Page 25 of Blood of Wolves

Tessa’s stomach flipped again – though not with dread, this time.

“Come on, then.”

~*~

The practice yard was empty, illuminated by a few flickering torches on high poles along the wall. People moved around the stables and mews, voices low and indistinct, faces obscured by shadows and the hoods of thick cloaks.

Tessa glanced toward the noise, worn-smooth grip of a wooden practice sword held awkwardly in both hands.

Revna chuckled, drawing her attention. “You act like you think you’re doing something wrong. Like you don’t want to get caught.”

“Oh.” Tessa wasn’t sure she’d ever blushed this much – not even when she was kissing Rune. That, strangely enough, had been less daunting than the prospect that now lay before her. “Well. I’ve…never done anything like this.” Had never even wrestled as a child, after that one incident that had left her crying and John apologizing profusely while Amelia shouted at him.

Revna had been standing with her own sword held across her body, feet planted in a ready stance, but she relaxed, now, stood up straight. “You don’t have to do it now, if you don’t want to.” Her face and voice softened, tone knowing – motherly. Quietly, she said, “No one expects this from you, Tessa.” It wasn’t said as an insult, was consoling, really.

But it struck Tessa in a way that left her squaring her shoulders and lifting the sword, mimicking Revna’s ready stance. “No,” she said, voice firmer. “I want to at least try.”

Revna’s smile widened, and it reminded Tessa of Rune, that mischievous slant, the spark in her eyes. “All right.” She resumed her own stance. “Angle the blade like this – good. Left foot forward. Now, watch and repeat after me.”

They started slow, circling one another, Revna explaining each movement as she worked through it, telegraphing and restraining. As they shifted across the snow, Tessa’s nerves melted into focus, and resolve. Revna reached slowly forward and their practice swords clacked together lightly when Tessa blocked.

With a start, she realized that this wasn’t unlike dancing – andthatshe was very good at.

She settled deeper in her knees, on Revna’s suggestion, and was ready for the next strike; twirled to meet it, catching her weight lightly on her toes and sweeping her arms forward more strongly than she had before.

The swords struck with a sharpcrackthat echoed off the walls of the yard.

“Aha!” Revna said with a sharp bark of a laugh. She was like a different person out here, doing this. Well, no, that wasn’t true – but she was sharper, wilder; more comfortable in her own skin, if such a thing was possible. She was always the picture of poise and grace within the palace walls – but Tessa thought of what Rune had said about his mother sparring more in the past, with her husband, and with her brother, and she wondered how much Revna missed that side of herself now.

Revna advanced in a sudden flurry of strikes, and Tessa fell back beneath the onslaught. She parried once, twice – and then lost her grip and her balance both at once. She landed hard on her backside on the cold ground, and her sword landed a few feet away. The breath left her lungs in a pitiful little cry, and shame washed hotly through her, chasing away the chill of the night.

Revna pulled back her own sword and offered a hand straight away.

Tessa took it, and found herself hauled up to her feet; Revna wasso muchstronger than she was, and the distinction smarted – more than it should have, really.

Whatever her face was doing, it left Revna laughing – but not unkindly. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. No one gets it just right their first try, not even the lads.” In a low, conspiratorial tone, she said, “The first time Bjorn sparred with live steel, he got the blade caught in the dirt and fell flat on his face.”

“Hmph,” a deep voice said from the sidelines.

Tessa startled, and glanced around to find Bjorn leaning on the wall – he was tall enough that he could fold both huge, bare arms overtop of it without a stretch.

“You weren’t old enough that day to remember anything that happened,” he said, a smirk tugging at his mouth.

“Ha,” Revna shot back, grin turning sharp-edged and feral as she turned to him. She didn’t look at him the same way she did anyone else, Tessa had realized, though what that meant, she was still too hesitant – and new to love herself – to guess. “It was right over there.” She gestured with her sword. “You overbalanced after a big swing and went right down.” She mimed it with her free hand. “You nose hitting sounded like someone snapping a carrot in half.”

“That’s some imagination you’ve got there,” he said, flatly, but a telltale dusting of pink marked his cheeks.

Tessa bit back a smile.

“Now, do you ladies want some instruction from an actual swordmaster?”

“Oh, please,” Revna said in falsetto. “I’m so glad a big, strong man came along to help us poor damsels.”

Bjorn snorted, but pushed off the wall and came around to join them.

~*~

Revna knew her way around a sword, but she wasn’t too proud to admit that Bjorn had far more experience teaching others how to wield one – not that she was going to say that bit out loud.

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