I motioned to the spots he’d mentioned. “Here and here?”
Camion nodded. “You’re going to want to get some leverage, if you actually try to break this bone.” He cupped my hand in his. “If you hit here without supporting the hand, you’ll only cause them some pain. But see”—Camion gently pressed on my forearm, at the same time lifting my hand—“with the support here, the bone will take the full force of impact. Ideally, a kick would give you the best odds, but the opportunity isn't always there.”
“Okay. I think I understand.”
“Here, grip my arm.” I did, and he flipped his wrist over mine. In a blink, he cradled my wrist and had his free hand pressed to the outside of my forearm. “Theoretically, this is easy enough. I want you to try.”
“What?”
“I want you to try. On me.”
I stared. “On you? Won’t I hurt you?”
“Well if you try to, possibly. You shouldn't be able to break anything, if that's what you're worried about. If you're concerned with hurting me, well. Don’t try to?”
I swallowed, licked my lips. But when he grabbed me a moment later I reacted—flicked my wrist over and slammed the side of my hand into the precise spot on his forearm. He grunted.
“Go easy, Tyli. I thought you weren't going to try to break me.” His eyes narrowed, but I could hear the tease in his voice. I grinned.
“I don’t recall agreeing to that.” I leaned closer, lifting my eyebrows and batting my eyelashes before I cooed, “Can the big strong Camion not handle little untrained me?”
Camion’s eyebrow lifted. He didn’t indicate what he was doing before he swept my legs out from under me, catching me right before I hit the ground and lowering me the rest of the way.
“Yeah, I think I’m fine.” He smirked.
I scrambled to my feet, puffing out my chest. He snickered at the effect, lighting that flame that made me want to hit him. I dropped into a predatory circle, looping him slowly before I went for his jaw. Camion snickered again and grabbed my hand, spinning me before he gripped my waist and yanked me to him.
“Why, Your Majesty, I didn’t know you wanted to dance.” He wagged an eyebrow teasingly, chuckling when I squirmed from his grasp. I shoved him in the chest and his laughter grew, shaking his chest. I rolled my eyes and turned to storm away. Camion had every advantage, and he was using them.
Before I could react, he had the shoulder of my leathers in his grasp. He tugged me securely against him, twisting my arm behind me. My breath caught at the new proximity, at the scent of him that flooded my senses. The corner of his lip twitched.
“What now?” he taunted. I couldn’t think over the sound of blood that pounded in my head. My lower lip slipped between my teeth, and I chewed in nervous habit. Get free. I needed to get free, but I hesitated. I looked up and met those blue and green eyes. Camion tilted his head in silent question.
“You’re too strong,” I grumbled, heat creeping up the back of my neck.
That wicked half smile reappeared. “Think, Tyli. If you want to get away from me, get away from me. Do you honestly think that someone trying to hurt you isn’t going to press every advantage available to them?”
I took a deep breath, serving only to inhale the smoky lavender that taunted my senses. He tightened his grip when I squirmed and I groaned in frustration. I didn’t want to think about his chest, or his arms, or the way his eyes sparkled as they lingered on my face. This was dangerous ground, and I wanted free of it.
“This doesn’t look like training,” Jyn crooned from across the field.
He was all the distraction I needed. The spell was broken. I reached behind me and slammed my knuckles into the back of Camion’s hand. He swore loudly as he released me. “Damn, Tyli. Why not just take the whole hand next time?”
I grinned. “I could try, if you like.”
“I brought water,” Jyn interjected. He tossed each of us a waterskin, grinning broadly. “Are you finished for the day or should I leave you two alone a bit longer?”
Camion tilted the waterskin back and sprayed the clear liquid over his head. I decided not to dignify Jyn with a response. Instead I ran my eyes along the skyline—the sun was cresting the treetops now. Mid-morning. I yawned and dropped to the dew-damp grass, squeezing my waterskin over my own face before I drained the rest. There was a soft snicker from my left and I lifted my head slightly, blocking the sun from my eyes with the back of my hand. Camion sipped at his own flask. His skin glittered with sweat, his hair damp and limp against his forehead.
