I’ll come find you when we’re done.’
Everyone stilled and lowered their weapons as Tollere rose to his feet and looked around.
‘Just me, Commander?’ he asked.
Roul nodded. ‘Just you.’
Tollere picked up his sword and shield and walked off in the direction of the barracks, head hanging down to his chest.
‘Did I tell the rest of you to stop?’ Roul shouted. ‘Tatum, you can join Blackmane and Hadewaye.’
Tatum nodded and walked over to them.
Needless to say, everyone else fought their best fight for the remainder of the time Shapur Wright stood there. That sparring session continued for another thirty minutes, each of them giving everything they had. It was the longest thirty minutes of Eda’s life.
When the warden did finally leave the training yard, they all dropped their weapons and collapsed to the ground before Roul had even spoken the words ‘Weapons down’. Tatum and Hadewaye lay on their backs, hands over their faces. Blackmane sat with his knees pulled up and forehead resting on one arm. Alveye emptied his stomach, and Eda tried very hard not to.
‘I may never rise again,’ Alveye said quietly, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
‘Let’s get you cooled down,’ Roul said. ‘On your feet.’
Eda pressed her eyes shut as the training yard spun around her, then prayed to any listening god that her legs would hold.
Get up.
‘Let’s go!’ Roul shouted.
Blackmane was first up, but he immediately doubled over and threw up on the grass. Eda rose on shaky legs and looked around at the others. Hadewaye was on his hands and knees. She walked over to him and used what little strength she had left to pull him to his feet.
Roul gestured to the port gate. ‘We’ll finish with a swim.’
The group walked like newborn foals all the way down to the beach. As tempting as it was to fall down on the sand, Eda remained standing as she waited for instructions.
‘To the end of the dock and back. Then you can return to the barracks,’ Roul said, looking around at the group. ‘Last one to step foot on the sand swims again. Off you go.’
This was what he did. They were all at their limit, and now he would push them past it. She told herself that a swim in the ocean would be refreshing. It would help with the muscle soreness they would all feel the next day.
Everyone began stripping. No one blinked when Eda did the same, because they no longer saw her as different. Only Roul glanced in her direction, eyeing the colourful bruises that covered her calves. She saw him swallow.
They all waded into the water, and Eda went from boiling hot to shivering within seconds. When she was waist deep, she dove under and began swimming. She was second to reach the end of the dock behind Tatum, followed by Hadewaye, Alveye, then Blackmane. When she looked over her shoulder on the return swim, she saw Blackmane was fading fast, falling farther and farther behind. She should have kept her eyes forwards. Someone had to be last. Someone had to do the second swim—and it could not have happened to a nicer person.
With a resigned breath, Eda slowed. Hadewaye passed her. Then Alveye passed her. She was all but treading water as she neared the beach, willing Blackmane to hurry up. Their eyes met as he swam by, all pale-faced and barely able to lift his arms above his head. The men crawled up onto the beach, panting. Blackmane’s dark eyes narrowed on Eda, his body trembling.
‘You shouldn’t have done that.’ He sounded spent. ‘I won’t be returning the favour.’
Eda licked salt water from her lips and pushed off the sand to begin her second swim. ‘Oh, I know.’
This time she moved at half the speed. By the time she was done, she could not even make it to the dry sand, instead lying like a beached whale with waves crashing over her legs. She could see by Roul’s stance and rigid expression that he was angry, but not angry enough to leave her there.
He marched into the sea and pulled her to her feet. ‘Enjoy your extra-long swim, soldier?’ He hooked one of her arms around his neck and walked her to the pile of clothes sitting on the beach.
