Page 48 of Ties of Dust

Flora lowered her gaze quickly. “I understand, Your Highness,” she said quietly.

Do you, though?

“Shall I take up a position at the far end of the yard?” Flora went on, her voice still formal. “Will that give you enough space for what you need?”

“What?” Cassius looked up, surprised to realize they were at the training yard. He hadn’t consciously decided to continue there after using it as a story to dismiss the other guard—his feet had simply carried him the rest of the way. “No, it’s all right. I don’t need to train now. I don’t wish to subject you to the training yard.”

“Subject me?” She raised an eyebrow. “In Sindon, I trained daily with the other guards.”

“Did you?” He was surprised. He’d imagined her spending all her time with the princess.

“You thought I was a lady-in-waiting pretending to be a guard,” she said, the accusation uncomfortably accurate. “You’re mistaken.”

She stalked away from him, her offended manner endearing, if he could ignore the real hurt he’d seen in her eyes.

Cassius followed, not eager to test the bounds of the tether. Flora took up a position on one side of the yard, leaving him free to speak with the senior guard currently supervising those in training. A large weapons chest stoodbetween them, a separation Cassius was glad of. The constancy of their proximity was intense.

The trouble was, he remained painfully aware of her, which was why it was difficult to concentrate on his conversation with the head guard when he heard someone hail her.

“Hello, love. So you’re the new guard on the prince’s detail, are you?”

“That’s right.” Her cool response carried through the hush that had fallen over the nearest combatants.

“Fancy a bout with me, sweetheart?”

The man’s tone had Cassius frowning, and he turned around to see who was speaking so freely. The guard who’d approached Flora was young, shirtless, and handsome, curse him. It was clear from his manner that he hadn’t noticed the prince’s presence.

“A tempting offer.” As usual, Flora was perfectly in control of the situation.

“Go on, love.” The guard winked. “See if you can touch me with those pretty hands of yours.”

Cassius moved forward, his brow stormy, but Flora replied before he could intervene.

“If I must.” She blinked innocently. “You’ll go easy on me though, won’t you?”

The man’s grin broadened. “No promises.”

“Weapons?” Flora had become businesslike.

“Ladies first, of course,” her challenger said courteously.

His interest caught, Cassius melted back as Flora strode to the weapons chest. She considered her options with a serious expression before her face suddenly brightened. She dove in and emerged with a pair of matching poles, not much longer than her forearms, each ending in a long, slimpaddle. They were carved of wood, and each paddle seemed to be one seamless piece.

Murmurs and chuckles went around the now-sizable crowd of onlookers. They grew in volume as the man opted to retain the sword with which he’d been fighting before.

“Don’t do it,” one of the watchers said. “Where’s the victory in besting a waif like that? Leave the lass alone.”

“Nah, if she wants to prance around as a guard, she better fight like a guard,” another retorted.

Flora ignored both of them, her focus on her opponent. “Ready?”

“For you, love? Any time.” The man winked again.

The gesture wasn’t even complete when Flora sprang into action. She leaped not toward the guard but away, her hands moving like lightning as she swung the poles into motion. They were soon a blur, the paddles creating a breeze that lifted her hair from her shoulders and sent it streaming behind her.

“I’m not frightened of a bit of wood,” the guard told her with a grin, brandishing his sword.

“I’m glad.” Flora’s voice was tight with concentration, but her tone remained casual. “Fear isn’t much of an asset for a guard.”

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