“You think you’ll live?” he teased.
I didn’t answer, distracted as he raked his fingers through his hair. The strands shimmered golden in the light, brighter than the sandy tones I was used to. There was scruff on his chin, where he was normally clean shaven. I imagine he hadn’t cared to shave as early as we’d risen this morning, and he’d been up far earlier than I to ride to the palace. He tilted his head under my scrutiny. “See something you like?”
Jyn snickered. I scoffed, even as my cheeks warmed, and dropped back onto the grass. My braid fell loose beside me. The tie must have fallen off in the grass, who knew where. I closed my eyes and took a breath.
“So, is this to be the routine then?” I asked.
“No. I’ve got harder exercises planned.” I could hear the smirk.
“Great.”
His tone softened when he added, “You did well. I pushed you and now I know what you’re capable of.”
I groaned and rolled over, resting my cheek on the cool ground. The grass tickled my nose, and I swatted the blades away.
“If you could hit me as hard as you hit that poor grass, we wouldn’t even need to train,” Camion drawled.
The urge to roll over and kick him was strong but I didn’t trust myself to glance at the blacksmith or his silly half smile. The idea that mere proximity could throw me off—
Either way, my muscles seemed to have become a mess of wobbly mush. I didn’t have the energy to roll over.
“I have an archery lesson this afternoon. I’m never going to be able to draw back the string.”
“I might be able to help with that,” Camion said. “Don’t kick me. And don’t deny you were thinking it.”
I smiled into the blades of grass as Camion shifted closer. My arm lay limp at my side, and Camion gently lifted my hand, stretching the arm behind my back. I whimpered loudly when he pulled too far, and he immediately drew my arm lower.
“Helping at all?”
I wiggled the arm around. “Yeah, a bit, thanks.”
Camion jumped over me and did the same for the other arm. I groaned in protest but I couldn’t deny that the stretches loosened some of the knotted muscle. When he finished I rolled over onto my back and said, “Well, maybe the lesson won’t be a total loss.”
“You know, I could teach you both,” Camion said. “If you can hit the target half as well as Jyn thinks you can, you should have hit the center at least once.”
“She should have,” Jyn chimed in.
“Been talking, huh?” I scoffed and sat up. “The way those testosterone-fueled fools went at each other yesterday, it’s no wonder I didn’t learn accuracy.”
Camion’s eyes flashed—I couldn’t tell with what emotion—but Jyn was the one who spoke. “You’re a natural with a bow. With some work, you could be amazing.”
“I had a good instructor.”
“Or you’re a natural.”
“Either way,” Camion interrupted, “I’ll teach you if you want. I’m already here two days a week, I can do archery after swordplay. Bows aren’t my strong suit, but I can teach you the basics.”
I didn’t answer, but he smirked. His eyes lingered on my legs, which shook violently when I tried to stand. I pressed my knees together immediately and glared.
“Anyway.” Jyn cleared his throat. “The women have left the palace for the day, and there’s been no sign of Lucian, but there is breakfast waiting. While you two trained�
��—he bent his first two fingers twice—“I warned the kitchen.”
“Would you like to join us?” I shot a glance at Camion. “I’m sure there’s far too much. There always is.”
Camion’s eyes flicked to Jyn, who shrugged. My head cocked to the side in thought when he agreed. I grabbed Jyn’s arm and pulled him into pace behind Camion.
“Are you and he—” I asked, voice low.
Jyn’s eyes widened and he laughed, loudly. Several seconds later, when he’d caught his breath, he snorted, “No, sorry.”
“Are you lying?”
“Princess, when have I lied to you? Besides, I'm not his type.” He lifted a brow to match the smug smirk on his lips, and I frowned.
“Well, what were you doing at Meryn’s all morning then?”
“Are we suspicious of Meryn now too? Can’t I visit a friend? Besides, I'm no competition for Sylvr.” His lips broadened into a grin, a taunt that challenged me to push the matter. I huffed loudly and walked past him, ignoring the snickers of “Camion” and “Meryn” behind me.
