Page 21 of Memory of Ashes

In fact, any time she asked a question that made them uncomfortable, they ignored her, hoping she wouldn’t ask again. She still didn’t fully understand why they were teaching her to fight or why they’d taken her. Whatever conflict they expected, she would be safer if she knew how to defend herself. She felt like an eolith, a broken stone used as a tool.

Footsteps sounded on the packed earth behind her. She turned to face Tharos. She’d not seen him since he’d stormed out of her room.

“Shall we begin?” Tharos asked impatiently. He circled around to stand directly in front of her.

Mist clouded her thoughts, as though her own mind were hiding something from her. She blinked rapidly, struggling to form a thought as the tingling spread across her shoulders and the backs of her arms.

“What’s my name?” he asked.

Her mind emptied. His face was familiar, but his name slipped beyond her reach. She squeezed her eyes shut and concentrated. “Tharos,” she said.

“Good. Now let’s make it harder. Ruven is going to continue his lesson. Block his attack whilst you resist my power.”

Ruven took it easy on her, but she still ended up covered in bruises. The lesson ended when Casyl walked over.

“Enough,” he said. He turned to Tharos and Ruven. “Leave us.”

“We’ll continue tomorrow,” Ruven said to her, and he and Tharos nodded at Casyl and left.

“You’re a fast learner,” Casyl said.

“Ruven’s a good teacher,” she replied. Was he actually giving her a compliment?

“And Tharos?”

Her silence answered him.

“Show me what you’ve learnt,” he commanded.

When they were alone, he held out a wooden dagger to her, hilt first.

“What is this?” Amelia asked. “Is this your idea of an apology for holding a dagger to my throat?”

“No.” He placed the dagger into her hand. “It is my attempt to ensure that no one does it to you again.”

Chapter 6

The holy emissary arrived at the fortress with a herald from the High City. Amelia was outside training with Ruven when she heard their arrival. The fortress’s tall, railed gates remained tightly closed and guarded as the party arrived, and the guards seemed in no hurry to open them.

“Wait here,” Ruven said, leading her around a corner. He hurried across the yard, disappearing into the fortress, soon reappearing with Casyl and Tharos.

She peered around the wall, remaining hidden.

Casyl strode across the courtyard. She’d been surprised by his patience when they’d sparred. The memory of his hand closing around hers as he helped her from the floor crept into her mind.

Her eyes snapped back to the two robed figures who were escorted by five guards and another man dressed similarly, although he wore a tabard. Were they the priests?

The gates remained closed as the party slowly approached. Casyl was unfazed by their appearance.

They spoke in their own language, but their sharpening voices made the discussion’s hostility clear.

They must have come looking for her. She could walk out into their sight right now, but something stopped her. Whether it was fear or indecision, she couldn’t say, but she remained where she was.

The opportunity passed. The man in the tabard handed something through the gate, and Ruven took it from him, passing it to Casyl. The party left as abruptly as it had arrived.

Ruven ran back over to Amelia. “The lesson’s over for today,” he said. “There’s trouble.”

They both followed Casyl and Tharos into the fortress. She expected to be sent back to her room.