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But the Warsword didn’t respond.
Then, it became clear. He had told her he’d take her straight to Esyllt. What he’d failed to mention was that a sparring session would be in full swing.
When they arrived at the armoury where the weapons master was indeed shouting at a trio of shieldbearers, it took all of Thea’s willpower not to baulk.
Twenty or so young men’s eyes snapped up to Hawthorne in awe and then slid to her suspiciously. To Thea’s dismay, she spotted Seb in the crowd, his knuckles turning white as his gaze fell upon her and he gripped his practice sword menacingly.
Thea tensed. If he’d disliked her because of that one self-defence lesson all those years ago, his hatred would know no bounds now that she was infiltrating his shieldbearer cohort.
‘Hawthorne,’ Esyllt ceased his reprimanding and bowed his head to the Warsword. ‘What can I do for you?’
Hawthorne jutted his chin in Thea’s direction. ‘New recruit.’
Everyone stared openly. Seb was seething.
‘What’s that?’ Esyllt said, cupping a hand to his ear as though he’d misheard.
‘New recruit,’ Hawthorne repeated. ‘The rulers approved her petition, and she now has permission to train as a shieldbearer.’
‘I see.’
‘I’ll leave her with you then, Esyllt.’
‘As you wish,’ the weapons master replied, frowning slightly.
Hawthorne nodded and turned his horse back towards the fortress, facing Thea. He glanced pointedly over his shoulder, surveying the now angry looking men.
‘Well, Alchemist,’ he spoke quietly.
The reversion to her former title didn’t go unnoticed, nor did it sit well with Thea.
But the Warsword seemed determined to be cold. ‘This will not be easy.’
Thea dismounted her mare and passed the reins up to him. She ignored her flushing cheeks, pushing her shoulders back. ‘Who said I wanted easy?’
Hawthorne’s callused fingers brushed hers, sending a bolt of energy through her as his intense silver gaze lingered on her for a moment. Then, he rode off without another word, her horse in tow. Thea stared after him, her chest tight, wondering when she’d see him again, wondering if the quiet moments they had shared together would simply fall away for him, if he’d remember her at all.
To his credit, Esyllt did not miss a beat. He threw Thea a wooden practice sword, which thankfully she caught, and waved her towards one of the younger looking shieldbearers.
‘You’re with Kipp,’ he told her.
‘My name’s Thea, Sir —’
‘I don’t care,’ he said bluntly, facing the group once more.
Refusing to blush, Thea gripped her own wooden weapon and went to stand by the young man Esyllt had pointed to. He was long-limbed with a wiry build, his auburn hair flopping into his eyes and he offered a sheepish grin as she approached.
‘I’m Kipp. Kipp Snowden,’ he added unnecessarily.
Thea had already noticed he was holding his sword incorrectly. She gave him a polite nod and turned her attention back to Esyllt, but not before sensing the biting resentment rippling off the shieldbearers around her. Angry scowls were aimed her way, many of the recruits muttering bitterly, others greeted her with twisted mouths and unkind smiles, while some openly shook their heads in disapproval at her presence.
Thea trained her gaze on Esyllt, ignoring the impulse to flee.
‘I want fifteen minutes of sparring,’ Esyllt told them sharply. ‘Consider it a warm-up. And no broken bones today, Sebastos.’
A sour taste filled Thea’s mouth. So, Seb was a bastard to everyone.
‘Fifteen minutes, starting now.’
