Chapter 11 – Vale
VALE
Aleksander’s sword struck mine as the skin-changer pressed forward.
Sweat dripped down my spinal column, but I smirked, hoping to goad my sparring opponent into doing something stupid. To test if his training was well-rounded.
“Tell me, do all fylgjarns neglect their sword training for an escape behind the eyes of their animal?”
He snarled, lurched a step forward and pushed into me again with surprising strength. The smell of his sweat washed over me. “As if I don’t feel your arm’s trembling, oh brawny one.”
A laugh tripped off my lips. After our first confrontation back at Valrun, I’d had little chance to get to know Aleksander, the most noticeable Hawk Seed among the rebels.
Perhaps the only one. Given our time together, though, I was beginning to understand that my mate’s half-brother was cheekier than I’d imagined.
His appearance favored Isolde, but his attitude was a bit more like Thyra’s.
I spun, the foreign steel sliding up and away. Before he could bring it back down, Skelda was there again, metal on metal, and I shoved him to the right. Aleksander stumbled backwards and fell to the stone floor. My sword tip hovered over his neck.
“Yield.”
“Fates, fine! You win. As if everyone didn’t already predict that.”
I held out a hand. “Nice round. You should spar with Qildor next. He could teach you a thing or two.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Aleksander found his feet and glanced upward, as if searching for his hawk.
His face fell when he seemed to remember that she was back at Valrun, waiting for Aleksander to take her over and inform the rebels if they’d be moving south or not.
Still waiting for Lord Balik’s word, as we all were.
“Who are you targeting next?” Aleksander asked.
“I believe you mean who am I teaching or practicing with?”
“Whatever you say.”
“Actually, I’m taking a break.” I darted a glance at Isolde and Thyra, sparring not too far away. Judging by the lack of strength and control in their motions, they’d finish soon. They were merely trying to out-stubborn the other.
“Next time then.”
Aleksander and I parted, and I made my way around the perimeter of the vast training room. Swords continued to whine as they cut the air and metal clanged, both sounds that made me feel in my element.
I watched each match with a keen eye. If anyone required help, or might benefit from a pointer, I stored that information away to share later. As it turned out, there were many tips to give because it wasn’t just the knights and warriors who had congregated in the training room after breakfast.
Much to my surprise, Saga, Marit, and the Balik sisters had opted to join too. Saga might never be a decorated soldier, and she did not naturally take to combat practice, but it brought me relief to know that she wanted to be stronger and able to defend herself.
The only people missing had good reason to be absent.
The scholars—Duran, Clemencia, Arie, and Anna—were scouring the books we’d brought from Valrun Castle.
Looking for information on Shadow Fae magic.
Lord Riis was making himself scarce by visiting his brothels in Myrr.
And Thantrel was back in the healers’ sanctuary, hoping to be cleared to train as normal.
On the very far side of the room, three blurs fought one another. The vampire sisters. My fingers flexed keenly around Skelda’s grip. Once Sian and Thordur finished their rounds, we might form a trio to go up against the Red Assassins.
I paused my rounds and contented myself with watching Sian use his light magic to tease Princess Bavirra as they sparred.
The dwarven princess never angered over the jabs of light that Sian flung at her between blows.
Perhaps because she was finally living out her dream—far away from her kingdom, walking the wider realm.
I recalled the first time I’d been tasked with leading an army against an orc horde. It felt like having an adventure too.
“Stars, you’d think that Thyra wouldn’t be quite so vicious, seeing that she loves me now.
” My mate appeared at my side, sweat beading her forehead and smelling strongly of smoked vanilla.
I pulled her close, savoring the feel of her, the muscle she had put on beneath the soft curves that I’d admired when we first met.
I planted a kiss on the top of her head.
“What good would that do you, sister?” Thyra sang, her tone smug, only paces behind her twin. “We’re training for war. Not a hair braiding competition.”
Isolde snorted. “Not that I’d win that either.”
“Correct.”
Last night, Lord Balik had merely asked more questions, not delivered the sisters an answer to their question of an alliance. Since then, the Falks had been on edge, but sparring seemed to be a good way for Isolde and Thyra to distract themselves.
“Didn’t you say you had something to do?” Isolde retorted, a fresh pink hue rising in her cheeks.
Her twin sniggered. “I’m on my way out.”
She swaggered out of the room, clearly pleased with how she’d performed that day. And how she’d gotten a rise out of her twin.
