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Odessa’s face softened slightly. “The girl we tried to save?”
I nodded. “And back in Camelot, Dame Halyna was one of the best knights I’ve ever seen. She trained the squires.”
I wondered if she was still training. Perhaps Dame Halyna was on the frontlines now, leading Arthur’s soldiers. I thought of her helping to burn villages to the ground and tasted ash in my mouth. No. She would never participate in something like that.
Not even under coercion or threat of her life? I pushed the thought back. Now was not the time.
“Well, then, I don’t see a problem,” Odessa said with a shrug. “You don’t have tolikethe people you train with. Sometimes it’s even better if you don’t.”
I thought of Draven. “Yes, but...”
“Fresh meat. Excellent. I claim first dibs, Odessa.” A woman approached us, her lips curled into a rapacious smile.
My eyes narrowed. “Lyrastra.”
“Greetings, Prince’s Paramour,” she said with a laugh. “Are you really here to train? I admit, I could hardly believe it when Odessa told us. Isn’t the Prince’s Paramour supposed to laze about in bed all day, wearing scanty garments, and waiting for her man to return?”
The mental image made me want to vomit. At least, it did until I inspected it more closely.
Cursing my vivid imagination, I tightened my jaw. “That sounds incredible dull. Not my cup of tea.”
Lyrastra eyed me with incredulity. “So we’re supposed to believe you’ve done this before? That you can hold your own in a fight?”
“I can do more than dance around by myself looking pretty, if that’s what you’re asking,” I snapped, thinking of the nimble routine I had seen her going through in the competition training arena the other day.
Confusion crossed Lyrastra’s face briefly, then her familiar arrogant veneer returned. “Fight me then. I promise, there won’t be any dancing.”
“Excellent,” I said coolly. “Sounds like a good match. I’m in.”
Odessa stepped forward, frowning. “I have no issue with this. But there will be no use of magic. Lyrastra, you are already well aware of the rules.”
“Of course, I am,” Lyrastra said, smiling sweetly. “Your ring, your rules, Odessa.”
“Let’s get started then.” I gestured to the weapons rack. “I don’t have my own gear. I take it this is communal?”
Odessa nodded. “Suit up and choose a weapon.” She glanced at Lyrastra. “Swords to start.”
That was a bit of a relief to hear. I didn’t want to admit it, but I was out of shape. Swords were familiar at least.
Secretly, I hoped this didn’t end with Lyrastra wiping the floor with my ass.
“Swords?” Lyrastra looked disappointed. “Daggers would be more fun.”
Odessa snorted. “Save it for another day. Lady Morgan was on the brink of death not long ago. I remind you of that, Lyrastra, because I doubt you would endear yourself greatly to the prince if we don’t bring her back in one piece today.”
I glared at Odessa. “I don’t need you to coddle me. I can set my own limits.”
She frowned. “Fine. Get to it then.” She stomped off towards a wooden enclosure where two young women were fighting with spears.
“I’ll be waiting over there,” Lyrastra said, pointing to an empty ring. “Eagerly.” She waggled her fingers then stalked away.
“Wonderful,” I muttered.
I went into the pavilion and located training armor in my size. Stepping into a changing room, I quickly pulled it on. There were training swords on the rack. I assumed Lyrastra had her own.
My hands were already sweaty as I lifted a small round wooden shield from another rack. Why did I have a bad feeling about this?
Perhaps because I had no business going up against someone like Lyrastra so soon after getting back on my feet. She had been training hard for the competition, while I? Like it or not, she was partly right–I really had just been lying in bed.
