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I threw a punch at Ronan’s head, which he easily dodged, before I swiped out with a wooden dagger. We were only sparring so there was no reason to use the real thing and actually risk injury.
The practice room had been empty since we came in and with the banquet having only ended a couple of hours ago, I doubted we'd get anyone interrupting us. If we did then we could always use one of the rooms exclusive to the Sunkissed Court. Each court had their own version of everything as well as a mutual one. It was supposed to encourage friendly behavior, but not too much. We weren't supposed to fight among ourselves, but if it ever came down to that the courts were completely prepared to cut themselves off from the other.
The room was big enough to hold a whole squadron of warriors but there wasn't nearly enough equipment for them all to train individually which forced us to train with others. The idea being that we could learn more from interacting with others than just keeping to ourselves. It was good in theory, but in reality it just meant that people only came in pairs with someone they were comfortable training with.
“Are you even trying?” he taunted, batting my hand away like a cat with a mouse.
I grunted at him as I kicked out with one leg, trying to catch him behind the knee so I could bring him to the ground. Ronan dodged again though and I was starting to wonder just how off I was exactly.
“Are you still upset about what happened with Senara?” Ronan wasn’t even out of breath as he circled me.
Anger flared white hot within me. “Of course I am!” I jabbed out at him again, following up with a hook that should have floored him. If it hit.
I took a step away from him. This was getting nowhere.
“It was unfortunate that she couldn’t pick up the moon blades, but she’s strong and with you’re help I have no doubt that after some training she’ll be able to manage it,“ Ronan soothed.
I didn’t want to be soothed though, and it wasn’t just them humiliating her in front of everyone either. “She was almost assaulted by some random noble who thought she was an easy mark, because she is right now. Then, after I save her I go back into the great hall and she’s there with that fucking bard of all people.” I began to pace like a caged animal. I felt like one, too.
Ronan frowned. “What bard?”
“The one that people always talk about. Claiming he’s a product of a mixed court relationship, or worse, that he’s actually a wood elf that’s infiltrated the courts and is a spy for the elf kingdom.” The words took some of the wind from my angry sails. It was a ridiculous notion. Why would the elves need a spy in the fae courts? We weren’t exactly at odds with one another, though we weren’t excessively friendly either. Our people hadn’t warred with one another in centuries though.
After a long pause Ronan said, “Oh, I think I know who you mean.” He frowned. "Did you warn her to stay away from him?"
"I wish I could have," I grumbled starting to pace. "But she wouldn't even look at me."
"There has to be a reason for a change in her attitude. Did you do something?" Ronan asked. He knew me well enough to know that if something had changed it was most likely my fault.
I shrugged, feeling the anger morph into dejection. "I don't know, probably. I can never seem to do the right thing when it comes to her."
"Tell me about it," Ronan said, and I knew exactly what he meant. He hated the fact that Senara and I had been intimate. We were from different courts, and as such we were expected to stay away from one another. If I had even suspected that she had magic that first night, I never would have touched her. But I did touch her, and I liked it.
No, like isn't even a strong enough word.
Ever since that first night, I haven't been able to get her out of my head, no matter how hard I'd tried. And the idea of someone hurting her, whether it was other guards in the human lands or nobles here in the fey lands, or even a fucking bard, that might be an elf...I didn't care who it was, I would put them all in the ground if I needed to.
It was that thought that had me shaking my head, trying to gain even a fragment of clarity. "I should never have volunteered to train her," I mumbled as I paced away from Ronan once more.
"You know, I was going to ask about that." Ronan came toward me. "Why did you volunteer to train her? It's about wielding the moon blades. It's not like you're even allowed to touch them."
"I know," I growled, frustration leaking into my voice. I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. "I don't know. I figured maybe we could use replicas or something. At least until she got some of her strength back. She looked like she had lost weight. Did she look like she had lost weight to you?"
"Thorn. You're obsessing. It's not healthy." His words were so blunt and without and pretext that they struck home in a way that made me uncomfortable.
"You're right, but what in the name of the goddess am I supposed to do about it?" I threw the wood dagger at the practice dummy hard enough for it to stick, the hay that the dummy was made of seemed to swallow most of the dagger from the force of the impact.
"Leave. Tell her you can't train her and go back to the human lands. If we come up with a good enough story the king will probably let you have your job back, not without some groveling, of course." Ronan looked pained by the suggestion. Neither he nor I wanted to go back to the human lands. The idea of wearing glamour again all day every day was enough to make my skin itch. I needed a break, but what other choice did I have?
If I stayed here and trained Senara I knew things would get out of hand, that my obsession with her would only get worse, until we both got in trouble for it. "If I'm going to leave then I can't see her again before I go. If I do then the resolve I'm feeling right now will falter and I'll talk myself into staying."
Ronan's eyebrows shot up. "You're actually considering it?"
I gave him a sharp nod. "It makes sense. I'm not from the Moonlit Court. What business do I have training their fabled warrior of the gods who is destined to wield the moon blades and drive the blight from our lands?"
"I think you're making the right call." Ronan's voice was soft. He knew that this was hard for me to admit and if we'd been anywhere else, or there had been anyone else around then I wouldn't have been as receptive to the idea.
After the events of the day and the way it felt to have Senara look at me with such scorn in her eyes I knew I needed to get away. "I'm going back to my room to pack. I don't expect you to join me, but if you do then we'll be leaving at sunrise."
