CHAPTER 16 #2
“They do now,” she mumbled back. “They didn’t always.
I heard there’s quite a story behind that, but I don’t know it.
Kahvrah is just filling in. It’s one of her usual duties if Wep needs her help with training.
I heard from my mother that Branye, a family friend of ours, is in the healing ward with her husband.
They’re both a part of that ranng, and I guess he was injured on their mission to bring home—”
“Continue,” Wep called out.
We stepped apart. Callagh could be a fountain of gossip, especially when paired with her mother. I wondered if their blessings involved heightened hearing, with how much they seemed to know, but I hadn’t found the right way to ask.
Earth dowsa, like all the elemental dowsae, was done individually.
Callagh shuffled toward the back. I followed, sensing her unease and allowing Lispen and Raif at the front of the mat to take over the lead.
I knew how it felt to be the newcomer and unprepared.
Wep watched my retreat but said nothing.
Guilt prickled through me, but there was no way to explain.
I shouldn’t want his approval—I didn’t need it.
My focus should be on my friend, who needed my support.
Even so, my eyes kept drifting back to him.
We continued through the full set of elementals—earth dowsa, then water, then fire, which was performed from a crouching stance.
By the time Wep called for another two-minute rest, my legs were sore and tight.
I groaned and stretched my hands above my head, readying myself for air dowsa.
I folded forward, relishing the burning stretch in my hamstrings and calves.
Why did he have to change training today of all days?
“You’re in quite the state today.”
I shot up, overbalancing. Firm hands gripped my waist from behind. Reflex kicked in. I stepped, pivoted, and slammed my palm into a wall of chest.
“Relax,” Ell chuckled, taking the blow in stride. He flashed a playful smile. “You sure do let him rile you. I’m not judging, though I do have to question your taste a bit.”
“I’m sorry?” I blurted.
Ell waved it away with a hand. “No need—you didn’t hurt me. Plus, it was a spectacular view.”
“In stance,” Wep shouted over the chatter. He moved into position with the opposite ranng, next to Bracht.
My cheeks heated as I hurried forward. This time, I made sure to place myself in the middle, surrounded by the protection of my ranng.
“Begin!”
Air dowsa. It was the newest to me, but we’d practiced it several times.
Still, every movement was a nightmare. I fumbled, overcorrected, and at one point, flat-out forgot the next sequence and was forced to stand there like an idiot until my brain caught up with everyone else. Teke and Ivank both shot me glances.
Teke mouthed, What’s up? when I turned left instead of right and ended up mirroring them.
Raif glanced over his shoulder, then repositioned himself directly in front of me.
My face kept burning. I hated making mistakes, and the only thing worse was the special attention everyone was giving me.
Everyone, that is, except for Wep. He kept his eyes trained on the back wall, leading the opposite ranng in a ridiculously complex dowsa with perfect fluidity and precision.
He held long daggers in each hand, they spun and sliced with his every movement.
A few times, one flew in the air as he flipped around.
Every time, his hand ended up in the exact right place at the exact right moment to catch it and continue.
Even through my embarrassment, I could admit that his movements were a work of art.
His body was a joy to behold. I caught Callagh staring at him more than once, so it seemed I wasn’t the only one distracted by him.
Maybe Callagh’s lean frame and shockingly blond hair would attract Wep.
Something unpleasant twisted in my chest. I forced my gaze forward, trying to banish that pointless line of thought, and stumbled again.
I cursed aloud in Inraen and imagined the scolding look Gerta would’ve given me if she were here.
Off to the side, Ell chuckled. I glanced his way, and he smirked.
My jaw hit the floor, making him laugh harder.
Fuck my fucking face. He spoke Inraen?
Mercifully, the dowsa ended.
“Take ten minutes,” announced Wep.
I booked it. I lurched out of the training room and up the stairs that led out to the main hall.
My intention was to run back to my rooms and hide, but Callagh would be on me in an instant.
On impulse, I flung myself into the Relaxation Room at the last second, slamming the door behind me.
It was all too tempting to collapse onto the pile of pillows and bury my face in them, but I was hot all over, my face burning more than the rest.
This was stupid. I was being stupid. Mistakes had never affected me this much before.
“What’s wrong with me?” I pushed my memories of the afternoon at Vaya’la.
