“I suppose you’re trying to tell me I’d only be in the way,” Silla said bitterly.
Rey let out a long exhale. “If you need to move, then we shall spar. Fetch the practice swords while I dress.”
Silla heard the shield-home’s door close and tried not to imagine that blanket falling away. She gave herself a mental shake. “Gather your wits,” she chided, leading Brown Horse to the stables.
After removing the saddle and retrieving the practice swords, she returned to the yard to find Rey waiting for her. He’d changed into a tunic of charcoal gray, exposing a tendril of tattooed smoke at his nape. Rey lifted a questioning brow and she passed him a sword.
Silla settled into the defensive stance he’d shown her the day before. Rey’s dark eyes locked on to hers, his grip on his wooden sword firm. As he lunged at her, her sword lashed out, their wooden blades clunking together.
“Good,” murmured Rey, circling her.
Silla whirled, her heart rate kicking up. This time, she attacked, rushing at his left side. He parried her blow with a casual flick of his wrist, sending her sword flying. Gods, they had run through this move earlier in the morning and she’d fared far better. It felt as though her failure with her galdur was bleeding into this, too. Yet Rey said nothing about her sloppiness.
Blowing out an irritated breath, Silla retrieved her sword and charged at him once more. A sidestep had her stumbling over a rock and landing on hands and knees. Still, Rey said nothing.
“Stop it,” she growled, pushing to her feet. “Stop being nice to me.”
“Will it help you pull your head out of your arse?”
She glared, and Rey’s lips twitched up in silent challenge. This was what she needed. For things to go back to how they were on the Road of Bones, before everything got so gods damned complicated.
Silla rushed at him, ducking under his sword, but not low enough. The wooden blade collided with her shoulder, and she lurched away with a curse. Righting herself, Silla sent Rey a withering glare.
“You’ll have to be faster than that, Sunshine,” he chided, but it only made a grim smile spread on her face. Her frustration now had an outlet. She pivoted and attacked, raining blow after blow upon Rey.
“You’ve got spirit tonight,” he commented, switching his sword to his leftand blocking her attacks effortlessly. “Unfortunately, it’s come at the expense of your wits.” With sudden movement, he caught her with the broad side of his sword, sending her sprawling.
Silla shot to her feet, brushing hair from her face. The man’s eyes gleamed with amusement.
“Do you think this funny?” she demanded.
“Not particularly,” Rey drawled. “Get your head in line and knock me on my arse.”
Gods, but she wanted to send the man flying and wipe the amusement from his face.
“I meant knock me on my arse with yoursword, Sunshine, not with your eyes.” His lips twitched.
Clenching her teeth, Silla swung upward with her wooden blade. Rey blocked it, twisting his wrist and flicking her sword free. He moved far faster than she could react, and before she knew it, she was spun around, the solid strength of him behind her. As his arm locked around her throat, practice blade poised at her cheek, a blast of heat rushed through her.
Rey lowered his head right next to her ear, and despite herself, Silla’s eyes fell shut. “Stop telling me what you’re going to do,” he said in a low voice.
Her eyes flew open at that, elbow driving into his ribs, foot slamming down on his boot. Silla swung loose, grabbing her sword in a swift motion. Pushing the hair out of her eyes, she glared at him.
“I’m not telling you a thing!” she seethed.
“Oh, but you are,” said Rey. His gaze meandered from her boots to the top of her head, and all of Silla’s blood seemed to flow downward. “Always watch your opponent for cues. If you look closely enough, they’ll tell you their plan.” He nodded at her. “Your left thigh. You tense the muscle before driving forward. It’s your tell.” That irritating Almost Smile curved his lips
“You’re awfully pleased with yourself,” she said tartly. “For besting a beginner.”
Rey cocked a brow. “Today’s most important lesson: never let emotion rule you in battle.”
“I’m not!” she exclaimed.
His brows raised, and she lost all control. With a cry of rage, she charged at him. Rey’s foot hooked out, and the rest was a blur. Before Silla knew what had happened, she was flat on her back, Rey looming above her. She blinked up at the smug look on his face, and anger gathered in her stomach. Her foot kicked out with speed that seemed to catch him off guard. Rey’s feet were swept out from beneath him, and with a shout of surprise, he crashed to the ground.
Silla launched herself on him, pinning his shoulders to the ground, and smiling victoriously at the look of disbelief in his eyes. “What was it you told me, Axe Eyes?” she gloated. “Ah yes.You must learn to react swiftly and without mercy.”
A small smile curved his lips, and despite herself, Silla’s gaze was drawn to them. “You like it when I tell you what to do, Sunshine?” His voice rumbled through her, and she felt it in all the places they touched.
