Page 2 of Lies Within the Darkest Tower

Sawyer, on the other hand, was his opposite in every way, his frame slight, his features, like mine, sharp. On me they called it refined, if a little too severe to be beautiful. On him they called it overly feminine — which was another reason Edred found Sawyer wanting as a man.

At a quick glance strangers assumed we were twins even though he was five years younger than me. We had the same small build and brown eyes that, depending on the light, were flecked with green, the same red hair more commonly seen on northerners, and the same pale skin that burned in a heartbeat if we weren’t careful. All of which we’d gotten from our mother. Unlike Edred, Sawyer was weighed down with a heavily padded practice tunic that was supposed to protect him, but really meant that Pylos, or in this case Edred, could hit him harder without fear of breaking skin.

“Get up,” Edred barked.

Sawyer coughed and gasped and struggled to stand, but Edred didn’t wait. He smashed his blade against Sawyer’s back, toppling him forward and drawing a strangled, phlegmy cry.

“You’re making this too easy.” He whacked Sawyer again and again, not giving him the chance to get up, and I knew from having faced the brunt of Edred’s cruel nature that Sawyer’s world was reeling. I couldn’t imagine all that on top of not being able to breathe.

Another whack and Sawyer dropped his sword, curled in on himself, and covered his head.

“Get. Up,” Edred snarled, his ruddy face even redder with the heat.

Great Father above, I had to stop this. Edred took pleasure in suffering, and while I’d thought he wouldn’t outright kill Sawyer, watching him hit my brother again and again as his expression brightened with wicked glee made me doubt my initial assumption.

Maybe this was the day Edred wouldn’t care what the king thought. Maybe he’d figured out how to dispose of Sawyer’s body and not raise suspicion… which meant he’d have figured out how to dispose of me as well, since he knew I’d go to the king myself to beg for justice if Sawyer went missing. It wouldn’t matter thatI was just a woman. I’d create so much trouble, be so loud and disobedient that someone would have to listen to me.

“Useless child,” he spat, raising his blade and turning his wrist so he’d strike with the sharpened edge.

“No.” I bolted toward them. I didn’t have time to beg as expected of me, and I doubted Edred would even notice me if I acted like I was supposed to.

CHAPTER 2

Sage

I barreled into Edred,rammed my shoulder into his chest — which didn’t even make him stumble — and shoved my forearm up against his biceps to stop his downward swing, just like the previous armsmaster had taught Sawyer and me.

It was a foolish move for far too many reasons. I was a lady. I was supposed to be demure, barely seen and not at all heard. I certainly wasn’t supposed to touch a man without being told to and I was never supposed to throw myself into the middle of a fight. I’d also been warned that even though I was stronger than the average woman of my build and station — thanks to the servants’ duties forced on me — I didn’t stand a chance grappling with someone like Edred who was significantly stronger, taller, and heavier than me.

If I was going to defy what was expected of me and fight him, my best strategy would be quick strikes, never letting him get his hands on me. Better yet, from a distance with a bow.

Of course, if I had a bow and I didn’t care about consequences, Edred would already be dead.

But I didn’t have a bow, let alone a sword, and stopping his strike while his hand was still up in the air and before he could put his full strength behind his swing was my only option.

“Out of my way, girl.” He pushed me aside and I hit the ground with a heavyumph,rolled back onto my feet, and flung myself back at Edred as he swung at Sawyer’s back.

My shoulder hit him low in the gut, drawing a grunt. He shoved me back, and I lost my balance and landed on my butt on the hardpacked dirt beside Sawyer.

Edred’s eyes narrowed.

“Looks like someone needs a lesson in obedience,” Pylos drawled, still leaning against the rough-hewn stable wall.

“Looks like,” Edred said, his voice low, freezing the churning fear in my stomach for Sawyer into terror for myself.

I’d thought my safety had been just as guaranteed as Sawyer’s. I was a nobleman’s daughter and even if I wasn’t considered beautiful, I was still a political prize which meant I’d fetch a high bride price. And the only reason Edred hadn’t married me off yet — or rather married me offagain— was because he was still waiting for the king to declare my betrothed dead. Something I prayed wouldn’t happen for at least another season, hopefully more since Sawyer might have to wait months to have his petition heard by the king.

“Pick it up,” Edred said, glaring at me.

“What?”

Edred jerked his chin at Sawyer’s blunt practice sword. “Pick it up.”

“I—” Sure, I knew how to fight. I’d been learning along side Sawyer since I was ten. I’d been fascinated with the skill and had begged the previous armsmaster to teach me when he started teaching Sawyer. For some reason — with my mother’s blessing — he’d defied societal expectations and taught me. But Edred had replaced that armsmaster and the last four years hadn’t been learning as much as trying to help Sawyer improve in secret to save him from Pylos’s beatings.

Even if I’d been steadily growing as a swordsman, I doubted I was anywhere near Edred’s caliber. He was a hardened soldier. Not to mention Sawyer’s sword wasn’t sharp, and while I might be able to score a touch against Edred, I wouldn’t be able to hurt him — even if I used the weapon like a club — and that would only infuriate him.

“Pick. It. Up,” Edred snarled.

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