Enchanter (15 page)

Stupid mated bond. What power that be ever thought he and I should be mated, needed a good talking to. “Guy, wait up. You’re not personally my enemy.”

“I know.” He slowed, and then stopped in front of two swinging doors. He glanced through the top square glass panel of one. “We’re here. Don’t speak to anyone unless I give you the okay.”

“Gladly.” I didn’t want to communicate with these people anyway.

He held open the door and I snuck in. Two dozen trestle tables packed out the dining hall. Warrior men and woman sat in full training gear, their swords glinting from their sides.

Shuddering, I opened our link. “
Okay, so why are they all so quiet? That’s highly abnormal for this many people in one room.
”

“
They’re speaking, just in hushed tones since most of us hold the advanced senses.
”

“
Protectors don’t worry about that. They just turn their receptors down so they can hear as they please.
”

“
We lower our voices instead. It’s called practice, for when we’re out in the field. It’s all about stealth.
”

“
Of course. I should have thought of that.
” Everything they did probably pertained to training.

“
Lead the way to the servery. We’ll draw attention to ourselves if we don’t move.
” He waited one step behind.

“
Shouldn’t you go first? I’m just the recruit.
”

Guy pressed on my lower back. “
That would be the custom, except I wish to guard your back.
”

“
Because…
”

“
You don’t fast-heal, and it’s not unusual for a warrior to test a new recruit on their first day out.
”

“
As in ‘toss-a-dagger’ test? Lovely bunch, aren’t you?
”

“
Stop stalling and start moving.
”

“
If a dagger comes my way, you’re welcome to step in its path.
”

“
You talk too much.
”

“
You hover too much.
”

“
Must you always argue?
” He nudged me along.

“
Absolutely. Where’s the fun in life, if you don’t?
” I walked to the servery. No turning back. I was here, and I had a job to do, roomful of warriors included.

An array of food waited in deep metal dishes. Steam curled from the bacon and sausages, releasing a heavenly aroma. Potato hash overflowed the next dish, and kitchen staff topped up the last platter of scrambled eggs. At least I didn’t have to worry that Guy wasn’t eating well.

He passed me a plate and leaned in to my ear. “One day, we should have a meal on our own, just the two of us. We haven’t done that yet.” He eased back. “There’s toast, cold cereals and fruits farther down if that’s what you’d prefer.”

“No, this looks good. Hold out your plate.” I loaded our plates with the hot offerings.

He munched on a hash brown. “Do you have a favorite place to eat? You know, on…”

Why was he asking me that? “Ah, you sound suspiciously like you’re asking me out.”

“No.” He scratched his head. “I’m just curious.”

“Well, stop with the curiosity.” I side-stepped to the toast, buttered two slices and then added one to each of our plates.

He brushed against me. “Dralion’s beaches are predominantly black sand. They hold such heat. You’d like them.”

“Are you trying to tempt me?” Because boy, he might with that kind of comment.

“Maybe.” He took my plate along with his. “We’ll sit with Vitaria. She’s a new recruit too.”

He led the way to the far corner where it was quietest. That totally suited me. We approached a young woman. Her white-blond hair was cut into a short bob, the ends flicking softly out. She jiggled in her chair as she spotted Guy. “Hey, you’re back. You said you’d be in the outback this morning.”

“I had a change of plans.” Guy edged onto the wooden bench and set our plates down. “Vitaria, meet Silvie Moyer. She’s testing the waters like you are. Silvie, Vitaria.”

“Hi.” I sat, keeping to the other side of Guy.

“Nice to meet you.” She beamed and reached out a hand, the short dagger sheathed at her wrist nicking her skin.

“Um, you should watch that.” I ignored her hand, but pointed at the blade.

She followed my gaze. “Oh, I keep forgetting to pick up a new casing from supplies. Thanks.” She unstrapped the blade and set in on the table. “So, a Moyer? Are you related to Guy?”

“His cousin. A fourth or fifth.” Grinning, I knocked my shoulder against Guy’s. “We played together as kids.”

“Don’t let your food get cold.” Guy poured a glass of milk from the jug on the table then set it in front of me. “Drink that too. It’s good for you.”

“Did I say cousin? I meant Dad.” And since our people didn’t physically age past our eighteenth year, not a gray hair or a wrinkle, I could easily run with that scenario.

“
It’s cousin, and rein in your—
”

“
Playfulness?
”

“
Behavior.
”

“
You are one very strict cousin, but one I adore sparring with.
” I scooped a spoonful of eggs and ate. “So, what’s it like being a newbie, Vitaria?”

“I was shaking when I first arrived, but Guy took me under his wing. Things are better now I’m more relaxed. I’ll help show you around if you like.” She bit into her toast smeared with butter and jam.

“Ah, right.” I eyed Guy. “
Why’s she being so nice?
”

“
Many of the warriors are. We’re just people who care about our country and want the best for all those who live in it.
”

“
You would think that.
”

He squeezed my leg under the table. “
You like me, right?
”

“
You’re different.
”

“
Vitaria has a twin brother. You two actually have a lot in common.
”

“
That won’t make us buddy-buddies. So, where is her brother? Is he a recruit too?
”

“
No, her brother’s unskilled. He remains at home caring for their mother. She’s very ill, and the healers have said it may be terminal.
” He stroked my leg.

