Page 64
“Sure,” Marcellus said, surprising Thicket. “We can go to the beach.”
Bern jumped around in circles, squealing like a child.
“Then,” Marcellus said, smirking at Thicket. “We can get some more training in.”
Thicket made a face. “But I don’t have my sword.”
“You won’t be fighting with a sword. You’ll be fighting with magic. You might overpower the Soumort Princess, but her skill is far more advanced. If you go in without any experience, you will be crushed.”
To that, Thicket had no argument. She had practiced more complex spells, allowing her to strengthen the basic spells she had honed. Magic was more natural to her now. She felt better than she had, more capable. Yet she knew that knowledge had yet to be battle tested.
“I can spar with her,” Elian said.
Marcellus raised an eyebrow, looking Elian over as though he were sizing up an opponent. “Can you handle it, Delmore?”
“Of course,” Elian said, though his words were stiff. “Besides, it’ll be better for her to face someone whose magic is closer to Lavender’s.”
Thicket read Marcellus’ expression, searching for any indication that the reminder that his magic was weak affected him. If it did, he concealed it well.
Marcellus waved a flippant hand. “Fine. Do whatever you need to do to get ready then meet us at the beach in half an hour. Princess, let’s go.”
“I’m coming, too,” Bern chirped, wrapping her arm around Thicket’s. “As long as you don’t mind me stealing something of yours to wear.”
“Of course,” Thicket said. She glanced at Elian. “You sure you don’t want to come with us?”
“It’s fine. My belongings aren’t at your place anyway.”
“O-okay.”
Elian gave her a small wave then departed, heading in the opposite direction.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Why are we training on the beach?” Thicket panted, doing her best to keep up with Marcellus’ brisk pace. Her boots dug into the sand, shifting and sinking as they wrapped around the narrow strip bordering the town. If it was this hard to walk, she couldn’t imagine what it would be like to fight.
“It has all the elements you might need to conjure spells and the sand will also serve as a cushion in case things get rough.”
“What about mobility?”
He smirked at her over his shoulder. “If you can fight on a terrain as unsteady as this, you can fight anywhere.”
Throwing her right into the wolf’s den, as usual.
Bern shot past her, flinging her boots into the sand as she made a beeline for the ocean. The long, billowing yellow dress she had borrowed from Lotta turned sunset orange as it hit the water. Wind tore at the loose ribbons tied across its back as she danced among the waves, shrieking with glee as one crashed against her bare ankles. “It’s cold!”
“No one said you had to get in the water,” Marcellus said.
“Why wouldn’t I? It’s been too long since I’ve seen the ocean.” Her eyes were longing as she eyed the expanse of crystal blue.
Thicket approached, careful to stand far enough away to avoid the outline of dark sand marking the wave’s path, less inclined than Bern to get wet.
“One day,” her friend said, “I want to take a ship and sail around the Continent, docking at every port and exploring each nook and cranny. I may even have to bring Elian along so his badger can help me find all the hidden treasures.” She glanced back at Thicket, waggling her eyebrows. “If you’re okay with me stealing him.”
Thicket could easily envision Bern upon a ship, standing at the very edge, her hair stiff with salt and cheeks flushed from the gusts of wind, grinning ear to ear.
Bern knew exactly what she wanted to do. She never tried to fit in. If anything, she seemed to rebel against the idea, charging through life like a force of her own making, completely unrestrained. Thicket wished she could say the same. After this was all over, she was expected to become Queen. To rule. She wouldn’t get to travel with Bern. She would be stuck inside a castle, cleaning up Lavender’s mess and doing her best to piece the kingdom back together again.
Elian didn’t deserve to be cooped up with her, surrounded by all those who had spent the last century expecting him to fail. He deserved a chance to explore. To figure out what made him happy, even if Thicket didn’t know herself.
