“You will be tired. You will be sore. You will be embarrassed.”
He meets their eyes one by one.
“That embarrassment is a cost you have to pay to learn the skills that will save your life. Save your families. Save your kingdom.”
Silence stretches. Holds.
“I won’t promise you victory,” General Ashborne says quietly. “I will promise you competency.”
Another pause.
“Anyone unwilling to train their body to withstand chaos should leave now. If you would rather flee with your families, do not stay to fight now.”
No threat. No judgment. Just truth.
No one moves.
“Good,” he says. “Now, find a partner.”
Seren drags her eyes across the group, already forming pairs, and eyeing her warily.
Teddy doesn’t falter, just walks toward her, sweat already slicking his brow and creating a sheen over the corded muscles of his forearms.
Seren’s mouth goes dry.
Holy fucking Stars—concentrate.
She admonishes herself, but she’s not in control. Her stomach coils tight at the sight of him like this.
“You’ll be mine for today,” he says, no room for discussion.
Seren knows he means for training, but her mind drifts to other places.
“Rule number one,” General Ashborne casts across the clearing. “If you can’t keep your feet, you won’t keep your life.”
Seren gives a tight nod, and the soldiers shout in a poor attempt at unison, “Yes, General!”
“One person will crouch into a fighting stance. The objective of your partner is to knock you off your feet. And you? You will not let them. Understand?” His voice booms across the clearing.
“Yes, General!”
The army splits off into pairs, and in a heartbeat, feeble men and women crumple to the ground like babies learning to walk.
But Teddy’s eyes aren’t on anyone else. They’re onher—heavy, fixed, and unflinching.
Seren swallows thickly.
“Fighting stance, Calvatere,” he commands, no softness in his tone.
And despite herself, Seren sucks her bottom lip.
Ugh. Not the time—get a fucking grip!
She places her feet shoulder-width apart and lifts her fists in an embarrassing attempt at combat. General Ashborne swats at them like her fists are nought but a bothersome fly. Then he closes the distance between them, looking down at her with a dominance that almost buckles her knees.
“Wider,” Teddy says, nudging his feet between her legs and pushing her heel outward with the toe of his boot.
“Okay,” Seren murmurs, dragging her feet wider.
