Lorcan’s lips twitched with a smile. He had expected the prince to demand it. His father would have.
“Listen, you are quite good with that sword for a villager. And it’s nice steel, too.”
It wasverynice steel. He hoped Thane would not look too closely at it, or he would realize that it was a blade fit for a lord.
“I’ve been practicing swordplay for a decade, Your Highness. Ever since I was a boy,” Lorcan replied. “There aren’t many here who can protect our village, and someone needs to do it.”
“Your village, what is it?”
“Comharra, Your Highness. It lies to the west of these fields. We suffered a terrible attack eleven years past, and there are only a handful of us left.”
“Ah, I know the one.”
“You do?” Lorcan asked, surprised.
“Aye. A terrible tragedy. I’m glad the village has you to protect it now.”
Thane gazed into the distance, and Lorcan realized his mistake at once. If Thane believed that no one else had the skills to protect Comharra from further harm, then he would gladly leave Lorcan to do his duty. His mark burned through him like fire.
“Of course,” Lorcan said quickly, reaching for the first lie that popped into his head, “I’ve been training several of the younger boys to follow in my stead. They’ve picked things up very quickly.”
“Ah.” Thane smiled. “This village is very lucky indeed. Only a handful of you and so many budding warriors in your midst. Do you reckon Comharra might be able to spare just one?”
The blazing pain of the mark finally faded at Thane’s words.
“Spare one, my lord?” Lorcan asked.
“I could use a fighter like you,” Thane replied as he nodded toward the woods where his surviving warriors had disappeared. “You fight bravely and well. If you saved my life once, without my asking, then you will save it again. But I would never want to steal you away from your village if they need you.”
Lorcan’s heart pulsed. “It is my honor to protect my village, but there are others here who can do the same. I am not the only sword in Comharra.” At least that was not a lie. He thought of Cadman then, the old male who had seen his fair share of fights. He had kept the village going all this time. He would not fail them now.
“Very good.” Thane grinned. “Dalais Castle is always in need of more swords. I would have you join me, if you’d like.”
7
Four Years Later
“There is something I would like to do, and I wish for you to accompany me.” Thane grinned as he watched Lorcan and Vreis parry in the inner castle courtyard, his crown of golden thorns askew.
“Let me guess,” Lorcan countered as he blocked another blow from the fae he’d spent the past several years training alongside. In their time together, they had become as thick as thieves. “You wish us to count how many females proposition you at the tavern tonight.”
Vreis chuckled, his mis-matched eyes twinkling, giving Lorcan the perfect opportunity to catch him off guard. Lorcan lunged in a low strike, and his sword grazed the warrior’s stomach. Vreis stumbled back, clutching at his torn leather armor.
“I win.Again,” Lorcan said with a grin, giving Vreis an exaggerated bow.
“You two are in cahoots,” Vreis exclaimed, throwing up his hands in mock anger. “You planned this exchange beforehand so that I would fall into your trap, get distracted from the fight, and lose.”
The smile died on Lorcan’s lips. It was a joke that hit far too close to home. Since the day that Lorcan had lied his way to the prince’s side, he had come to deeply regret it. Thane Selkirk and his mother had shown him nothing but kindness, and he had repaid them with stolen scribbled words on owl wings.
“What is it you need, Your Highness?” Lorcan asked stiffly, his sword hand dropping heavily to his side.
Thane leaned against the wooden railing between the training grounds and the rest of the inner courtyard where the gardens were blooming with its spring flowers. “We’re going on a quest. The three of us.”
Vreis raised a bushy brow. “A quest? Don’t tell me you wish to go lurking around the fire lands in search of a dragon to slay. Perhaps save a princess, too, while we’re at it? I know your mother is eager for you to find a lass to wed, and it can’t be one of those tavern wenches, I’m afraid.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Thane countered with an easy smile. “There are no taverns in the fire lands.”
Lorcan laughed. Vreis joined in, too. Soon, the three of them were guffawing so loudly that the sounds of their cheer echoed off the looming white stone walls.
