“Enough,” calls a voice from somewhere behind me, and I was right. It is the king. “It’s a draw.”
I grit my teeth and tighten my grip. Malin doesn’t let up either. There was a clear point where this fight stopped being entirely friendly.
Suddenly, there’s an inch of give, and we tussle a little, but he’s too strong. Or maybe I am. We end up locked in place again, but we’re both practically panting from the effort.
Stars flicker in my blood, my magic ready and willing.
“I saidenough,” says Grey, and he’s closer. “Fall back.”
Fine.I let go of Malin’s armor and jerk free just as he does the same. The waiting magic flitters away into nothing. We sheathe our weapons, our breathing echoing in the arena. For a moment, we’re both a little agitated at the unfinished fight, but then Malin offers me his hand.
“Good match,” he says with a smile.
The aggression disappears from the air as easily as the magic did. I clasp his hand in return. “Good match.”
Grey glances between us. “Itwasa good match,” he says, and to my surprise, his voice is mild. “You’re well paired.”
Malin straightens. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
I don’t even look at the king. “You should have let us finish,” I say, and I sound petulant. I can practically hear Malin inwardly sigh.
“I would have,” Grey says. “But the Queen’s Guard needs the arena.”
Oh.
He continues, “Clear the space. Get some water. Tycho . . .”
I brace myself.
“When you’re ready,” he finishes, “come walk with me.”
Well, that sounds foreboding. I set my jaw and inhale through my teeth, because I’m readynow.
But Malin grabs my bracer and drags me toward the railing, and he even pulls me a cup of water from the ladle and bucket stationed there.
“Drink,” he says. “Cool off.”
He sounds like he means that in more than one way, and he’s probably right. I scowl and drink. Malin seems satisfied by my obedience, so he pulls himself a cup of water and turns to lean beside me. Half the Queen’s Guard have filtered into the arena to run drills of their own, but Nolla Verin, the queen’s sister, has followed them to talk to their captain.
I think of Callyn and Nora in the hallway, how Nora seemed so excited to be training with Verin, while Callyn . . . ?did not. It remindsme of Jax’s uncertainty about his new position in Emberfall. I can relate to them both. For a flicker of time, I wish I were going to be here longer than a night, because I’d offer to help Callyn. Verin comes on strong, but I know her moves, and I know what will take her by surprise.
She sees me by the railing and calls in Syssalah, “Tycho! I heard you were back. Do you have time for another match?”
“Not tonight,” I call back. “Grey is waiting for me.”
A light glints in her eye. “How about your soldier friend? I need to warm up a bit before I begin training.”
Malin’s eyebrows go up, but his eyes have lit with clear interest. “Is my Syssalah rough or is she taunting me?” he says under his breath.
I pull another cup of water. “Oh, she’s definitely taunting you.”
He grins. “If you spar with me,” he calls back in Syssalah, “you not make training.”
I choke on my water. “Malin!” I sputter.
Some of the guards inhale sharply and stare—but others chuckle knowingly. One whistles low through her teeth.
Verin laughs and strides out of the arena, the firelight from the torches glinting on her glossy black braids. “Let’s take it to the fields, then, soldier.”
