Page 63 of On a Barbarian World

She made her way to the training yard. She heard the clang of swords and saw a small crowd of spectators had gathered.

She pushed through the villagers, and heard the whispers of how strong the warlord was.

“He was at death’s door, but now look at him,” one woman said.

“I’m looking.” Her friend let out a gusty sigh. “The warrior is a mighty fine sight.”

Aurina cleared the crowd in time to see Kavon strike his sword against the sword of one of his warriors. The warrior stumbled back and landed in the dirt. The crowd cheered.

Yes, the warlord was a mighty fine sight, indeed.

Kavon called out to his warriors, and with laughs and slaps on the back, they ended their training. Aurina walked toward him, and when he saw her coming, he stopped, pressing the point of his sword to the ground.

God, that beautiful blade suited him. It was strong and deadly, but beautiful at the same time.

“Aurina.” His eyes flickered gold, the corners of his lips lifting.

She felt an instant flush of heat. “Kavon.”

“You are supposed to address me as warlord out here.”

“You aren’t my warlord.”

He raised a brow. “Am I not?”

That heat intensified. “Kavon⁠—”

“I like the way you say my name.”

“I came to talk about Durendal.”

His smile slipped away.

“No, listen.” She drew in a deep breath. On the way out of the house, she’d practiced what she planned to say a hundred times in her head. “I spent time with your mining supervisors. They’ve given me maps of the old Riom mining tunnels. I’ve planned a route I think will take us to where the ship would have crashed.”

He made a noise, but she hurried on.

“I’ve made a list of gear and supplies we’ll need to navigate the old mine.” She dragged in another breath, aware that his face was impassive as he watched her, and she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “I saw some tech of mine when I got the medscope. We should bring the medscope and the scanner. It’ll make the journey much easier.”

“I think⁠—”

She wasn’t letting him dismiss her ideas outright. “And lastly, I have another idea. I think we should get some of your warriors to create a diversion to distract Drog. Keep him busy, so he doesn’t know we’re heading to the mines.”

She finished and clenched her hands together.

Kavon was quiet, looking at her steadily.

“Well?” she prompted. It was best he started all his “impossibles” and “absolutely nots” now, so she could rebut them and bang some sense into his head.

“I agree.”

She blinked. “What?”

“It is a sound plan.”

She dropped her hands to her sides. “I was expecting you to put up a fight.”

He leaned closer. “Believe me, I do not want you in danger. Especially now that I have tasted the pleasure of your sweet body.”