His humour fades from his face until he looks all too serious.
‘Very well,’ he says finally. ‘Nothing else will happen between us, Kultavaris, not until you ask for it.’
I hate that I instantly miss him calling me Thorn.
‘In the meantime,’ he continues, ‘I expect to see you every day for our early morning training sessions. No funny business, not a single touch I wouldn’t give anyone else. Deal?’
I swallow. He’s the best fighter there is in the competition, and training with him is an opportunity only an idiot would pass up. I nod. ‘Deal.’
True to his word,Kyor is there for every morning session for the following week and a half. He trains me like any other soldier, driving me through relentless, close-quarters fighting, honing my blocks and strikes until they’re sharp and economical. And through it all, he remains completely and infuriatingly business-like.
As such, I’m in a decidedly foul mood as I make my way to breakfast and find Llin there picking at her food.
‘It’s been too long since the last trial,’ she grumbles as I sit down. ‘Does it feel like it’s been too long? When the hell is it going to be?’
‘It changes every Retterheld,’ Jonas starts, and the rest of us exchange a look, knowing a history lesson is coming. ‘One year, they were only three days apart, and the entire thing was over and done with within fifteen days. They’ve never been more than a moon apart though, meaning we could have another thirteen days to wait.’
‘I’ll go mad,’ Llinos huffs. ‘I hate the waiting.’
If I was her, I’d be counting any extra days spent training as a blessing. The wound to her arm was significant, and though it’s healed well, she’s still far from her usual strength.
‘There’s definitely going to be water at some point,’ Jonas continues his pontification. ‘I’m sure of it. You need to be ready for that one, Rose. As I recall, you never used to like the water?’
‘That was a long time ago,’ I reply. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.’ As casual as I sound, it’s a lie. Jonas is right. I hated open water and I still do. And though I’ve been hoping since I arrived to at least have an opportunity to train down in the sea, that hasn’t happened.
‘I think we should all stay on alert,’ Llinos adds. ‘You never know when it might happen.’
‘When exactly aren’t we on alert around here?’ I reply. ‘I know I am. All the fucking time.’
My eyes shift around the depressing dining room. So few trials down and already more than half of us are gone. I know from Benny and Jonas’s history lessons that it’s not been the deadliest Retterheld, but it’s up there.
With so few competitors, it’s easy to see that Kyor isn’t here. I can stop him from touching me, but it seems I can’t stop thinking about him. Wondering where he is and who he’s with. Were the stunts he pulled on me something he’s tried on every Rettling? Not to mention every eligible woman at court? You don’t come in with confidence like that unless you’re sure of your ability. And if the sparks that flew between us through the fight are anything to go by, just his fingers on me are going to be enough to send me over the edge.
I amnotthinking about his fingers on me.
‘Do you think Zelle’s death slowed things down?’ Llin asks, still mulling over why we haven’t yet had our third trial. ‘Not Zelle himself, I mean, but the rebels’ attack. Maybe they’re upping the security.’
‘Ah yes, because it’s so essential to make sure we’re secure when we’re heading towards probable death,’ Benny replies grimly as he joins us at the table.
I’m only half listening because Kyor has appeared at the top of the kitchen stairs. And annoyingly, he sees me looking. He looks … eager, excited.
Knife,he mouths at me. I’m still frowning when I notice two interlopers walking into the room: a man and a woman, both with grey hair twisted and piled high on top of their heads.
‘Guys,’ I say, interrupting the bickering that’s still going on between Benny and Llinos. ‘Guys, have you ever seen those two people before?’
Both of the islanders glance down to the end of the dining hall, although the man has now moved and is heading towards us.
‘No.’ Llinos shakes her head.
‘Never,’ Benny adds.
‘Does anyone else feel that?’ Jonas asks, frowning.
The moment he speaks, I feel it too. Something is swirling right in the pit of my stomach.
‘Is this—’ Before I get the words out, the clanging starts – the chime announcing the start of the trial.
I reach for my knife – Godsdamn it, that’s what Kyor meant – but just as my fingers begin to curl around the hilt, the dining hall disappears, my knife with it.
