Did he really attempt to attack me without a weapon?
My vision tinges red, and I use my shield again, but this time as a weapon, and I swing at him with it. The action catches him off guard, and he takes a step back, giving me time to dive for my sword.
The weapon is now firmly in my grasp, and I smile.
But that was a mistake.
“Do you think you actually did something with that little maneuver?”
The words are sharp, meant to cut me.
He races at me, and I barely dodge his attack.
I can’t seem to take on any position but a defensive one, and I’m constantly several seconds too late. With my left arm outstretched with my shield to block his latest blow, my right arm sags to the ground with the weight of the sword I’m not accustomed to yet, which leaves my midsection vulnerable to an attack.
Julius begins raining blows across my ribs with his knee. The air is ripped from my lungs, and I sag to the ground, my sword and blade forgotten on the dirt beside me as I keel over.
He squats down beside me and murmurs, “You’re pathetic and weak. You don’t stand a chance here.”
I can’t even tilt my head to the side and meet his eyes. Hiswords hurt more deeply than the hits he landed. He rises and walks across the training ground to the weapons building, ending our training session. That was short and not sweet.
I roll over onto my back, the searing, burning pain lashing down my spine from the movement.
Get up.
But I can’t, I lay there for a very long time.
The sun is sinking below the trees when I finally pull myself up off the ground. Julius is long gone. But his words spin around my head, ripping up every decent thought in its path.
My anger bubbles over until one thing becomes very clear: I am staying.
I’m never going to be ok with allowing someone as vile as him to rule over these people. If he does this to me, who threatens his newfound power trip, I can’t imagine what he’d be like decades into his reign.
Once I get enough power to stabilize Idirhalla, there’s nothing to stop me from traveling back and forth freely as they once did. I could visit Gran or even bring her back with me. I wonder if I could convince Lachlan about the existence of this place?
We might be able to have a future here.
But I will not be forced out by someone like Julius. At the very least, I should stay for my parents. This was my mother’s home, and she would not agree with me turning my back on these people if I could save them. I still don’t know her reasons for leaving, but I know my mom, and I trust her. She would have never left them if she knew this was going to happen.
A low whistle sounds from the archway, and my muscles ache as I flinch.
“I was worried I’d have to call the Captain and tell him you died tragically on my watch,” Evander says with a smile, approaching me before it immediately drops. My tear-streakedface causes him to freeze. “Lena, are you ok?” Worry creases his brow.
“Honestly,” I breathe, trying to gather myself. “No, not at all.” My lip quivers as my voice cracks.
“Are you injured?” he asks, scanning my body for injuries.
Evander’s kindness lifts some of the burden off my chest.
“I’m fine, just a little worse for wear. Julius was not very mentor-like today.” My shoulders rise and fall as I sigh.
“Why don’t you train with me, Mathilda, and Tane?”
“I don’t know when I would even have the time for that or when you guys would have the time.” I don’t want to intrude on their busy schedules, but it would be nice to learn something. The words “learn our ways” to stabilize the realm whiz through my mind.
“For you, we would make time. No one else, more than me, would love to see you knock Julius on his ass. Let me talk to them tonight, and I’m sure there is a time each day one of us could help you out.” He nods as if he’s already working it all out in his head.
“If you think it’ll help, I’ll try.”
