Chapter 26 Zara
Chapter twenty-six
Zara
Igaze at the ceiling. The sun isn’t up yet, but I know Alix will come bounding through the doors any minute to ensure I’m ready for training.
I remind myself I asked for this and throw back the comforter.
I’m still stark naked, unable to force myself from the reverie of my tryst with Leer long enough to slip into my nightdress the night before.
I quickly duck into my closet to pull on my robe before someone comes in and gets a show they may not appreciate.
Once I’m covered, I stand at my window and look out into the blackness of the early morning.
The courtyard is empty creating a kind of peace in the absence of courtiers and palace workers scurrying about.
On mornings like this, I sometimes pretend I’m alone in a small cottage with only myself to please and speak for.
I pretend I’m someone else outside of all of the royal political games and responsibilities.
But, as soon as the sun rises, the bustling of all who live within the palace walls will begin, and my fantasy will end.
I sigh, taking in one more view of the empty grounds and of my daydream.
Leer’s right. Masseda has been in a state of blissful forgetfulness since the war.
But why wouldn’t we be? My father brought an end to the fighting years ago.
Here in Masseda, anyway. The same couldn’t be said for the murdered royal family of Gridan or the Solitary villages, but the violence that occurred there were smaller attacks.
Targeted assassinations and minimal uprisings that were squashed almost immediately.
Though I doubt Alfrie would look at the annihilation of his village as a “small attack”.
A tiny orange light catches my eye, and I narrow my gaze trying to make out the figures moving stealthily in the darkest hours of the morning.
Two males creep through the courtyard and up to the castle from around the stables.
One leads the way with a lantern and the other follows a step behind holding a torch light.
Leer and Alfrie sneak closer to the servants’ entrance then disappear through the door beneath my window.
What are they doing out there in the middle of the night?
Leer said he had to help his father with something, but in the Woodlands?
Something’s off, but I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason for them to leave the grounds when my father made us all swear we wouldn’t go beyond the castle walls.
It's probably nothing.
Light begins to peek over the horizon, and I quickly throw on a black tunic over grey trousers. I tie my long hair into a braid, then pull on my worn suede black boots that come to just below my knees and slip out of the door.
I tiptoe down the hall to Emlyn’s rooms, hoping to check on her before Alix comes searching for me for our weapon wielding lessons.
Rays of sunlight streak across the stone floor as they creep in from behind the heavy red velvet curtains lining the corridor.
I pass a couple of guards changing posts, and they pause, bowing at the waist as I stroll to the door at the end of the hall without giving them a second glance.
I don’t want to wake Emlyn, so I gently push open the door and pad into the sitting room. I stop short, not sure if what I’m seeing is real.
Alix lies on top of the comforter next to Emlyn. His blue eyes are dark and the shadow of a beard covers his chin. Exhaustion mars his handsome face as he watches her sleep soundly, caressing her cheek.
“Alix? What are you doing?” I whisper from the sitting room.
He startles and jumps from the bed, thrusting a hand through his black hair. “Uh…I was…she…” He shakes his head and looks at me, “She asked me to stay with her last night. I—I wanted to stay.”
We stare at each other for what feels like an eternity. I don’t know what to say. I know they slept together, but I thought it was a one-time thing. It would appear I’m very wrong. The way he was gazing at her…Alix is completely in love with Emlyn.
He glances at me then turns his attention to Emlyn stirring in the bed.
“Em?” He sits down next to her, taking her hand. “I’m here.”
I perch on the other side of the bed, and smile at Alix as I put my hand over both of theirs. “We’re both here.” I say to her but I’m still looking at Alix. He gives me a slight nod of thanks and leans down to kiss her lips. Emlyn opens her eyes and grins up at him, then at me.
“Guess our secret is out?” Her voice is weak, and she coughs to clear her throat.
“As if you could keep it from me for long.” I wink at her. “I just wanted to see how you were. I’ll give you two some privacy.” I squeeze both of their hands stacked beneath mine and get up from the bed.
“Zara?” Alix shuffles behind me to the door. “Can we maybe keep this between us? I’m not exactly a courtier. My status would suggest I’m not worthy of a lady like Emlyn.”
“That’s bullshit. But, yes, I’ll keep it to myself.” I hold up a finger. “On one condition.”