“Good, you’re learning to use the binding well.”
That wasn’t the response I expected. “What else can it do?”
The door creaked open.
Only one person would look for me here first. I looked up, and for a second, I was relieved. Then, my breath hitched. A wry smile flashed at me through the dim light. My heart sank, even though I told it not to.
“Hiding away in here?” Ell asked.
“Yes.” There was no point in lying.
“Do you mind if I…?” He pointed at the pillows beside me. I shook my head, and he plopped down. “What’s this about? Surely, my brother doesn’t put you this much on edge.” He grinned. “Then again, he does have a way of intimidating people, doesn’t he?”
I tried to smile and failed.
He nudged me with his shoulder. “You know, when we were kids, everyone assumed he was the older brother, even though I’m two years older and was quite a bit taller than him at the time.
” He looked at me with those ice-blue eyes.
There was something kind and gentle that touched them.
“It’s because he was so serious, and I was always looking for fun. ”
Ell reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, then his finger traced down my jaw. I stiffened and willed myself not to pull away. I couldn’t stifle my shudder.
“Do you like having fun?” he whispered.
He leaned toward me, and I became overwhelmingly conscious of how close we were. The entire side of his body pressed against mine, his face a matter of inches away and ready to close in. Warning bells rang in my mind.
“I don’t—”
The door to the room burst open.
I jumped, flinging myself away from Ell.
Perched awkwardly on the pillows, as I was, I went flying toward the floor.
I threw my hands out, catching myself at the last second, but smacking my wrist against the table corner on the way down.
I swore, sat up, and pulled it to my chest. Behind me, Ell’s eyes danced with mirth.
Wep stood in the doorway, eyes like dark storms. However, he wasn’t looking at me. All his fuming intent was focused on Ell, who bore it with an unwavering smile.
“We resume in one minute,” he gritted out through a clenched jaw. His eyes never left his brother until he turned, leaving the door wide open.
“My, my, testy.” Ell rose to his feet and offered me a hand.
I took it without thinking, then hissed as he pulled me up by my freshly injured wrist.
“Do you think he’ll pout all week? Maybe he’ll stay holed up in his training room and spare us all from his moods.”
I just stared at him. He was not at all rattled by his brother. Then again, he had known Wep his whole life. It must have built up his tolerance.
“If he does, I want to take you out to the lower city myself and show you the real Drakh.” He sauntered out, but not before throwing a tinkling, “Come along,” and a wink over his shoulder.
“I don’t like that one,” Vaya’la said.
I wasn’t so sure I did either.
Back in the training room, we were paired up for hand-to-hand sparring. The other ranng was in a semicircle surrounding Ell and Wep, who were warming up with blunted short swords off to the side.
“Ahem, eyes over here.”
I looked to Lex, who was bouncing on his toes and quirking an eyebrow at me. I grinned. “Let’s do this.”
Lex was still far better than me, but I was improving.
My hits landed more often than not. Each blow caused actual grunts from my peers, and I finally understood the need to pull punches.
Even the dowsae movements were making connections in my mind.
When Lex attacked high, I used pieces from fire dowsa to counter.
When he reversed and kicked low, air dowsa helped me leap out of reach.
I was beginning to feel the rhythm of a fight.
Like the dowsae, there was a dance to it.
I could see the elegance, and even though my body wasn’t as strong as Lispen’s or as graceful as Helene’s, I understood my goal and could imagine how to get there.
A clash of swords, louder than the rest, drew my attention. Lex and I both turned, abandoning our sparring entirely.
“Well, fuck me sideways,” Lex breathed with a low whistle.
I couldn’t have agreed more.
Wep and Ell were a flurry of movement. Their arms and short swords were in constant motion, nearly impossible to track.
How they managed to counter each other was a mystery, and judging by the others who had stopped to watch, I wasn’t the only one who thought so.
They moved in a way that only a lifetime of training could build.
I couldn’t tell who had the advantage. All I saw was snapping muscles and a flurry of blades.
“Wep has him,” Raif predicted at my side.
“Maybe not,” Helene replied. “Ell keeps driving him back.”
“He’s baiting,” added Ivank.
“And to think, Serae, one day you’ll have all that between your—ow!” Lex rubbed the back of his head.