The frigid morning air burned my lungs as I took deep heaving gasps, my breath puffs of white mist floating upon the air. Despite the chill of the morning, sweat trickled down my brow as I laid upon the frosted grass of the clearing I exercised in. I relished in the cold that soaked through my tunic and pants as it cooled my tired and sore muscles while I waited for Bran to arrive.
This little clearing had been our sanctuary for years, deep in the forests just north of the city. It was far enough from the main road that neither of us ever feared those walking to work in the mines would hear our training. Not that we were doing anything inherentlywrong,yet still we preferred for these meetings to be a secret just between the two of us. And perhaps Merle, though she never spoke a word of it.
It was here, within these very trees, that Bran taught me everything he had learned.
My gaze took in the pale pink sky far above, peeking through the canopy of frosted branches, red and golden leaves sparsely adorning them. Late autumn would quickly leave them barren. My mind drifted as I picked a browned, damp leaf from beside me, studying it as I thoughtof those golden eyes from the day before. My breaths still came harshly as I fought to steady them.
I doubted they had truly been there for potions, let alone ones that helped ease the effects of The Fever. With clothes so finely tailored, they must’ve had access to Potion Masters upon the palace grounds, so why come to The Golden Apothecary? They’d been listening keenly when I had been speaking with Fenrir; were they sent to see how much Merle and I had been helping within the Old Quarter? Did the King intend to put a stop to it? It wasn’t as if it were illegal.
Lips pursing, my fingers began tearing at the leaf as I thought. Perhaps I should tell Merle. I hadn’t wanted to worry her, but I’d be leaving for my trials in a few days. If they came back and something happened while I was away, I’d never forgive myself.
That man cloaked in black…
A shiver ran down my spine as a sigh left my lips. I was overthinking it. I had to be. Everything would be perfectly fine.
The snapping of a branch had the remnants of the leaf slipping from my fingers as I sat up, gaze searching.
“I see you started early.” Bran said as he appeared from a close cropping of trees, an easy smile upon his lips. His gaze was searching as he raised a brow, his shoulder resting upon one of the trunks. “Intent on wearing yourself out before we’ve even begun?”
Eyes rolling, I waved to him, an impish grin forming on my face. “Even exhausted, I could still lay your ass out on the grass.”
“You have the mouth of a sailor,” he chastised as he crossed the space between us to help me to my feet. Nose wrinkling, he took in my sweaty skin and clothes. “And you smelllike one too,Goddesshow long have you been out here, Sy?”
I didn’t exactly want to admit that I’d been out long before sunrise, which is when we had agreed to meet for the day. With the impending trials and the anxiety of those two men, I hadn’t been sleeping well in the slightest and Ineededto move. To exert the thrumming energy that whirled through my mind and body. To exhaust myself and the magic that built beneath my skin. It was a torment to not be able to use it, to release it, allowing it to become a buzzing hive within. Exhaustion was the only point they truly quieted, so if I needed to work myself to the bone to get some peace and quiet? So be it.
Sighing, he seemed to see something within my eyes that had him shrugging off his woolen coat and tossing it a few feet away to lay beside my own. “Alright, let’s get your mind off it then.”
The smile barely had time to form on my face before his fist was flying at me, a gasp sticking within my throat as I ducked and spun expertly out of his reach, annoyance narrowing my eyes.
Where Bran was all muscle and brute strength I, thankfully, was light and quick upon my feet. Something that served me well during our sparring.
Dancing back a few steps, I brought my fists to my face. “That was a cheap shot, you prick.”
“It didn’t land though, did it?” His retort reeked of sarcasm, eyes gleaming with mischief. “It means you've been learningsomethingover these last few years.”
As he advanced once more, a vicious smile fell over my lips.Thisis what I needed.
Without missing a beat, I moved quicker, my fist colliding with his side causing a groan to sound before he swung. His arm battered against my shoulder, my body slamming onto the forest floor, the impact knocking the breath from me.Lungs burning, I rolled when he lunged for me. Iknew how difficult it’d be to regain the upper hand if he managed to pin me down, the man weighed nearly three of me put together.
I kicked out, almost laughing when my leg connected with the back of his knees, instantly buckling him. He landed with a loudthud,a curse falling from his lips.
“Cheap shots, huh?” He gritted out as I scrambled back to my feet, my laughter filling the frosty air.
“Yeah, exceptminelanded.”
He was back up in an instant, his hulking frame rushing as he crowded me. A blow to my ribs had me gritting my teeth—that was going to be tender for at least a week. I dodged the left hook to my stomach that came quickly after, returning a flurry of my own strikes.
Bran skittered away, shaking out his arms as he eyed me uneasily. “You’re distracted today.”
There was that look again. Searching, uncertain,pitying.
“I’m fine.” Hands clenching tight, I raised them. “Let’s go again.”
Yet it was true, my form was sloppy, my dodging clumsy and slower than usual. He’s managed to get moves in today that he hasn’t been able to for years.
He knew me far too well.
His eyes settled upon the shaking of my fists, the tight, rigid stance of my body where it should be loose, but I knew he wouldn’t deny me the fight. I saw when he came to the realization that correcting and instructing wouldn’t do any good. It wasn’t technique I needed, but an outlet for my fears and worries.