***
Lucian met us in the foyer after breakfast. He mumbled under his breath about not wanting to interrupt our meal.
“You would have been no bother,” I said. “Prince Lucian, this is my dear friend Camion. He does my swordplay lessons.”
Camion dipped politely at the waist. “A pleasure, Your Highness.”
“Charmed.” Lucian inclined his head. “Are you ready for your lesson, Natylia?”
Jyn did nothing to hide the disgust on his face at Lucian’s dismissal. I sighed, but Camion seemed unfazed. He simply nodded his head in my direction and left off with a quiet, “Till next week, Tyli.”
When the doors had closed behind him, Lucian stared at me.
“You let him speak to you so informally?”
“He’s a friend, why would he not?”
“He’s not even nobility.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Nor was my mother before she married my father.”
Jyn chuckled.
Lucian froze. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean offense, I just—”
“It’s fine. Camion has been granted a great deal of leniency to tradition. He's here too often to be considered a mere subject.”
The prince nodded and turned his attention to the doors. He pulled one open, gesturing broadly that I should go first. Jyn had agreed to leave us to our lesson, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t still around—I noted the very visible window seat he decided to occupy at Meryn’s cottage.
Lucian was patient, despite the fact that my arm shook horribly when I tried to pull the string back. Camion’s efforts had been in vain, it seemed. He set his own stance for me to mimic, and when I still wasn’t able to hit a shot, he put his hands over mine. Gently, he coerced me in the right direction.
“So why did you call Jyn that yesterday?”
“Direct. I can appreciate that.” He paused though, and relaxed his hold on my hands. “I don’t know. That’s not a word I generally use, and I’m sorry that I did. To be completely frank, I don’t know many Elves. That’s not a fair excuse for saying such a crass word about someone that you care for, though.”
I nodded and loosed the arrow. The shot missed the target by several feet. Lucian laughed. “Are you distracted or exhausted?”
“Exhausted,” I admitted. Distraction certainly played a part—I desperately wanted a bath. The prick of sweat had begun to spread over my skin again, and that, paired with the shake of muscles, had me feeling particularly self-aware.
“We could always go for a walk if you want.”
“No, I’ll get this.”
But after missing eight shots more, I had to admit defeat. Jyn had migrated outside at this point, leaned against the wall, but even from this distance I could see the smug pinch of his face. He said nothing when he jogged over, or when he fell into step behind us. His nose was stuck unconvincingly in the pages of the book he carried.
“So, Mother said you plan to leave after dark in a day or two?”
“Yes. My mother is somewhat paranoid. She thinks we’re less likely to be attacked by bandits if we travel most of the way at night. Ideally, we can make Falmar by early afternoon and then Morland two or three days after. If we make good time.” Lucian sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Mother wants to see if any new fabric shipments are in from Lytalian before we go north. All goes well, we should be home in under three weeks’ time.”
“I hope your trip goes well.” I flushed uncomfortably at the amorous glance he gave me.
“I could come back and visit soon. If you’d like, and your mother doesn’t mind the further interruption to your studies. There’s not much to do in the North this time of year, and honestly, your archery could use work.”
I glared, but conceded, “Sure, I wouldn’t mind that at all.”
His smile was bright, and I stiffened when he took my hand and brushed his lips against my fingers.
“Then I shall visit and soon.” Lucian glanced around. “So, what would you like to do with our afternoon, My Lady?”
There went hopes of a bath.
“Would you like to meet Meryn?” I hadn’t visited my friend in days and there was a chance that, since it was only early afternoon, she wouldn’t have left for town yet. I glanced at Jyn, who nodded confirmation of that unasked question.
“I would be delighted.” I was somewhat surprised at the sincerity in his voice. “Shall we?”
Lucian cocked his head in the direction of Meryn’s cabin. Smoke curled from the chimney as we approached. I knocked on the door, only waiting a moment before a soft yell came from inside.
