The torch catches, flaring so brightly that I give a littleyipand drop the flint. Nora shrieks and leaps back like I setheron fire.
“Hush!” I snap at her, though I’m more peeved at myself.
I walk a lap of the arena, lighting the torches I can reach. By the time I’m done, Nora is in the center, spinning in arcs with her training blade. I stop for a moment to watch her, because I keep forgetting that she’s no longer a little girl. At some point a young woman slipped in to take her place.
She goes still, her eyebrows knitting together. “What on earth are you staring at?” she demands.
Well, she might not be a little girl, but she’s clearly still a little sister. “You.” I draw my sword and step into the arena.
During my drills with the recruits, Lord Jacob was always relentless in his training, emphasizing that any opponent could take you by surprise, and to never underestimate anyone. One day he had an old man with a rheumy cough and a pronounced limp come lumbering onto the fields, and he asked our group who would want to fight him first. They all laughed.
No one was laughing fifteen minutes later, when the man disarmed each and every one of us.
It was a good lesson, and I’m glad I had it. Because otherwise I would have faced my sister as if I were indulging a toddler who begged me to watch her twirl. But Nora attacks like I’m an invading soldierwho just threatened everything she holds dear. She’s so quick, so precise, and so vicious that I backpedal a dozen steps before I remember toblock.
“Clouds above,” I pant when we break apart, circling.
“Oh, Cally- cal,” she says lightly. “You don’t have to let me win. Come on.Fight.” She swings her blade again.
I nearly choke on my breath.Lether win. She’s hilarious. As if I’m not fighting for my life here. Nora is easily as good as the recruits I spar with— and she only started learning a few months ago!
We break apart again, and we’re both panting, sweat gleaming on our faces. But Nora’s expression is full of glee, as if this is the most fun she’ll have all day. I might be missing the drills and exertion, but it’s clear that somewhere along the line, my little sister began tolivefor this.
As soon as I have the thought, I lower my blade.
Nora frowns. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I say. “You’re growing up.”
She makes a horrific face, sticking her tongue out sideways.
It’s so unexpected that I burst out laughing, and she giggles. “With such elegance and maturity,” I add.
She pushes damp hair off her forehead. “I’ve been working hard,” she says. “Do you think Mama would be proud?”
The question hits me like the broad side of a blade, and the sudden swell of emotion nearly takes my breath away. I think of our mother often when I’m training. I don’t know why it never occurred to me, but I had no idea Nora was doing the same thing.
I have to clear my throat. I’m surprised to discover that my eyes feel hot. “Yeah, Nor. I do.”
Then I drop my blade in the dirt and stride forward to hug her.
She hugs me back for the longest time. I still can’t believe how tall she’s gotten. For so long she was just my baby sister who would ramblefor hours about whatever random thought entered her head. Now it’s like being hugged by a peer. I don’t want it to end.
Then she says, “You’re not supposed to drop the blades in the arena, you know. It makes them go dull. Also, do you think we’re early enough to get hot sweetcakes when we’re done?”
I giggle, then kiss her on the cheek. “There’s my annoying little sister.”
“She’s right, you know,” says a male voice from behind me. “You shouldn’t drop your sword.”
I recognize that voice. Every drop of blood in my veins turns to ice.Alek.
He continues, “You never know when you might need it.”
I turn slowly, as if trapped in quicksand. But it’s Nora, behind me, who says, “Don’t worry, my lord. I still have mine.”
I just thought of her as a peer, but now I want to tuck her away and keep her safe.
Instead, she moves up beside me, sword braced in front of her.
