Page 51 of The Poison of the Earth
I make a displeased noise. “Perhaps as a very small faeling I was called such, but you are the only person I can remember who has ever called me that.”
An odd look passes over his face.
“If you can use a dagger a bit, let’s start with short swords,” he says, turning and heading for the rack. “Shoes off,” he commands simply. It’s obvious he’s used to being obeyed and for some reason, that thought makes me press my thighs together.
I toe off my shoes as he hands me a small short sword that seems to be a good size for me.
“Show me, princess. Attack.”
I take a deep breath, and step forwards quickly, sword up as if to slice at him. He quickly blocks me. I step back, pause, and try again, this time dropping my sword sideways a bit to slash at his side. He blocks again. I bite my lip, frustrated. I stab straight forwards, hard, aiming for his stomach. I know stomach wounds are an awful way to die. He bats my sword away as if I was merely a child with a stick.
I snarl, frustrated.
“Your royal family truly left you untrained? That’s... a poor choice.” He slowly approaches, raising his sword. “Block,” He encourages, before continuing, “Even if you’re a strong offensivemagic user...” Our swords clack and he nods, dropping and angling his sword, “Block again. And I’ve never met an offensive earth Fae.” He twists his sword in a way that spins mine as he raises it. He steps into me, our swords locked between us. “I’d think a royal family would want their daughter to protect themselves. Oh,” a thought hits his eyes as he slowly forces my sword downward with his, this excruciatingly slow pantomime of a sword fight. “Were you a pampered, spoiled little princess?” He raises his eyebrows, amused. Kai smirks and raises his sword for a straight thrust. “From above,” he directs patiently.
I’m ire made flesh at this point, needled by his bullshit teasing and being treated as a child with this “fight.” I grit my teeth and raise my sword to press his downward.
He nods, “Yes, that must be it. You were fed from a golden spoon and slept on silk, a guard to watch you at all times. You give off a ‘come wipe my ass for me’ vibe.” He smirks.
My skin is prickled and I’m sweating. My magic dives, aching to be let out. I struggle with it.
“Up!” Kai calls in a way that seems he’s said it already. “Gods, you can’t be spoiled, untrainedanddumb, princess.”
My vision turns white and I snap.
“I was locked in a cell for near a decade! I didn’t see the sun, or the stars, or the trees!” I gulp back a sob.Stay angry.“I was beaten and abused and when I was lucky, forgotten. So-fucking-sorry if I don’t have blade skills!” I yell as I attack, haphazardly, poorly, rage-filled, my sword clanging off his as he easily blocks me.
Kai’s face is utter shock. His hand flies out, pulling my short sword from my hand as he drops his. He pulls me into his arms, one hand cupping the back of my head, pressing my face to his chest firmly but gently.
“Fuck. I’m sorry, Ollie. I’m so sorry.”
I breathe in his cedar and smoke smell as I pant, trying to control my emotions and my magic.
I’m not sure if he’s apologizing for being an ass or if he’s sorry for what happened to me but either way, I’m still pissed. I take another deep breath of his intoxicating scent and push firmly away from him. His arms hesitate as if he’d not let me go but they drop after a moment.
I spin, heading off the mats, striding for the door in as dignified a way as I can manage.
“Princess, wait!” Kai says behind me but it only quickens my feet. I push the door open and head through the front, out the door and into the fresh air.
THE NEXT FEW DAYS PASSeasily. Kai avoids me like the plague, though I found my shoes I had left in the training room by my doors. I’m glad of it, glad to not be dragged for training, yet I find myself thinking of his freckles on his startled face after I yelled at him about my imprisonment.
Lonan and I have seemed to have found a rhythm and he doesn’t push for anything physical. I manage to avoid any heavy discussions, but I know soon, he’ll insist on hearing of my background from me, instead of the version that Kai has surely told him. I try, repeatedly, to put pen to paper to send to Guivre Shores, but everytime, words fail me.I must do it, for all of us. I wish I could speak of it to someone, but my only confidants here are Cook and Lu, and I don’t believe these are matters I can speak of to them. If Tazi was back, I would spill to her. But I have no idea when she’ll return and the letter is an urgent matter.
Lonan and I are getting ready for bed. Every evening, I’ve been bathing in my rooms and putting on my night gown, then wrapping up in a gorgeous flannel floor length robe Lonan had surprised me with, and heading up to his bed. When I arrivetonight, he’s in his loose black slacks that he sleeps in and he’s bent over his desk. His energy feels tense.
I cock my head, “What is it, love?”
The endearment slips out and I feel like an idiot.He’s not my love.But I guess the easy pattern we’ve fallen into has lulled me. And the look he gives me in response, beaming, makes my heart flutter. He straightens, holding out his arm to me. I pace across the room, tucking into his body as his arm curves around me.
“A note from Cas,” he says softly in my ear.
“Oh?”
“The attack hasn’t begun, but troops have surrounded Squall’s End. Attempts to speak with the King or his representative have gone ignored.”
I shake my head, “The King won’t be in the army.”
“Of course not, sweetheart. I know he is a coward, a lead-from-safety pantywaste.”
