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“What’s gotten intoyou, Morgan?” Sir Ector bellowed.
I slammed against the wide-eyed squire, smashing my elbow into his breastplate and shoving him up against the wooden fence, my sword to his throat.
I grinned, panting hard, and saw a look of sheer terror come into the poor boy’s eyes.
“Just happy to be back training is all,” I called back, releasing the boy and waving him off.
He started to scamper out of the ring. I hadn’t meant I was dismissing him.
“Hey! Where are you going?” I shouted after him. “We’re not finished yet.”
“He’s done, Morgan. You’ve scared the poor lad. He’s probably running back to his mother,” Sir Ector bellowed again from the side of the ring. He threw up his hands. “Will you kindly stop terrorizing my squires?”
“Just putting the fear of the Three into them, Sir Ector,” I called back sweetly. “A little hard training never hurt anyone. Much. Well? Who’s next?”
I strode towards where Sir Ector stood near the fence, feeling the blood racing in my veins. It had been nearly five hours since Galahad had brought me down to the practice yard. Nearly five hours since I had thought of Florian Emrys.
My body ached gloriously and I knew I would have a wonderful sleep tonight.
After I had finished pushing all the furniture in my room against the door.
“Who’s next? Who’s next?” Sir Ector repeated. “Look around you. It’s past suppertime, Morgan. That was the last squire.”
“There are still some men practicing. Those knights over there.” I squinted. “Is that Dame Halyna?”
“Yes, Dame Halyna training with Sir Lucan,” Sir Ector said drily. “Shall I call her over for you? I’m sure she’d be thrilled.”
I scratched my chin dubiously. “I suspect you are lying and that she’ll be furious with me.” I turned away, slinging my sword over my shoulder carelessly. “But yes, call her over. Tell her the princess demands it. Tell her... Tell her anything you wish. But bring me someone. Anyone.”
I was being a spoiled brat and I knew it. This was not how I ordinarily behaved.
Lancelet and I admired Dame Halyna, but we were petrified of her, too. I couldn’t believe I had really demanded Sir Ector tell her she’d be serving as my next training partner.
“It would serve you right if I did exactly as you asked,” Sir Ector called. I could hear the aggravation in his voice. There was something else there, too. I couldn’t pinpoint it. I stopped in my tracks, suddenly worried Galahad had mentioned my injuries to his father. But no. Galahad wouldn’t do that.
Regardless, Sir Ector was starting to look concerned. And that concern would soon become a fatherly “talk.” I didn’t walk to talk. I wanted to fight.
“Why not get cleaned up, put your gear away, and come have dinner with Galahad and me?” Sir Ector suggested. “We’re joining Dame Halyna in the dining hall tonight.”
For the nobles who had the king’s favor–and thankfully, Sir Ector and his family were included in these—the dining hall was basically an open invitation to join a rowdy nightly feast.
“Can’t,” I called back. “Need to keep training. Not even near tired yet.”
I began swinging my sword at the practice dummy in the far corner of the ring. Swish. Swish. Stab. Stab. Pierce.
“I suppose a princess does not need to eat like other mortals,” a familiar voice drawled.
I whirled about. Kairos Draven stood leaning over the wooden fence.
“I’ll spar with her, Sir Ector. There’s no need to bother Dame Halyna,” he said, looking over at the older knight.
“I have no wish to spar with you.” I lifted my chin.
“And I’m quite sure Dame Halyna has no wish to spar withyou. Are you really going to pull her away at your whim like a spoiled child?”
I glared at him, then glanced across the yard at where Dame Halyna and Sir Lucan had paused their practice and were standing talking.
“Fine,” I spat. “Let's begin. I hope you’re not too tired.”
