Page 39 of Of Kings and Thieves

His words enveloped me in a warm blanket, and if my knuckles hadn’t still been smarting, I might have kissed him for his confidence in me.

“Fine,” I muttered, picking up my sword and taking my stance once more. “Teach me how to not die.”

CHAPTER TEN

The next campsite was bathed in twilight as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows that reached out like grasping fingers. We’d had another hard day of trekking over stone and snow. I was bone-tired, but with only a few days before we reached Iron Deep, we couldn’t afford to rest.

Col had decided to practice with me until our bodies couldn’t move anymore. It wasn’t until my sword fell from my grasp that he shook his head in mock disgust and prodded me with the tip of his sword.

“That’s all you’ve got?” he asked, gesturing toward the sword at my feet. In answer, I slumped to the ground with a moan. “You’re pathetic.”

Breathing heavily, I rubbed my aching arms and glared at him.

“You could have gotten me killed,” I said between breaths.

“You’re alive, though, aren’t you?” Col picked up my sword and pretended to study it. Then he tossed it next to me, where it hit the stony ground with a clink.

I sighed and took the sword. He was right. I hadn’t died. Asshole.

“Are you too tired to continue?” he asked.

In answer, I got to my feet. “Again.”

Col raised his sword, but I shook my head. “No, someone else.”

He grinned and stepped aside. It was decided I would practice with Magnus, who approached the matter very differently.

“Fighting against an ax is different than against a sword,” he said, getting to his feet, “and even more different if your opponent is so much larger.” He smiled, but it wasn’t unkind. “But the goal is still the same: don’t die.”

I rolled my eyes. “So helpful, Magnus, thanks.”

His eyes twinkled in good humor. “Let’s work on your stance and footwork.”

He spent a few moments demonstrating proper foot placement and how to shift weight between them. Magnus was patient and gentle in his approach, and I found myself relaxing a bit.

“Good,” he said, nodding approvingly. “Now let’s try attacking and defending with the ax.”

We began with simple attacks and defenses, and I quickly realized how much more difficult it was to fight against a giant ax than a sword. Magnus’s weapon was heavy, and he swung it with power and precision. It didn’t move as swiftly as Bloodsong, but it was more likely to knock me off my feet.

I stumbled and fell more than once, but Magnus was always quick to help me up and give me pointers on how to improve.

As the evening wore on, I found myself getting better, more confident in my movements and more aware of my opponent’s. I even managed to land a few hits on Magnus, although they didn’t do much damage to his light armor.

Finally, we stopped for a break. I collapsed against a nearby log, my muscles screaming in protest. Magnus handed me a water skin, and I drank deeply.

“You’re doing well,” he said, sitting down next to me.

I grinned at him, sweetly, then gave Col a pointed look from across the fire. “Thanks, Magnus. You’re a great teacher. Unlike some other people.”

Col scoffed, but watched me with an approving gaze that sent warmth to my middle. Now that I was finally sitting, I realized just how exhausted I was. I leaned back against the log, closing my eyes. The fire crackled and popped, a comforting sound that lulled me into a doze.

My nap was interrupted when Col picked me up and tucked me into our shared bedroll.

I reached for him, but he tucked himself in behind me and wrapped a strong arm around my waist. “Sleep, my little siren. You’ve earned it.”

Even in my haze of sleep, I wanted more from him, but his grip on me was firm. He’d done the same thing the first night of training. “Sleep,” he repeated with a hint of command.

And so I did, wrapped in Col’s embrace, feeling safe and loved in a way that I had never thought possible.

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