Page 44 of Fated to the Demon Lord

We drew the sword at our waist.

Do you have any familiarity with sword fighting, Denara?

Next to nothing.

Your body is weak and untrained. I’ll show you the moves most often used in fights. The more you practice them, the stronger and more flexible your body will grow, allowing our combat to become seamless.

Show me.

Vaelor guided me through several sword movements, aligning my body perfectly how he desired and showing me striking and blocking poses.

Now we’ll do it again, but faster, he said.

My body responded to his commands in easy balance as one. Each swing was sure and precise. I’d never moved like this, disciplined yet skilled. Despite the stances being sharp and exact, it had its own sense of flow that I found freeing.

How did you learn to fight? I asked.

Every male of Kingdom Aeria is required to serve time in the army. As sons of the nobility, my parents spared no expense in training me and my brother.

After a few more times of running through the stances, he faded out of me into existence.

A small ache gathered in my chest as if I missed him being inside me. “What are you doing?”

“Run the positions again without my help.”

I did, but it didn’t feel as natural nor as clean, and my muscles trembled and ached from exertion.

“Keep practicing, and when you tire, rest. I’ll have the innkeeper send you food.” He headed for the door.

I lowered the sword. “Where are you going?”

“I told you. I’m going scouting.”

My breath caught in my throat. I may have tried to escape earlier that day, but I finally grasped how dangerous my situation was, and the thought of him leaving left me ill. “What if I said I don’t want you to?”

“You don’t command me, human.”

I twisted my hands, nerves shooting through me. “I just…I mean…”

“Denara, I have made you as safe as I can, considering the circumstances we are in. But I must do this.” He stepped away. “I’ll be back. Do not stay up for me. It’ll be late when I return.”

He turned and walked through the door, leaving me alone.

Twelve

Ipaced back and forth, the inn’s wooden floorboards squeaking beneath my feet with every pass. He was gone, and the anxiety in my stomach wouldn’t leave.

His words had been the same promise my mother had given on the day she disappeared. The same firm tone, the same expression that had been in her eyes.

Gods, I was useless to Vaelor. Why would he stay with me? What had I done for him besides give him a busted wing he had to live with for hours? If I were him, I’d probably have behaved as he had. Take the helpless human to an inn, leave her there, and continue my task on my own.

I ran my hands over my face. What a strange change only a few hours had wrought in me. The last time Lord Vaelor left me alone, I’d searched for any possible way of escape. Now dread consumed me that he’d never return.

I took a slow breath and forced myself to stop. I needed something that would take my mind off my worries. Stepping over to the pack, I lifted the books out and examined each one. They were my sole source of distraction and calm in my chaotic existence. Many nights I had remained awake, perusing and learning from my mother’s volumes to quell anxieties regarding how I’d look after and feed Gerand.

I selected the book about hedge witch spells, took it over to the bed, and crawled onto its soft covers. Leaning against the massive headboard, I opened the book, letting the smell of old parchment soothe me. Running my hands over the leather binding, I settled down to read.

The second section of the book focused on the uses of specific plants. Learning the properties of those plants would be far more useful—assuming their applications weren't limited to magic alone. Before I opened to that section, I turned a few pages into the first part on defensive and nature spells out of curiosity.