Chapter 7
NYRA
“ T hese are too tight.” I tugged at the unforgiving fabric as Wren stood back and assessed me.
“That’s how they’re supposed to be. Fighting in loose clothing is a disadvantage, and I don’t think you can afford any of those.”
I rolled my eyes, exaggerating the gesture as I crossed my arms to block out the sting of pain in my muscles.
After tossing and turning for what felt like hours the night before, I’d finally managed to drift off into a deep sleep that lasted until Wren made so much noise that I had no choice but to wake.
The bed had been nothing like the one I was used to at the palace. It was hard, and the sheets were scratchy, but it was still a blissful divergence from the cold, hard cobblestones I had been sleeping on.
“Here.” She reached forward and pulled a dagger from her vest, the silver blade glinting in the firelight. She then carefully slid it into an empty sheath on my chest, and I could feel the weight of the metal on my skin.
“Thank you.” I swallowed hard because I had given her no reason to be so kind to me.
I wondered if she would still show me that kindness if she knew who I really was. If she knew it was my father who was responsible for the death of her mother.
“Alright, we need to leave, or you’re going to be late.
” She rolled her socks up to her ankles and then grabbed the dark leather boots from under the bed.
She used both hands to quickly pull them on and swiftly tugged at the laces, creating tight knots with each loop.
I glanced over my shoulder for only a moment as she finished and met my reflection in the small mirror mounted above the desk.
I could hardly recognize myself.
I ran my hands down the length of my body, tracing the curves of the leather uniform that clung to my skin. I was dressed head to toe in black fighting leathers, leathers that used to instill so much fear into me, and yet, here I stood, looking as if I was one of them.
But I would never be.
Wren patted her body, making sure she had all her weapons before she led me from the room. We strode down the dimly lit hallway, the faded paintings on the walls peeling in places. When we reached the main entrance, she pushed open the heavy door and a wave of cold, damp air washed over us.
We stepped outside, and I hesitated as I took in the darkness. Firelight strained to fill the void, but its warmth couldn’t make up for the starless sky or the lack of the rising sun.
“What is this place exactly?”
Wren looked around as if she wasn’t sure how to answer me. “The hidden city.”
“I know that much.” I laughed softly. “But how?”
Her expression changed with her thoughts, as her normally bright eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly and her jaw clenched in a subtle show of irritation before she spoke. “Most of the stone buildings you see are ruins.” She waved toward the building we just left. “They are from King Nevan’s rule.”
“What?” I looked around me again. I had heard tales of King Nevan’s time as a ruler, but it was so long ago that those stories had felt like fables. “That had to be…”
“Over three centuries ago.” Wren nodded as we moved over a small bridge, and I carefully watched the dark water as we passed. “A time when our kingdom was at peace. A time that has long since been forgotten.”
A sinking feeling filled my stomach, and a chill raced up my spine as I looked around. There was guilt there that I would never be able to let go of. “How did you all find this?”
“Desperate people will find a way.” Wren shrugged as we made our way through the city, the sound of trickling water and passing boots the only noise on the dirt paths.
“Everything else you see was built by the rebellion. There are small houses built along the sides of the caves. We have our own markets and healers.”
“You don’t have a house here?” I asked stupidly when I knew that she roomed with me.
Her throat worked hard before she answered. “We do, but Dacre and I haven’t lived there since my mother was killed. We prefer to stay in the warrior quarters.”
I nodded in understanding because after my mother died, I had wanted to be anywhere other than that damned castle. It was haunted by all the happy memories of her that I would never get again, cursed with her screams from the day she died.
“And your father?” I had no business asking questions when I was unwilling to share any of my own answers.
Her brows were drawn as she looked back at me. “My father’s love is this rebellion. He doesn’t mind living on his own.”
There was a long swinging bridge in front of us that crossed over the entire width of the river. My fingers felt raw from holding on to the ropes so tightly, but this was the largest part of the river I had seen since I arrived.
The gaping hole in the ground was a dark abyss that stretched as far as I could see. Its depths made my stomach tighten, and I took an instinctive step back, my heart pounding with fear.