Chapter 12
Meryn’s cabin was cozy. The walls were grooved from the smooth logs they were built from, but the real attraction lay in the simple, beautiful decorations Meryn had hung in the interior. Dried plants hung from the ceiling, crystals and dream-catchers from the walls, and thick, soft rugs covered the floors. Besides the scent of the dried herbs and flowers, there was a soft, sweet undertone—a combination of scents that always lingered around my friend.
Most of the house was in the open main room—the kitchen, dining area, and a sitting area were all there. There was a massive fireplace halfway down the room, which crackled merrily and cast bright ribbons of light up the walls. The bedrooms and bathing chamber were off the short hallway, and it was that direction from which a pile of flame-colored curls came.
“Natylia!” My friend ducked out from one of the door frames. Her tresses bounced around her shoulders. Meryn’s face was an enviable mess of copper freckles, a bright contrast to my own dark speckling, and her hazel eyes were lit with the wide smile that greeted me.
“Meryn!” I smiled and pulled her into a hug. “Sorry, I brought company. Is that alright?”
Meryn tugged unconsciously at the beautiful emerald dress she wore. The top was thin-strapped with a laced bodice that dipped into a low vee neckline. At the bottom the dress fell into a waterfall pile of skirts. She rather enjoyed playing on the fact that she was a witch—the people that stopped into her shop usually entered to gawk, or with the hope that some of her magic would rub off on them. Probably half or more of the citizens were afraid of her, and she enjoyed playing on their superstitions. They did help drive her sales, after all.
“I mean, you can’t get rid of him, can you?” She winked teasingly at Jyn before dragging her eyes over Lucian. Her eyebrow rose, and she flicked a glance to Jyn, who rolled his eyes as he dropped into a chair.
“Lucian,” the prince said smoothly, utterly disregarding her appraisal. I was somewhat impressed—most people would have been daunted under the scrutiny of her keen eye. Then again, I had to wonder how much was posturing after his mistake with Camion. He held a hand out to her. Meryn wiped her hands on her skirts and took his. He lifted the hand to his mouth, pressing a quick brush of his lips to the back of her hand.
“Sorry. Restock day for the shop. I’ve spent most of the
day with my herbs.”
Unconcerned, the prince bowed his head and flashed Meryn a bright smile. “You’re quite alright. We did come unannounced.”
“Honestly, that’s nothing new from these two.” My friend motioned to Jyn and I with a grin. “You just missed Sylvr. She's taking a load of herbs back into town. Would you like tea?”
Meryn turned without a response and went to fill a kettle. I dropped into the chair closest to the fireplace as she hung the pot above the flames and stepped back to cross her arms over her chest. She leveled her gaze on me. “You look hungry.”
I huffed a laugh. “Meryn, we’re fine.” Lucian stood awkwardly next to Jyn’s chair, and I waved at the others in the room. “Pick one. Most don’t bite.”
He gave Meryn and the chairs wary glances, but sat. She waved her hand at me dismissively and disappeared into the pantry on the far side of the kitchen. A moment later she reemerged with her arms clutched around a massive basket which she dropped haphazardly into my lap. Muffins, cookies, brownies—the basket tottered with the weight of the baked treats and my mouth watered even despite my full stomach. Mostly full.
Jyn strode over and stole two of the muffins, his voice a low murmur when he said, “If you eat all the blueberry I’ll wake you even earlier for training next week. Both days.”
I groaned and Meryn chuckled, but I passed the basket after two of those exact muffins were stashed on my lap. When the kettle whistled, Meryn stirred in a concoction of dried leaves I didn’t dare ask about. She poured the dark liquid into cups and passed them to each of us, followed by a plate of sugar cubes. The cup smelled charred, but when I took a sip I was met with a soft sweet flavor, like berries and honey. I should have known better than to doubt.
“Meryn, while I’m here, I have a question.” The other three looked in my direction, Jyn puzzled and Lucian curious. Meryn’s face was all business. “In all of your studies, alone or with your father, have you ever heard reference to any scepters?”
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