Cyrus and I were locked in a terrible-looking contest that neither of us would commit to winning.
“Because Idomiss you,” I saidforMr. Evergreen, focusing my attention on only him. “Selfishly. I wish to steal you from this practice.”
He severed our link and peered into the horizon.
“I see,” Sam said. He stewed in the confession for a second, blinked a few times, checked in with his partner, and then exhaled. “I, uh, I suppose we haven’t seen each other for some time?”
“Not really,” I replied. “But I?—”
“I’ve come to expect you... well, frankly, not here.” He huffed defeatedly, “But you’re right,” and picked up his sword. “Sorry, friend. I don’t think Miss Svana intends to depart from here without me,” he said.
“That’s not exactly true,” I said. “I can be swayed. Perhaps, Mr. Evergreen?—”
“Swayed, huh?” he asked. He slowly bobbed his head. “You came here for a different reason then? Than stealing me?”
“I, uh?—”
“Cy, I do think the Princess wants to watch us train,” he said.
“Wait, what?” I asked.
Sameer laughed. He moved to strike at his friend, but the surprise was actually caught and partially parried. Mr. Evergreen took a broad step back from Sam and frowned.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
Sam said, “The lady wants a show, you goat.”
“Absolutely not,” he said.
“I don’t, reall?—”
But Sam took another swing, missing, and Evergreen used a hand to push him off kilter. At his betrayal, a wildcompetitiveblazesailed between the two of them, and as their sticks crashed and slid together and off of each other, they spun and spun, almost twirling. They carried deeper into the pasture and began to draw a crowd of workers. Each man moved harder, harsher,and trickier into their combat; each was desperate to best the other, and I stood there like an idiot in an idiot’s fog, insanelydrawnto how violent things had become. Insanely attracted to it all.
I felt my chest, immediately reminded of Swords & Horses—of a time where wonder was enough to wake you before the morning sun. When court and class meant nothing, and when two people could madly assault each other without fear of consequence. There were no crowns, no duty, no rules between them, just the clatter of sticks striking other sticks and the sound of a very childish play.
“What are they doing?”someone asked, breaking my naughty fantasy.
“Elías!” I breathed.
He was next to me with a very reasonable question, but at anunreasonable moment. I sucked in an incredible amount of air and nearly tripped in place.
“Steady on,” he said, catching my arm. “Are you well? What’s gotten into you?”
“I just—Mmh.” A guttural noise came out of my throat, and “Um. Nothing. Nothing’s gotten- Elías?Elías.”I stood taller. “Hi. Good morning, Ser. Lord Commander.”
“Hi.” He folded his arms across his chest and nodded to the field. “A flashy fellow, isn’t he?” he asked.
I tsked lazily. “I’d say it came with the title,” I said,tryingto put away the discomfort of watching Mr. Evergreen chase around my fiancé, who had encouraged my knight’s appearance, but I was happy for his arrival. “It feels very Chalke.” I tried.
“...I was speaking of your Blade,” he explained. He sighed but didn’t add to it.
I paused a moment to touch his arm, ignoring the repetitive knocks and clanks around us. “Ser,” I said. “I’m so sorry. You must allow me to-”
“I’ve had difficulty crossing paths with you this week,” Elías said. I sank as he talked over me, a trait that was new and unexpected from my friend. “A few times, I came to your chamber. It seems you start your days earlier than you did before. Are you avoiding me?” he asked.
“No!” I hurried. “No, I’m not. I would never avoid you. I’ve been, um, I’ve been riding a lot more. With Josie, still.AndSer Willoughby. The day starts sooner with others involved.”
“And Mr. Evergreen is alright with that?” he asked. “He does come a ways, doesn’t he?”
