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I preen at the compliment. Although to be honest, if I never had to run again, it would be too soon.
"Same time tomorrow."
I groan, making him chuckle.
"It'll be much easier to keep your endurance and strength up once you're used to it. And you already know rudimentary combat. You'll just need to learn to be less...stiff about it. True battle isn't a dance, with polite blows only at the right time."
I nod, stuffing my mouth with delicious buttery goodness.
In fencing, there are rules of engagement that don't fucking apply if someone is trying to actually kill you.
"I understand that. It's just hard to put it into practice when all I've ever held a sword for was a high school competition."
"It's day one," Caenan says. "And you're starting on level two. You're doing well."
I beam at my torturer, and suddenly understand how idiots are getting scammed into enjoying workout sessions with personal trainers. "You're evil, you know," I tell him. "But you make good cream, so I like you."
I'm still eating when Ryther returns, flanked with Relva, who's dragging an ancient, leather-covered trunk the size of a sofa.
"Now, it's not a full wardrobe yet—I can't perform miracles—but I have day wear, nightwear, dinner-appropriate gowns, and a few bits and bobs for you to try on," the woman says excitedly. "I'll pin you and we can get any alterations done. I need to have you sized for shoes, only someone doesn't want anyone else in the house."She sniffs, narrowing her eyes in Ryther's direction."I had to wait almost an hour—the door wouldn't open for me."
That makes me feel better; I had been a little stressed about people just coming in here.
"Her feet are nine inches long, and on the narrow side. Work with that," he retorts, indifferent to her annoyance.
Finding his night sky-blue eyes, I ask, "Did you find him?"
He shakes his head. "Loch isn't the kind of person one finds. He finds you when he wants to."
I think I hear a reluctant kind of admiration, despite his clearly put-out expression.
"Loch?" Relva asks with a grimace. "Why on earth would we want to find Loch?"
Ryther's apparently not the only one to find him annoying.
"Didn't you sleep with him a few years ago?" Caenan asks.
She shrugs indifferently. "I slept with many people. And he's pretty. That doesn't mean I'd actually seek him out."
Everyone seems in agreement, which only confuses me. Because all three of them act like Loch is the big bad wolf, while my own instincts have only ever been instantly sure about one person since I came into this world, and that's him.
I'm clueless, and I've made plenty of mistakes here. But I refuse to question the man who gave me the stone.
Rather than start another argument on this, I ask, "So, no one caught me last night. What happens now?"
Ryther latches onto the change of subject. "The rites last three days. Two more, and if no one wins, it technically means you won. I'd likely be able to argue that you ought to be given your crown, then."
Relva snorts. "Like the lords would accept that. I mean, on the surface, they might have to, but they'll kill her the moment she has her back turned."
"That's pretty much her entire future either way," Caenan argues. "Which is why I'm A: training her. B: guarding her."
"Both will help. The training as well as the guarding. But what Darina truly needs is seelie allies." He turns to me. "Only being supported by one side will have the other side riding to war under one united banner to destroy you."
I wet my lip. "I have a seelie ally."
Something tells me he won't like this. Potentially even less than he liked my believing Loch is on my side.
"Valdred helped me get out of there. He showed me the portal, explained how it worked. He fed me, and gave me a balm for the iron poisoning. I think he's genuine, when he says, you know… That I should be queen."
