Page 31 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
“It’s because you are a guest,” Tynan stutters, looking utterly embarrassed. “It’s impolite to have the best pieces while you don’t.”
“It’s alright,” I tell him. “I’m very content with what I got from the buffet.”
“What do you normally eat for breakfast?” Ita asks, turning towards Azadeh. “Is it the same as here?”
“No,” she smiles slightly. “We have a lot of fruits, and white bread and jam.” She pauses. “But this here is wonderful, too,” she declares to everyone.
“Is she always doing that?” Tynan queries, much to my surprise.
“Yes,” I say, understanding his question without him clarifying it. “I hope she can finally be happy here,” I add quietly. “And, be herself.”
Tynan beams and gives me the thumbs up. “We will make sure of it.”
*AZADEH*
“You two need to come with us,” Flinn says. We’d just wrapped up breakfast, and Simin and I were wondering what to do next. “It’s going to be fun.”
Something about his casual attitude makes it easy to talk to him.
He winks at Simin. “Just me with two charming ladies.”
Simin looks both flustered and amused, and also slightly curious. I’m not sure what to make out of Flinn’s juvenile attitude, but I’m curious too. Endellion said he would lead the training today, whatever that means. Also, Alana is still working with the horses, and I would like to see what exactly she is doing.
“So?” Flinn looks at us expectantly.
“Thank you for the offer,” I say politely. “I’d like to take you up on it and see how you train.”
“Then, come,” he grins. “Just dress warmly.”
Simin and I make sure to take our thick coats and follow Flinn outside. Fortunately, King Gillean provided enough clothes for us. It’s so cold outside and we can see our breath, yet Flinn seems completely unfazed. He is just dressed in a shirt while he leads us out of the inner gardens of the castle and to a building close to it. Noises reach us, panting but also shuffling, and yells. My curiosity grows the closer we get. Flinn leads us through a side entrance so that we won’t disturb the training.
“How come you aren’t training?” I ask him.
“Because I wanted to show you two around,” he says, gesturing towards the huge training hall in front of us.
The place is packed with warriors of both genders, currently sparring with each other. I’ve watched Shayan train with his fellow soldiers a few times, secretly, but their training differs so much. This here is so much rawer.
“Are wolves always fighting with their fists?” Simin whispers.
“No, honey,” Flinn shakes his head. “We do learn to wield a weapon, but the first thing for us to master is fist fighting and using our body. When we shift, we can’t carry any weapons, and we have to be able to defend ourselves with or without one.”
“It makes sense,” I admit, noticing how Endellion walks around and corrects some warriors, helps them with their stances and moves, and shows them how to do better. His movements are so much more elegant and refined. He has removed his shirt, presenting us his perfectly chiseled upper body, his hair tied back, not to distract him.
“Which one of you is the strongest?” I ask Flinn.
“Between Endellion, Caelan and I?” He tilts his head, grinning thoughtfully. “It’s hard to tell. We have different strengths while fighting. I’m more of a strategist, Caelan goes by strength, and Endellion is the most athletic. But, none of them has my wit.”
Simin giggles, making Flinn flash a grin at her.
“Wow, Ita is amazing,” I point out while watching the Gamma spar with Royan. I was wondering how she would hold herself up against these bulked-up men, but she has no troubles at all.
“Yes, but not my type.”
“Who is your type?”
Flinn gestures towards a male warrior, more of an athletic build than bulky. I smile, suddenly feeling a lot more comfortable with his flirty attitude. “I see.”
“Yes, he is cute,” Simin says, equally to me, sounding more comfortable, too.