“
So, she’s like the breadwinner of the family?
”

“
Yes. Her father was my father’s best friend, and they were both captured together.
” He glanced at Vitaria as she spoke to someone on the other side of her. “
It’s why I’ve taken her under my wing. She doesn’t have anyone here, and she remains unmated. She needs someone to lean on.
”

“
Don’t even think it.
” I clenched his hand, hating his insinuation. She might be an unmated warrior, but she couldn’t have my man. “
She can’t be the one. I don’t want a visual of who you end up with.
”

He speared his bacon and ate. “
The same applies to you. Agree with me that Zayn is out.
”

“
You don’t fight fair.
”

“
I don’t want to fight at all.
”

“
All right, I agree.
” I shoved a forkful of sausage into my mouth, giving him the answer he wanted. If he had the same emotions storming though him as I did, then I couldn’t deny him that request. Damn, what a stupid, senseless bond.

8

“Where are they going?” I leaned into Guy’s side as warriors dispersed from the dining room in large groups.

“Training. It’s the first order of business after breakfast. There’s an outdoor arena next to these barracks.”

 
Back home, our protectors did the same, and then they followed orders, heading out to guard our villages and the locations which saw the most attacks by warriors infiltrating our shores. Our lucrative diamond and gold mines were constantly hit, and so too, our coal reserves and forests.

Warriors came and they took, and here I was sitting amongst them, not raising a hand. This sucked, in a hundred different ways. Still, I deposited my plate and cutlery into the cleaning trays beside the servery and plodded after Guy and Vitaria.

Vitaria chatted a mile a minute with Guy. It was a relief when we arrived at the supplies room and she stopped to consider which sheath would go best with her blade. Done, we continued on. At the end of the long passageway we came out into an open-aired arena. It was massive, with its ancient architecture and circular dusty floor sprinkled with sand. Blocked seats, layered back and up, towered three-stories high. Impressive, and close in size to our arena in Peacio. This place would hold thousands of spectators, but for now, warrior men and woman trained with their swords and spears and axes, with shields and headgear worn for protection. Some had changed into red tunics with leather-flapped skirts, and they lunged and parried, as accurate with their brutally sharp weapons as any protector would be. If Silas and Davio knew I was here right now, they’d freak.

I stepped past two battling men. One of the men’s blades struck flesh and bone, and blood spurted in a wide arc. Yuck. I hurried along, catching up to Guy.

He and Vitaria had found a clear spot. Guy slid his headgear on then gripped the hilt of his blade. “Silvie, Vitaria looks all gentle and unassuming, but she knows exactly how to fight. Stay back.”

“Right, out of the way.” I leaned against the safety railing.

Vitaria pulled her sword free and rested it between her hands, the blade flat across both palms as she eyed Guy. “We fight, and no attempting to distract.”

“When you’re ready.” Guy bowed then whipped around. His sword slashed down on Vitaria’s as she moved like lightning to meet his attack.

Whoa. I scurried under the railing and into the first row of seats.

“
Silvie?
”

Zayn’s voice bounced inside my head.

“
Hey.
”

“
I can take you to school if you’d like.
”

“
Ah, I’m going to have to skip today. I’ve got another project on.
”

“
Do you need a hand?
”

“
No, I’m all good.
”

“
Well, if you change your mind, ’path me.
”

“
I will. Catch ya later.
”

I shut the link as Guy dove in for a second attack. His tan shirt pulled tight over his back, molding to muscle. Yep, all was definitely good. They both moved, their swords clashing and meeting dead center. Guy breathed roughly and Vitaria eyeballed him, and then they fought with a torrent of energy. Sweat poured off them as their morning session progressed.

All around, dozens of warriors fought equally as hard, skillfully, and with dedication. It was no wonder when we fought them we never knew who would win. Sometimes we came out on top, and at other times, they did.

“Silvie.”

I spun around, came eye to eye with Hope. “What are you doing here?”

“Shh.” She pressed her finger against her lips. “Faith sent me. She’s at school, but since I was already here, she asked me to get you somewhere safe.”

“What? Why somewhere safe?”

Her gaze darted toward Guy. “She had another forewarning.”

“Not again.” She had to stop having those, and I was going to insist on it.

“Just come,” she urged, tugging me along. “And don’t draw any attention to yourself.”

“I am having a word with her.”

“You and me both.” She pulled me past the seating on the lower level and through a small gap between two rows which dipped down into a darkened corridor. “This is the way out, to the palace grounds.”

“No way. That’s one place I’m not allowed.”

“Well, the stables, right next to the palace. I’ve got two horses ready to ride since neither of us can ’port.”

“To ride where?”

“Where you can’t burn everything down.”

“Are you saying—” We burst out of the corridor and into the sultry sunlight. “Oooh, nice.”