Find your magic. I could practically hear my father’s commands echoing in my mind. The water can’t beat you if you use your power.
The ocean had been dark that night, just like the water beneath me.
“We’re almost there.” Wren seemed to notice my uneasiness as she turned toward me and slowed her steps.
The bank on the opposite side was covered in a layer of thick green moss, and I tried to focus on it and it alone as I forced myself across.
I let out a deep breath as my feet hit solid ground and quickly followed Wren away from the water and through a small tunnel that I had to turn sideways to squeeze through. The chill from the rock walls pressing against my uniform seemed to bleed into me, and I shivered.
When we reached the other side, there was a large open space before us. The ground was still covered in dirt and patches of moss, and there was a small beam of sunlight that peeked through the ceiling somewhere far above us.
There were also several floating lanterns that helped illuminate the space, but it was all the people who caught my attention.
We made our way through the crowd, and I noticed all of the different weapons that adorned their bodies.
Some had longswords hanging from ornate scabbards, while others carried short daggers like Wren’s that tucked into their waistbelts and vests.
I spotted a few with arrows jutting out from the quivers on their backs.
Wren tugged me forward, and I scanned the clearing. In the far corner, a cluster of warriors stood in a loose circle, arms crossed and eyes alert. As we stepped closer, their attention shifted to us. Some bobbed their heads in acknowledgment of Wren’s presence.
“Morning, Wren,” one of the men spoke, and I couldn’t help but notice the way his gaze swept over her curves.
“Morning, Tavian,” Wren replied, a smile on her face as she gestured to me. “This is Nyra. She’ll be joining us today.”
Tavian sized me up before nodding. “Welcome.”
“Where’s Dacre?” She looked across the clearing as she spoke, and I felt an uncomfortable heat rising to my cheeks. Despite the fact that Dacre was an ass, it was impossible not to notice how infuriatingly handsome he was.
“Scouting. There was movement noted at the base of the falls early this morning. He should be back soon.” Tavian said it so absently, but I cataloged every one of his words.
What kind of movement?
“Morning.” An older man with dark hair that was graying at the temples stood before the group and cleared his throat.
“We had three groups out scouting last night, and we will send three more today. The rest of you will remain back to help train the new recruits. There are twenty in total that have arrived in the last three weeks.”
His voice was commanding, drowning out the rest of the room. I flinched and my gaze shifted to Wren who was standing perfectly still, her eyes riveted on him.
“Are you scouting?”
She finally turned back to me, her gaze softening slightly. “Not today. Today, I’m with you.”
I couldn’t hide my relief. I didn’t even know her, but I felt more comfortable with her than anyone else here.
“Come on.” She waved me forward, and I followed her toward a white circle on the ground that appeared to be drawn in some sort of powder.
We both stepped inside, and she shook out her arms before she drew all the weapons away from her body and dropped them just outside the circle.
I hesitantly pulled out the one dagger she had given me and did the same.
“This is a sparring circle.” She motioned around the perimeter. “This is where we’ll train, but we won’t use any magic to start.”
My throat constricted as she spoke, and I gave her a single, stiff nod. I should have told her that I didn’t have any power, but I didn’t.
Two people moved into the circle next to us, and I watched them intently as they started to dance around one another. They both still had their weapons, but neither had drawn them.
One of the fighters charged forward and managed to land a kick along the torso of the other, and I winced.
“What kind of training do you have?”
I brought my attention back to Wren as she bent at the waist and touched her toes.
“I’m sorry?”
“Training? Fighting? Weapons? What do you have experience with, and where do you need the most help?” She stood fully, and I jumped at the sound of clashing metal.
“I don’t have any experience.” I said the words quietly for only her to hear.
Her eyes rounded. “At all?”
“No.” I shook my head and balled my hands into fists to stop myself from fidgeting under her assessment.
“Okay.” She nodded as if I wasn’t the most insignificant warrior she had ever trained. “We’ll start simple then.” Wren took a few steps back and gestured for me to follow. “Let’s start with some basic footwork and evasion techniques.”