Alix purses his lips, an eyebrow raised. “And what would that be?”
“You’ve got to teach me how to use daggers today.”
The twin daggers in each of my hands feel light and exquisitely dangerous as I flip them repeatedly in my palms.
“Who taught you how to do that?” Alix sharpens his own blades on a stone near the barracks. He’s wearing only a breast plate today instead of his full armor which gives me a boost of confidence but is also terrifying since I might accidentally kill him.
“No one. Guess I’m just that skilled. Who knows? Perhaps daggers are my thing.” I smirk and proceed to drop one of the blades onto the ground.
He laughs. “Sure.” He examines the edges of his knives, wiping them on his pants. “Okay, let’s do this.” He leads me to the opening where we practiced swordplay the day before. He lowers his daggers to his sides and slides the hilts into his shirt sleeves, concealing the blades behind his hands.
I copy the action, tucking the ends of the daggers into the sleeves of my tunic and flinch when the tip of the one on my right slices into my palm. Warm, sticky fluid dribbles down the side of my hand but I focus on Alix taking a fighting stance in front of me.
“When you’re ready, flick the daggers from your sleeves with a quick movement of your wrists.
Then practice swinging your arms into a two-handed attack.
Like this.” He flicks his wrists and the blades lower swiftly, revealing the sharp tips of the knives.
He squares both shoulders, lifting his arms and colliding the blades as if he were pinning an enemy’s neck between the two knives.
Too easy. I was born to wield these daggers. I flick my wrists to lower the blades from my sleeves but flick too hard and the daggers fall into the dirt, lodging pommel up.
Alix masks a smirk, and he goes to grab the knives, but I beat him to it.
“I can do this,” I say, more to myself, than to him.
I conceal the weapons in my tunic to reset and then jerk my wrists to drop the blades just below my palms. I lift my arms in a squared position, and bring the blades close together with such speed that the one in my right hand goes flying.
It passes directly in front of Alix’s face and sticks right into the wooden door of the barracks. I wince. “Oops.”
Alix is glued to his spot, a mix of terror and admiration on his face. “Are you sure you don’t want to go back to swords?”
I pull a face at him. “I’m trying.”
He yanks the knife out of the wood and hands it back to me.
“I know. Let’s do it again. This time, instead of squaring, try stepping forward and tossing the daggers at the level of your waist after you lower them.
” He shows me the move, and I copy the step without throwing the knives. “Exactly. Just like that.”
I nod and slide the daggers into my sleeves, then flick my wrists to get them into position.
Just as I step forward to toss, Leer’s voice booms from somewhere behind me. “That’s a perfect fighting stance. Well done.”
I jolt at the sound, and the daggers escape my grip, sailing toward a stable groom pushing a wheelbarrow up the hill.
“Look out!” The groom falls to the ground, covering his head, and the daggers land in the bags of grain he’s hauling.
Grain pours out in a flood onto the male’s head from the punctures.
I rush over and help him up. “I’m so sorry. ”
His eyes are wide with fear, but he smiles at me and bows. “Great shot, Your Highness.” He pulls the knives from the bags and hands them to me before hurrying away with his load.
I'm horrible at this.
My head hangs and I drag myself back to my teacher, now joined by my future husband and Alfrie. All eyes are on me, terrified, watching me swing the daggers by my sides as I walk. Alix flinches slightly when I raise them up to hand them back to him. I scoff. “Seriously?”
“I’m just being cautious.” Alix gingerly takes the knives from me and sheathes them.
“Hey, that was a great shot! Not bad for your second day.” Leer beams and he pulls me into his arms. I bury my face into his warm chest. I wish I could stay here forever. Screw fighting.
“Not bad? She nearly killed someone.” Alfrie rakes a hand through his golden hair and catches my eye with a fiery gaze, shooting a wave of heat down my neck. He swiftly looks away, clearing his throat. He shrugs off his coat and shakes out his shoulders, preparing himself for our shifting lesson.
Something else I'm horrible at.
“Yes, but that is the result we want in battle, isn’t it?” Leer kisses my forehead and goes to sit on the grain bags where Alfrie observed my practice the day before.
Alix and Alfrie share a glance that says otherwise, then Alix pats Alfrie on the shoulder as he takes his leave and wanders back to the palace.