Page 92 of Anwen of Primewood
It’s not like I can fix anything by going back now. And really, does my family even want to see me again? I don’t know why they would.
“Galinor,” I say, weighing my words. “What if I don’t go back?” I stroke Pika’s soft fur as I wait for him to answer.
“You need to do this. It will be all right.”
“What if it’s not?” My eyes search his. “What if they hate me?”
“I’ll be right by your side.”
I blink back a few stray tears. “What if they don’t want me?”
His expression softens. “Then I will take you away.”
Only a few more days andwe will cross Primewood’s border. The weather is cooling the farther north we travel. We’ve left tropical Triblue and are now in autumn weather. The days are pleasant, but the evenings and early mornings are downright cold.
My mind keeps traveling back to my confrontationwith Dimitri. I felt so helpless, so completely at his mercy. It’s not a feeling I wish to repeat.
“Galinor?” I ask as we ride.
He looks over, surprised I’m initiating conversation. I haven’t felt as talkative as usual.
“Remember when you asked if I could defend myself back in Lauramore?”
Galinor grins. “I distinctly remember you telling me you scream loudly.”
I nod, smiling a little. “Do you think you could teach me something? Like how to use a sword?”
“You want me to teach you to use a sword?” There’s laughter in his voice.
I scowl. “Not a big sword. A little one.”
“Like a knife?”
“Never mind.” I wave my hand. “It was a foolish idea.”
Galinor directs his horse off the road.
I follow him. “What are you doing?”
He gets off his horse and waits for me on the ground. “It’s not foolish.”
I glance at the sun, which is now high in the sky. “You want to start now? Right now?”
Galinor waves me over. “We have time today. We’ll reach the next village well before dark.”
Smiling reassuringly, he offers me his dagger. I take it from him, but it feels heavy and awkward in my palm. I try to hand the weapon back. “This was a bad idea.”
“No, it’s a good idea.” He steps up to me. “You’re holding it wrong. It’s not going to bite you.”
I try to mimic the way he shows me, but the daggerslips from my fingers. I reach to catch it before it falls to the ground.
Galinor steps forward. “No!”
Luckily, I don’t grasp hold of it, but I do nick myself.
I examine my hand. “You were wrong. It does bite.”
Galinor shakes his head, trying to hold back a laugh, as he looks at my hand. There are a few tiny droplets of blood forming down a small slice on my finger.
