Page 22 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
"I—" The clang of metal erupted in the distance, cutting Kallie off. "What is that?" she asked, following the sound of swords clashing together.
As they peered around a tall set of hedges, Kallie found Dani and Ellie sparring. With sweat dripping down their brows, the two women swung at each other. Their swords crashed together with a rancorous clang that rang sharply in Kallie’s ears. On the sidelines, Sylvia cheered Ellie on with a hunger only one’s subordinate could muster.
"God’s breath." Terin groaned and brushed a hand through his brown curls. "The healer told her she needed to rest."
Cursing, Dani gritted her teeth and dug her heel into the ground, creating a divot in the earth.
"I don’t know if the wordrestis even in Dani’s vocabulary," Kallie mused as they joined Sylvia.
"Definitely not," Sylvia said.
"I will rest when the war is over," Dani shouted as she blocked Ellie’s next jab.
Each woman moved with an elegance that rivaled the other. Dani fought as if she was playing a game of chess, carefully analyzing and identifying her opponent’s next move before it was made. Meanwhile, Ellie swung and blocked as if she was performing some intricate dance. Although their techniques differed, they were both skilled.
With a swift kick, Dani knocked Ellie onto her ass. Dani peered down at her and smirked. Dani held out her hand, but before Ellie could grab it, Terin was there. He snatched Ellie’s hand and helped her up onto her feet.
"Gods, you’re insufferable," Dani said, resting her hand on her hip.
Kallie chuckled. "At least we can agree on one thing."
To Kallie’s surprise, Dani didn’t roll her eyes at the comment.
Terin ignored both of them. Although he meant well, Kallie had witnessed how he quickly turned into the overbearing brother when it came to Dani’s safety.
Ellie rubbed the dirt off her trousers. "Did Medenia find you?"
"No, why?" Terin asked.
She tossed her hand in the air with a careless wave. "She said something about needing to speak to you."
"Did she say about what?"
Ellie cocked her hip out, her hand resting atop it. "Do I look like her messenger?"
Dani held up her sword, inspecting the blade. "Kind of."
Kallie laughed alongside Sylvia, but Kallie quickly wiped the amusement from her face when Dani glared at her. This, of course, only made Sylvia laugh harder. Maybe Kallie had let her hope get the best of her.
"I didn’t ask you," Ellie grumbled before turning to Terin with a small shrug. "Whatever it was, I think it was important."
Terin’s gaze met Kallie’s, a silent question passing between them.
Before Kallie could respond, Dani held out her sword, hilt out. "Here. You should train too. Your footwork is still sloppy."
Kallie blinked at the hilt.
"I don’t know if that’s a good idea," Terin said, hesitant to let Kallie join in. Even Sylvia looked skeptical, clearly remembering when Kallie and Dani had sparred last. But Dani wasn’t trying to fight. Instead, she was offering Kallie her place.
Kallie eyed the sword. Throwing herself back into her training would be good for her. She grabbed the offered sword before Dani could change her mind and stab her with it instead.
"Go talk to Medenia," Kallie told Terin. "Dani is right."
"I’m often right," Dani said with a scowl. "Don’t act too surprised, Princess."
Kallie held back an eye-roll and adjusted her grip. The leather wrapping was warm to the touch.
"Princely duty calls," Ellie said, shooing him away with a flick of her hand.
