A low murmur stirred the crowd.
Blake’s eyes sharpened. I felt the force of his will and the cold certainty that he would see this through.
“Train hard. Fight harder. Anything less, and you will diebefore you reach the field. The Culling Trial of the gods is in just a few weeks. No one knows what it will be.”
Blake stepped back, giving a sharp nod.
Jace stepped forward then, his eyes warmer than Blake’s as he looked over the warriors and called out a few names, including mine.
“You’re with me, in the ring for weapons.” He looked back at Blake. “The rest of you and your tygers, with Axefire.”
The warriors broke apart without a word, moving into drills, the heavy sense of purpose hanging over us all.
Blake did not move toward the side of his training group. Instead, he stalked toward me, Kingsolver matching his every movement.
“Where is Flame?” I asked. Kingsolver rumbled low in his throat.
Blake didn’t blink. “She will join you once you’ve found your footing. For now, I want to see if you can use something other than ribbons to defend yourself.”
“Riling up my trainee?” Jace said with a grin as he approached between us. His arms were crossed, hair gleaming in the morning sun. “C’mon, Axefire, you have to share the new blood.”
“She’s notyourtrainee,” Blake said. “She is the tygress’s rider. Remember that.”
Jace rolled his eyes. “How could I forget?”
Blake gave me one last look before walking away without another word.
“So you’re not his favorite either?”
Jace laughed lightly but shook his head, guiding me toward the other side of the yard. “Not exactly. He’s tough but fair. I think it might be something else.” His voice dropped lower, almost a whisper as he bent toward my ear. “I…he used to work with his brother, before. Ever since they came of age. The Twin Blades.”
I looked over my shoulder, finding Blake’s eyes on me again. His jaw clenched, gaze darting away.
“Perhaps he dislikes seeing my face across the field because it is not his brother’s.” Jace shrugged.
For a moment, I could imagine it. The Twin Blades—Zayden as the former Ambush Master and Blake as Captain of the Guard, like one soul in two bodies, guiding the Tyger Warriors and leading the guard. I could imagine the safety of family, the steady presence of a sibling who made you feel protected, even when everything around you was dangerous. It was something I longed for myself.
Then we joined the others and Jace grinned wickedly at our group. “Well then, let us begin.”
—
It was brutal.
The unfamiliar grip and heavy weapons shredded my palms. And this was while training on solid ground. I would need to hold a weapon on the back of Flame while moving—an entirely different skill. We broke for a short lunch, but otherwise it was endless drill after drill on the correct grip, stance, striking movement. I was thankful for the daily exercises I’d done with Edith, but this was on a whole other level.
Exhausted, I lay in the dirt, heart thundering. I saw a hand enter my line of vision and thought it might be Jace, helping me.
But the wrist was too delicate, ringed in bracelets made of woven grass and braided leather, glistening with bright stones. I grabbed the hand and dusted myself off as I stood to look at my companion.
Her sky blue hair spilled over one shoulder. She crossed her muscled arms, but there was a lightness about her, like she could break into a dance without warning. Power rippled beneath her smooth skin. She wore a pale moss-colored tunic, cinched with asash, and her loose cotton trousers shifted like wind over water with every step.
“I’m Calla,” she said, her hazel eyes bright with mischief.
“Rubi,” I offered.
“Nice to meet another Azure here.” She hummed beneath her breath. Her hand slipped into her pocket, pulling out something round wrapped in a piece of cloth. “I overheard you in the kitchen this morning as I was about to grab this—” She tossed it to me, and I fumbled to catch it with my sore muscles. “Saw your hair and uniform. Knew I’d run into you later. Got you an extra.”
I unraveled the fabric—a sweet bun, no longer warm but still just as delicious.
