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“Yes, well…” Draven quickly pulled his attention elsewhere. “I take it you’re fine now?” He rubbed the back of his neck. “It may be best to be cautious of this animal if you encounter it again.”

Was that a demand or advice? “I plan to be.”

“Good. I’ll, uh, leave you to sleep.”

And with that, he left Lily there alone, entrenched in more than one curiosity that would keep her awake for the remainder of the night.

Chapter Twenty

Silas lifted both of his clenched hands, thumbs raised up and pushed away from his body at an angle.

Follow.

Lily did as she was told, mimicking his stance. He bounced steadily in place, gesturing to his bent back leg and making a tight fist. Lily fixed herself, and he nodded. Luka lazily shuffled into place. Silas shook his head and adjusted the boy until he was to his liking.

They followed the basic motions for attacking and defending with a knife. Some of it was familiar since Lily started learning Rogian fighting techniques over a decade ago. Unlike the majority of the Rogian army, Silas preferred a knife over a spear, making some of the changes to what she already knew challenging since it required getting horribly close to the opponent.

It’s faster he had signed when she asked why he preferred it. Lily wasn’t keen to agree with either weapon. Wise as it was to learn, close quarter combat wasn’t her favorite, but she couldn’t say no since Kyer ordered her to train.

Luka loosened again, eyes drifting to a passing flock of birds.

Silas stopped and gently tapped Luka’s curls with his blunt, wooden weapon and motioned for him to go. Luka giggled, bowed, and tore away. Silas shook his head again and faced Lily, raising his knife.

Lily thanked the gods and all their influence—even her own—he wasn’t a true adversary. His thumb alone would be able to crush her like an old, sun-dried nutshell. He moved slowly, giving her chances to block and advance in time, then more quickly after she caught onto the rhythm. Blocking his strikes, she found chances to thrust her oversized stick in his direction, even if he was faster and stronger.

In the midst of defending, he dropped his fighting position. Lily followed his look behind her to Maude. Arms crossed and posture steadfast, she ignored Lily, nodding to Silas.

“Thank you for your time,” Lily said after spinning back to Silas. She offered him the practice knife. “I’ll stop by after dinner?”

Lily searched for something, anything other than complete hardness, hoping at least Luka was growing on him. The pair was lucky to get so much as a second glance from anyone else in the camp, so Lily stayed polite through his displeasure. After he asked for Luka’s uneaten dessert their first night here, Lily started swiping extras for him as a minuscule way of earning his favor.

Silas tipped his head in his usual way and took the dagger, leaving without a hint of anything other than tolerance.

Lily sucked in a breath and turned to Maude. She looked Lily up and down critically. “Kyer’s ready for you.”

Now was as good of a time as any… The practiced words she recited every time she caught glimpses of Maude across the camp rested heavy on Lily’s tongue as she took in the grown woman before her. Her hair was long, her body strong, yet elegant. Today she wore a set of navy-blue leathers with a knife sheathed in a bracer strapped to her forearm.

Maude sneered and spun on her heel.

“Maude, wait. I think I should—”

“I don’t want it.” She paused, twisting over her shoulder. “If there is any respect left in you, do not use Kyer’s care for you to get what you want out of him.”

Lily sealed her lips, and Maude disappeared in the crowd of tents. Beyond, she found Kyer sitting on a log at the edge of the camp, speaking to a distracted Luka. He waved her over, and she sat beside him.

“Is this him?” Luka asked.

“Yes,” Lily said. “Luka, this is Kyer.”

“The man who wants the trees dead.”

Kyer chuckled, giving him a small wave. “That’s me. It’s good to finally meet you.” He turned to Lily. “He’s very brave. Came up to me all on his own.”

“We talked about it yesterday. He’s ready to show you, but he doesn’t want to answer questions.”

“That’s fine. Lily can talk for you later, if that’s alright?”

Luka didn’t say anything. Pinching his eyes shut, he yanked his sleeve up, extending his arm toward Kyer and exposing the lumpy patch of scars in the crook of his left elbow.