Ernaline turned to Akadian who had been silent for their entire interaction.
“Your Highness.” She bowed at the waist.
“Please, that’s not necessary.” He waved awkwardly for her to rise and Ambrose’s grin grew even more.
Ernaline pushed one of her dark coils behind her ear that had come loose while she was running, faced Ambrose and asked, “So, what are you going to do?”
Her smile vanished and her voice caught on the words as they came out dry on her tongue. “I don’t know.”
Chapter 34
Lily pulled her foot back in a half circle, crouching down into her fighting stance as she faced Ambrose. Determination set into her elegant features, dark hair tied back, as her muscles tensed with her steps. She brandished her curved blades, crossing them over her chest as she raised them to eye level and dropped her hips. Eyes narrowed, Ambrose held her own sword in front of her body, holding her weight light on her feet, ready to pounce.
Akadian leaned against the wall of the otherwise empty courtyard, watching their match intently. They’d managed to find a yard without countless fighters or mages, in the back of the palace that allowed them some privacy to train away from any prying eyes that could report back to Casimir. The sun was beginning to set, its glow taking over the horizon as the sky turned hues of pink and gold and both women were drenched in sweat from the countless drills Lily had Ambrose working on.
Lily stood firm in her stance, muscles unwavering, eyes flaring.
Ambrose channeled her attention into her feet, into the ground, looking for an echo before it came. She saw it in her mind a fraction of a second before Lily lunged, blades crossing against each other, readying to take Ambrose’s head with one swipe. Moving too fast to see with the naked eye.
But Ambrose wasn’t using just the naked eye.
She easily parried the attack, bringing her sword to meet Lily’s in the middle as she brought her leg around and hooked it behind Lily’s knee, spinning around behind her to kick it out from under her. Lily stumbled forwards, quickly catching it as she twirled her body around and metalsang against metal in their deadly dance.
Lily pressed her, coming harder and faster with each thrust of her swords. Without Magick to help see Lily’s movements, she likely wouldn’t be able to counter yet. Lily was incredible with her speed and precision.
Ambrose ducked under Lily’s blade and placed her palm on the ground—she thrust her magick into the dirt as her skin tingled and the air sparked with her charge. She pushed it until the ground responded, quaking beneath their feet, shaking the entire courtyard.
Lily fought to keep her balance, crouching low to keep a solid stance. Ambrose launched herself, sword raised, as she swung it around to meet Lily’s neck.
With a clash of metal Lily grinned behind her well-shined blades as Ambrose pressed into her. With a fire in her eyes, Lily let out a laugh that started in her belly and filled her chest as she pulled her swords down to her sides.
“You’re getting much better at using Magick in hand-to-hand combat.” She sheathed her weapons into their home on her back. “You’re really beginning to get the hang of it. Your reaction time is quicker too.”
Ambrose grinned. “Still not fast enough to beat you yet.”
Lily returned her smile. “You’ll never be fast enough to beat me.”
“We’ll see about that.” Ambrose tossed her braid over her shoulder and homed her sword at her side.
“Don’t let it get to your head.” Lily punched her shoulder. “Warrior families raise their kids specifically to compete in this tournament in hopes they’ll get to face the rest of the trials and win. Every round they get stronger, faster. Each family and fighter learning from the failures of the previous andstillno one has managed to even get past the tournament. You’ll need more than that to survive.”
Ambrose made a face and stuck her tongue out at her. “Thanks for the reminder.”
“I’m serious.” Lily walked to the wall where they had goblets of water and towels, which she used to wipe the sweat from her face. “You need to be focused. There’s no telling who might be entering that has been trainingin another city or kingdom. Don’t be so foolish to think that the Trial Champions you’ve seen are the only ones that’ll be there. Anything can surprise you, at any time. Youhaveto be ready.”
Lily’s concern was touching but Ambrose knew all this training wasn’t worth much but for her confidence. She couldn’t possibly get stronger than the fighters that were entering the tournament. Not with so little time to spare. If she couldn’t be stronger, she’d have to be smarter. It was in fate’s hands now.
“You’re right, I’m sorry.” Ambrose drank heavily from one of the goblets, draining it completely. There wasn’t enough water in the world to quench her thirst.
“Where did you learn to do Nature Magick anyway,” Lily asked.
“Out in the forest. I don’t know, something about being in the woods, I could just kind offeelwhat to do. Like the plants and dirt are constantly trying to get my attention.” Ambrose shrugged. “Even now I can hear it calling to me beneath us. I can kind of feel…everything? At first it was really overwhelming, like my channels were making so much noise all I could do was silence them. But I think I’m beginning to be able to start picking them out. I can actually feel the Elements. It’s almost like they’ve been waiting for me to be able to hear. It’s still a lot, but it’s getting easier.”
Lily smacked Akadian on the shoulder. “I wish you would’ve invited me on that trip. I should’ve been there. I could’ve helped.”
“Or…” Akadian looked at her through the side of his eye. “You more likely would’ve gotten yourself killed. You’re still just a brittle human and she seems to have taken a liking to you, so,you’re welcomefor keeping you out of danger.”
Lily pulled her weapons from their sheathes with expert ease and crouched back down into her fighting stance. “What did you say?”
