Kent’s voice was so tender and warm, intimate. I was paralyzed, frozen in every sense of the word, unable to breathe, unable to think. My cheeks glowed with the hottest fire while he just stood at my back, without moving, without trying to touch me. It was torture, unbearably sweet, sensual, and forbidden.
Slowly, as if trying not to startle me, his hand moved from the door to the handle and he placed his hand on top of mine. I closed my eyes, almost shocked by the sensation of his skin against mine. He turned the handle and the door swung open in front of me. I stepped over the threshold more confused than ever before.
CHAPTER EIGHT
TYNAN
Soldiers occupied the larger, open part of the gardens. Numerous men wearing blue leathers trained with rapiers, the standard weapon for guardsmen in the capital. I swung my arm, getting used to the whistling sound that the thin steel produced while cutting through the air. I started fighting when I was a young boy, and I had gone through numerous useless weapons, but never before had I dealt with something so underwhelming. I would bet the idea behind choosing such a weak weapon was to ensure a civilized fight until first blood was drawn.
But, what would be expected from these men should they ever face crawlers instead? Not just one or two, but a whole herd?
I glanced up from my blade, and my eyes shifted fromgroup to group. Many of them had formed bonds and trained as units against each other. That encouraged codependent relationships, which undermined swordsmanship discipline. The leaders of those groups were selected not by merit as warriors, but because they were more aggressive than the others.
“Hey, bodyguard!” someone shouted from the crowd. “What? Do you think you’re better than us? Look at me when I’m talking to you!”
I ignored him, sheathing and unsheathing my good for nothing weapon.
“Look, he doesn't even know how to use a sword!” another voice joined in.
I did not need to look to know that it was just a weaker member from the largest group who wanted to please the leader.
“Are you deaf? I’m talking to you!”
Someone reached out and touched my shoulder. I reacted, more because of instinct than anything else. My body moved, and with one motion, I got ahold of his arm and threw him over my head. He landed on the ground, hitting the side of his body, hard. He could not hide the pain he was feeling. I raised my eyes, silently daring anyone else to challenge me.
“You fucking rat!” Another man stepped closer, drawing his rapier.
Slowly, I unsheath my weapon, watching him pace a circle around me. Anger gleamed in the man’s eyes, but Istayed calm. In many ways, my almost daily training in Darragh had prepared me for situations exactly like these. I was a bit surprised when I realized that the confrontation comforted me more than I thought possible. Fighting was such a familiar part of being me. My body knew what to do, and I knew how to use every advantage against my opponent. I also knew that staying cool headed would give me more opportunities to win than anything else.
I switched my blade from my right hand to my left, and held it closer to my face. Someone laughed.
“He doesn’t know how to fight!”
That was it. That was the burst of confidence he needed to charge at me. I was prepared, and easily deflected his outstretched sword. In one motion, I freed my dagger with my right hand, and slashed his shoulder. His scream made me clench my jaw, but still, there was something satisfying in spilling the first drops of blood from your enemy.
“Cheater!” someone yelled.
What did those delusional fools expect? That both parties would stick to the rules or act civilized during a real fight? Did they ever think that the outcome for the loser could be death or mutilation?
I spun the long, flimsy blade and peered back at the man who kept his distance as he clenched his shoulder. His eyes were wide with anger, but I could clearly detect the edge of fear that was creeping within them. He already regretted starting anything, but his buddies were watching, and his idea of climbing some imaginary ladder of dominance had not lost its appeal yet.
“Are you done?” I asked.
“Fuck you!” He lunged again.
I took a step to the side, blocking his attack with the rapier. While his body was so conveniently placed close to mine, I could not resist booting his knee sideways. A distinctive, and loud, pop sounded. The crowd around us stilled. The man collapsed onto the dirt, screaming and writhing in pain as he clutched his dislocated knee.
So much for being the alpha male.
I straightened and sheathed my blade. If they wanted to take me down, they would have to attack all at once. But in that case, I could easily kill a good dozen of them while injuring even more. And I was certain none of them were ready to face the elder dragons yet.
“Fall in!”
The thundering voice echoed across the grounds. At once, all the guardsmen formed a crooked line facing the officer. Except for the man I just crippled, who struggled getting up.
A tall, broad man, built like a warhorse, stepped into the center, his eyes narrowed as he watched us. His dusty gold uniform and the scars on his face told me he had seen real combat.
He shifted his eyes to the man on the ground, and his upper lip lifted, showing his teeth.
