Page 109 of Unrivaled
“That’ll work,” Chay agreed wryly.“But only if your timing is right.Once we’re in a bind, the stronger opponent almost always comes away the winner.Even if theydon’tkill you,” he added, “they’ll tire you, put you on the back foot.Avoid.Predict.Study.”
I went to the saddlebags, got a skin of water, and took a drink.The sound of their sparring started up again.I said nothing.
He fought like a knight.He was teaching her how to fight like one, too.She should’ve been too old.It shouldn’t have taken, not properly.I’d seen older men try to join the guard.I knew what the training took.How young brains had time to learn things old brains struggled to grasp.
I’d been horrified when Kaelson had tossed her a knife and asked to see what she could do.
That was the basis of much of her knowledge.She was, in truth, not going to fight like a swordsman, nor like a spearman.She was a brawler through and through.We could put a coating of standardized training over it, teach her how to walk in step and reform a formation, but her instincts were what she’d picked up as a child.
This time, I didn’t let my eyes wander to Isolde.That woman, she had a lot to answer for.
My attention was drawn, inexorably, to where they moved together in the center of the clearing, the back and forth of their bodies.There Chay was, his shirt open halfway down his chest, sweat dripping off his nose.I had to wonder if he was deliberately trying to turn her head.
They circled each other, their eyes locked, their expressions intense.He lunged; she sidestepped.Her footing wasn’t bad.She was light and moved in unpredictable, but not foolish, ways.As you’d expect from a brawler.She left herself open as she moved, coming up for the counter-attack he’d taught her yesterday.
He shoved his shield down and out, showing he’d been listening tohislessons, cracking her defenses wide.He didn’t bother to land the blow that would end the match, though he did begin the swing.They both knew it was over, broke apart wordlessly, and went again.
She’d taken my Sandra under her wing, and for that, I had to be grateful.At first, my Rose and I had been insulted that the lady had even suggested our girl would have towork.Wasn’t that the point of being noble?But really, we bothwantedour children to work.We wanted them to know the satisfaction of earning something.To not just assume everything would come to them.I knew my Sandy was quick as a whip.I doubted she was more suited to the stewarding role than a dozen others in the keep, but she was the one who’d been there, and she was the one the little lady had seen potential in.
Part of me knew it was unfair.I was leveraging connections to further my own children’s future, something I’d seen nobles do and hated them for when I was young and idealistic.But it wasn’t elevating my Sandytoofar, really.It wasn’t like she was marrying the oldest son of a rich city.She was learning a new trade.
Bless her, she wanted to help herselfandthe family.
The thought of Sandra took me inevitably to Orvald, the young knave who’d been sniffing about my eldest these past weeks.He was new to these parts, but the quickness of his fingers meant only one thing.The lady Audrey had taken a shine to him too because he’d materialized her favorite horse brushes when she’d been in to groom that spoiled horse of hers.
Never mind the young bastard with his gleaming smile and floppy hair had probably been in the process of stealing them.
Dragging my thoughts away from the boy trying to steal my little Sandra’s heart and possibly everything else as well, I dragged my eyes over to the lady, ignoring discomfort of seeing my liege lady dressed like a peasant.The outfit suited her, truly.Her shoulders finally fit the fabric properly, the huge expanse of them, and the strength in her thickly muscled legs was clear.
They circled each other again.He lunged.She avoided and counter-attacked as before, bringing the sword up in a crescent swing aimed at his back.He thrust down with his shield again.She pivoted and sent her foot square into his chest, forcing him back and leaving a dusty print on the fabric that stuck to his damp skin.
He grinned.“Cheating.”
“Winning,” Isolde interjected, without looking.
I silently agreed with Isolde.I didn’tlikeit, but it was true.Brawlers, skilled ones?They knew how to get out alive.
I didn’t know why my lady was so caught up on it, though.Hadn’t she already won?Wasn’t she here, still, lady of a prosperous city?Didn’t everyone look to her for advice and dish out their approval and gratitude by the cartload?
What more did she want?
We rode into La’Angi late in the day.Locals were so accustomed to Audrey’s long rides that a few hawkers jogged up, offering her wares.One of them had timed their baking so it’d be fresh when she rode in.
She admired what they had to offer and then, as she’d made a habit of, went to the market to buy spiced juice and, today, flaky pastries not unlike the ones she’d turned down at the gates.She passed me one with a smile, her eyes bright and joyous with the freedom of youth.
“Thanking you,” I said, though my belly was still slumbering.
At least she’d listened to me when I told her if she encouraged the hawkers, she’d never be free of them.I pinned a young boy with his hands in his pockets with a firm look.He was loitering with intent.
“How’s Orvald?”the lady asked me.I let my eyes linger on the boy just a little bit more before I turned to her.
“Who, m’lady?”I asked, deliberately misunderstanding.
“Orvald?”she said again.“He and Sandra are working together currently?He was going to ask you about serving size preferences, I believe.”She slid a suspicious look my way.
I didn’t scowl, but I had no idea what she wanted from me.“I’ve not seen him, m’lady.”If he’d tried to seeme,well, I was a busy man.I didn’t have time for thieves.
The markets were doing better now, but it was still a far cry from what it had been and people were worried.She and Sandy had their heads together.Sandy had been full of talk about putting money into the pockets of people so they’d put it in the pockets of others.I didn’t tell her that was how coin worked.
