Page 56 of The Nightmare Queen

My laughter slips out into the present.

“Daydreaming again while training?” Armond’s voice startles me.

My brow creases in annoyance, “just thinking of one of our first spars.”

“You were such a venomous little serpent.” He says, moving out onto the floor in front of me. “Hope you pick up your feet better now than you did then.” His sword is ready in his hand along with mine that he kicks towards my feet.

“I’m training.” I argue, lazily picking up the sword. He lunges for me, metal glinting in his hands as he aims low for my side as I’m crouched over. I barely block the blow, rolling under his next swipe. “That wasn’t fair.” I shout back, readjusting my stance and placing equal weight on my legs for balance. My knees are bent slightly ready to pounce on him. The butt of his hilt meets my sternum before I have a chance to leap at him, throwing me back down. I roll out of the way of his incoming heel and grab onto one ankle, my legs swinging out to kick into the other. His leg buckles on impact which allows me to pull him to the ground next to me. We tussle on the floor for a moment while I try to pin him. I ready my knee to kneel into his chest and hold him in place. “Prepare to yield, Monty.” He shakes his head giving me a lopsided grin as he Voids out from underneath me. I tilt forward, losing my balance.Damn Voiding powers.

He Voids back in right as I am vertical again. I run at him, and he swings his arm wide. There's no sword present anymore, only his fist. My metal clatters to the ground and I duck at the last second barely missing his hit, landing a solid blow with my elbow into his gut.

He goes down with a grunt and quickly my legs wrap around his shoulders, locking him in. “You want to play dirty and use your Wield? Two can play that game.” He claws and grapples at my shins when I connect my fingers to his temples, shoving my Wield into his mind.

He slaps the ground three times yielding almost immediately and I release him, pulling my magic back. Both of us lay there a minute. He gets up first, extending a hand my way. “Like I said, venomous little serpent.” I smirk, still not wanting to be friendly yet. “Are you prepared for tomorrow?” He asks cautiously.

I suck in a deep breath wiping at my skin, “is anyone ever really prepared to meet the two people responsible for their own parents deaths?”

He rests his clammy palm on my shoulder, “you’re sure you want to go through with going?” I turn to look up at him, my gaze hardening. “I’m not arguing. Don’t get my noose ready just yet.” He says, trying to get a laugh from me. But it doesn’t work. The gravity of the situation settling on me.

“I meant what I said.”

He nods, his face growing solemn. “I know. Just remember who’s on your side here. Your anger shouldn’t be with us.”

“And are you on my side out of obligation or choice?” I ask.

He raises his brow. “The truth of it?” I nod, but inside I'm hesitant to hear his answer. “Both.”

The doors to Rorin’s room and office were both shut when I walked in. He’s nowhere in sight, giving me a moment’s respite from having to interact with another person.

I move to peel off the damp leathers the minute I am in the bedroom, struggling as I try to climb in the shower. My hands fumble with the temperature dial to turn it as hot as it will go until the steam rises off the droplets on my skin.

It’s a fast shower for once. Knowing we have to be up and out of the post early, I peek out of the shower to grab one of the gray towels sitting on a shelf next to me. It’s soft against my bare skin, a slight chill running down my spine as I step out of the steam. Combing through my wet curls, I wrap it loosely in a smaller towel on top of my head while I go through my clothes, looking for something to wear tonight. I settle on dark leggings and a fitted tunic, pulling on my boots and winding my hair down from the towel and into a knot at the base of my neck.

Knock knock.

“Come in.” I don’t bother to look up from the vanity, I already know who’s walking in by the scent alone. “Princeling.”

“Food’s ready, you can join us or not.” He says curtly.

“Well if I hadn’t planned on joining I would be stark naked under those sheets.” I look at his face in the mirror’s reflection for a reaction but his expression is stony. “And that would have been quite a scene for you to behold.” I boast.

His eyes widen a but that's all I get from him and he clears his throat. “A-hem. You can hurry and leave with me. Or you can dawdle more and find your way there by yourself.” He leaves the room briskly, not bothering to close the door behind him.Dick.

Rorin waits outside the room - leaning against the wall. He’s clad in all black, his shirt opened at the collar. His hair is mussed up, the curls splaying wildly against his forehead. Tension lines through his face as he picks at his nails only looking up when I move to stand in front of him.Those two hazel eyes narrow on me for a moment before he pushes off the wall and stalks off in front of me, leaving me to trail behind him.

The noise of the room was hard to miss as we got closer to it. Rows of tables and benches line the center of the room. Higher ranking soldiers and captains filling nearly every seat. There is a lingering sensation of fear mixed with curiosity when we enter the room, all eyes turning to us. My men, I notice are up at the head table with Rorin’s. Orem is chatting Bennett’s ear off and at a brief glance one might assume them friends, not pacified enemies. I stalk around Rorin’s looming form marching up and over the table before plopping myself on the bench.

“Must you always be so…irreverent?” Mousy snaps quietly.

“Yes.” I quip as Rorin takes his seat in between us. The staff comes around with the same simple dish for all of us. A blatant example of their low resources. They cast an apologetic look towards the prince and his commanders which none of them acknowledge.

My men are uncomfortably quiet as I settle into my spot, Orem stops chattering off to Bennett and Ezra and Maxwell keep their eyes downcast on their food. Axel was the only one to look down the row at me but even that was tense.I guess my words hit their mark earlier.

The dining hall resumes it's normal commotion but our table eats in silence.

WHAM!The doors to hall slam open, disrupting everyone as a woman rushes into the room, charging towards us.

No…not towards us. She's charging at me.I realize quickly.

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