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She glanced at him, almost startled. The rumors of the king’s distraction with her had already started. “Enthrallment?” she said with feigned ignorance.
“Are you not the hari that has been installed in his wing? The first ever. Our king is not ruled by desire, yet you are the concubine who causes his cock to harden upon seeing her.”
Tehdra blinked at his crudeness, and heat slid in her veins.
“Ahhh, she blushes. I can indeed see the fascination,” came his low, sexy drawl.
He laughed when she held her head straight, her cheeks burning bright.
“You are a sheep surrounded by wolves, hari Tehdra. It does not bode you well to be innocent and appear weak here. Yet you are a refreshment, and I can see why Ajali covets you.”
She felt the intensity of his gaze as his eyes lashed her figure in a slow, intense perusal.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. Innocent and weak. It was not intentional that he saw her as such, but it would benefit her deception. Her skin was so pale that any heat she felt from the thought of Ajali made her blush. Innocent and weak. She could kill this man before he released his flames to tangle with her, but she would utilize it to her means if possible. First, distrust needed to be abated.
“You refer to your king as Ajali?”
“I am Gavyn, a High Duke from the house of Westk’arr. I am one of the king’s personal blades and his friend.”
“So you are a warrior in his army?”
“I do not belong to his army. I am one of his blades.”
She did not understand, but she did not press. In the Darkage, they were given rank because of their predatory might and skill, not for noble blood and wealth that could be traced for millennia. And once you were given a title, you were a warrior, a part of the king’s army.
They came upon the battlement, and Princess Xian was already present. She had two swords in her hands that she held with ease. The battle arena was a wide, open, massive space. The walls boasted more weapons than Tehdra had ever seen in one room. Swords of all sizes and shapes, various battle axes and daggers adorned the walls. As she approached, the princess threw a sword to Tehdra. She lunged and caught the blade. Her hands slid on the hilt, and she tightened her grip. Her façade at being untrained should be easier to execute since they were t
raining with swords. She had never held a sword before now.
“Xian!” A harsh snap from Gavyn.
Tehdra looked down to see blood seeping from a wicked cut in her hand where the blade had sliced deep. She gripped the sword and shifted her thumb that had slipped below the hilt.
“I am well,” she said and glanced at Gavyn. “This is my first time holding a sword, and I did not grip it properly.”
“Your first time?” Xian asked while observing her intently.
Tehdra suspected what the princess had been looking for and why she’d thrown the sword at her—searching for reflexes that would have betrayed Tehdra.
“Forgive me,” Xian said her distress genuine. “I was not aware that you were so untutored.”
Tehdra smiled inside. “Please think nothing of it, the blade barely nicked me.”
The princess nodded. “Then let us begin.”
Tehdra walked towards her with the unfamiliar weight in her hands. She relaxed her muscles and concentrated all efforts on not moving with the shadows. The princess showed her the rudiments of how to hold the sword, parry and thrust, and how to attack and defend; then they danced together for what seemed like forever. Tehdra had seen the shift in Xian—distrust to respect and tentative trust.
Hours later, Tehdra ached in a good way. The sound of clapping reached her, and she glanced at Gavyn. Respect gleamed in Gavyn’s eyes, and Tehdra dipped in a mocking, shallow curtsey.
A loud crash resounded from the other side of the battlement. Lady Sascha had arrived after Tehdra had started training, and for several minutes had observed with a contemptuous sneer. Now, Lady Sascha danced with the sword as she dueled with two partners. She was beautiful, her movements fluid and swift.
The princess touched Tehdra’s shoulder. “Lady Sascha is enraged that you are in the King’s wing. Ignore her and whatever she may do.”
Tehdra suppressed her surprise. This was the first time the princess had engaged her outside of showing her the form to hold with her sword. “I am not rattled by the countess’ anger.”
Xian nodded in approval. “You are a fast pupil. You did well today, and your chakra strength is amazing. I will inform kalija of your potential.”
Tehdra smiled graciously at the praise. “Thank you for your time, Princess Xian. Sword mastery is indeed your domain.”