“She was tiring, too,” I assured my wife. “I could tell.”
“Not quickly enough.”
“She’s been training and fighting longer than you, Force. Don’t let it get you down.” My fingers laced through hers. “And it seems like your sister might enjoy goading you as much as sparring with you. Don’t make that easy on her either.”
Isolde looked up at me from beneath those long eyelashes. Tempting me even if she did not mean to. “I’m not bad by any means—”
“Far from it. For someone who has been training only a few moons, you’ve learned quickly.”
“But it seems like I should learn faster. Who knows who I’ll find myself face to face with next week?” She rolled her neck out.
“Are you sore?”
“No but I am feeling off today. The magic inside me is restless and acting odd. I can’t pinpoint why though.” Her palm rested against her belly as if trying to calm the darkness inside her.
She didn’t have to explain that she meant her shadow magic.
I pulled her closer and sealed her lips with mine. My mate tasted as sweet as ever and it took great restraint to not sweep her off her feet and return to our suite.
“Will Thyra return?” I asked when we came up for air. “I could show you a few moves to knock her off her feet.”
Isolde smirked. “Not any time soon. She was going to check on the Scholars and then rest.”
“Rest?”
“I guess she didn’t sleep well. Last night we brought up the matter of the rebels, and Thyra is worried that even if Lord Balik allies with us, he will not accept them.
I think she also worries about the Fr?r Crown being left alone.
” Isolde patted the sword at her side. The legendary Sassa’s Blade. “A sword fits in better than a crown.”
The Fr?r Crown, a Hallow of Winter’s Realm, like Sassa’s Blade and the Ice Scepter, had not affected me as it had my mate, and yet I still did not trust the thing.
It had once shown Isolde a vision. One that combined with the fact that the Crown had heated and cooled as we walked through the mountain towards the Shadow King, made me think it was manipulative.
Isolde gestured to where many of our friends still battled. “Watching Qildor today made me realize I don’t know all of my friends’ powers.”
“You didn’t get to spar with him at Frostveil. He was too injured from the whipping.”
“Yes, and I didn’t know Marit wielded earth magic. Back at the castle, Sayyida only trained her with weapons.” She let out a breath. “To be fair, I also forgot that Sian is such a good light wielder.”
She stared in the direction of my friend, who let off a blast of light so powerful, we both looked away, Isolde scrunching up her face as she did so. “Back in Avaldenn, I had no magic, so I focused on taking in the details of swordplay.”
“House Balik isn’t called the Golden House just because they possess an abundance of gold. They’re famous for producing many limiters. Baenna is one too.”
“What about Eireann and the other Baliks?”
“Eireann has winter magic, like Filip, but not as powerful, which is why though she’s older, he’s the heir. Eireann wields her magic as frozen water. I’m not sure about the other four Balik children. They didn’t come to court as often as those you know well.”
“Yesterday I only saw two teen girls and a boy who I didn’t recognize.”
“One is a baby. Likely with their maid.”
“Ah. Another large family, like in Dergia. They’re blessed.” A wistful look crossed her face. We’d rarely spoken of our future life beyond saying that we both wished for younglings.
“Perhaps one day, we’ll have that,” I said softly. “If that’s what you want. And if the stars see fit to give us such blessings.”
Her face swept up, and her violet gaze met mine. “More than anything, I crave family. Of course, I already have it with you, Saga, my sister, and my friends, and maybe it’s greedy, but I want more. Do you?”
“I want as many younglings as you and the dead gods see fit to give us.”
She kissed me again, her curves pressing into the harder lines of my body in a way that made me ache. Fates, would I ever get enough of my mate? It did not seem possible.
“Sorry to break up this love fest,” a voice cut through our moment and when we broke apart, it was to find Aleksander, Bac, and Qildor standing a few paces away.
“Back for more?” I asked the fylgjarn.
“I wasn’t the one who needed a breather,” Aleksander teased back. “But not quite. We were talking about something and wondered if you’d considered it.”
“Don’t make us wait forever before you get on with it, brother,” Isolde teased.
Aleksander’s face softened as he sent a wink at my mate.
Since learning that he had not one but two sisters, Aleksander had taken every chance to get to know Isolde.
To bond. She grinned, which was likely what he’d wanted, and he resumed training his attention on me. “You’re the Warrior Bear, Vale.”