Page 9 of Cruelest Kiss and Fairest Blood
“Why bother with a sword? We’ve discussed this. The dagger is better suited?—”
“The sword”—I slash—“feels better”—I swing again, huffing in frustration when I once again fail to decapitate the statue—“when I’m angry.” Dropping the sword to my side, I stand there, panting.
Gestin indulges me with the sword, but our true training is meant to be with something much smaller. He nods to me. “Do you have it?”
I drop my hand to where the dagger is strapped to my outer thigh. The only people who know of it are Gestin, my mother, and Melly. Mother gifted it to me with tears in her eyes, barely able to speak.
“The best warrior knows their strengths but never divulges their tactics. Are you going to be sword fighting in the near future?”
I sigh. I’m used to this argument from him.
“Probably not.”
“Even if you are, you’re not likely to decapitate anyone.”
“You don’t know that. Maybe my opponent will have underdeveloped neck muscles and hollow bones like a bird.”
Gestin gives me that same look that most people give me when I’ve said something odd but they still want to be polite. “I fear that’s unlikely, Princess.”
“Unlikely. Not impossible,” I mutter to the ground.
Gestin sighs deeply. “You’re not strong, not large or brutish. Your strength does not lie in your limbs, but in your mind. Cunning, that’s what you must be. Outwit your opponent, because overpowering them is a dead man’s dream.”
“Thanks for the daily reminder that I’m frail and weak.”
He chuckles softly. “Those attributes will be to your advantage. Now, what will you do if you’ve no way to escape?”
Rolling my eyes, I repeat the information that’s been drilled into me a thousand times. “I’ll run. A few steps in, I’ll feign an injury. Once I’ve fallen, I’ll remove my hidden dagger and stab. Then flee to safety. Even if I feel incredibly stupid.” I add the last part under my breath.
“Whether you feel stupid or not, the element of surprise is your best bet. I can train you day and night but you’ll never outfight a grown man.”
Everyone looks at me differently now. Even Gestin, though he tries to mask it. They know I’m hiding the horrors of the past, keeping them locked away on the inside. But they wouldn’t prefer it on the outside. It would make them too uncomfortable. As if those few days weren’t more uncomfortable for me than all of their experiences combined. Again, the skin of my neck burns.
“Are you still with us, Princess?” Gestin presses, but a hint of concern peeks through his stern voice. “Give the sword one more try and then call it a day.”
My fingers are numb and aching and I’m pretty sure there’s a blister in my right palm. Pushing through the pain, I heed his earlier advice and adjust my stance and grip. The next time mysword swings down, it sweeps clean through the statue’s wooden neck. The head drops to the ground, its hastily painted face staring up at me. Some manner of relief washes over me at the sight.
“Congratulations, you’ve slayed the beast.” Gestin gives me a mocking clap. “I sure hope you weren’t picturing King Hoff when you dealt that killing blow.”
I groan, sending a cloud of white breath swirling up in front of me. “You heard?”
“It’s a castle. The moment the words of your betrothal left the queen’s lips, they traveled straight into the ears of the servants. You know that lot can’t keep a bit of gossip as ripe as your nuptials to themselves.” His posture and tone never change but I swear I glimpse a flash of sadness in his wise brown eyes.
“Of course. I’m surprised I had the luxury of finding out from my mother instead of my handmaiden.” I lower my sword to the ground, scraping the sharpened tip across the grey stone, carving lines in the thin layer of ice that’s accumulated.
“Come inside, Princess. Warm up. If you still need to blow off steam this evening, we can run some training drills in the warmth of the Great Hall after everyone’s finished supper. I’ll even let you beat up some of the younger guards if it makes you happy. Lazy sacks. They deserve it.” He gives a pointed look at the pair of guards overlooking the courtyard. “Inside we go. This weather will be the death of you.”
A small laugh bubbles up. Death. If he only knew.
My sword clatters to the ground in defeat. He’s right. I’m cold, tired. This day has lasted ages and it’s not even lunchtime. My movements are brisk as I head for the glow of the roaring fireplaces that dominate nearly every room in the castle.
A sharp squawk has me peering over my shoulder. A raven hops around on the far side of the courtyard. Funny… I hadn’tnoticed it there before. The midnight bird takes flight. My eyes track it, admiring the way its wings cut through the icy air.
Movement behind the bird has me squinting against the snow. A shadowy mist shifts in the empty space just beyond the courtyard. There’s a flash of pale skin and silver eyes, and my heart picks up speed.It’s him.
A touch at my elbow makes me jump.
“Is everything alright, Princess?” Gestin peers down at me. Worry creases his face.
