CHAPTER FOUR: COMBAT TRAINING
Evan hardly slept that night so, by default, Seth hardly slept. Evan tossed and turned and then he started pacing and then he was muttering under his breath about cowards and bastards and curses. Then he started crying and he stormed outside. Seth pretended not to notice any of it.
He probably wouldn’t have slept much even if Evan had. He kept thinking of Sashe and her face when she realized Allison was dead and the way she’d crumpled. And her fear that something like that could happen to her or her sister. He kept thinking of his mother’s body, frail and broken, and he swore he wouldn’t let it happen again.
The next morning, Evan, his parents, and Seth ate their breakfast in silence.
Evan was the first one to speak. “What are we going to do about the Protectors?”
Damon and Lina looked up. Shaking her head, Lina opened her mouth to say something, but Damon spoke first. “What do you think we should do?” he asked.
“What would make them stop?” Evan asked.
“We all leave Haltar.”
Evan’s face darkened, and he shook his head. “Not that. What about the king?”
“The Protectors are some of his closest advisors,” Damon said, rubbing the back of his neck. “He won’t give them the laws they want to control us, but he’s not going to protect us.”
“Then we take the Protectors out,” Evan said, his voice even.
Seth scoffed. “They’re noblemen. I heard even the King’s general is one of them. And Avialies are farmers and workers. Your uncle has more power than any Avialie, and he’s only in charge of Shyra.”
“They’re cowards,” Evan said, dropping his voice. “They killed a fifteen-year-old girl.”
“I know,” Damon said, “but it doesn’t change how much power they have.”
Lina stood, her chair scraping across the floor. “Must we talk about this now?”
“If not now, when?” Evan asked.
“You don’t need to worry about these things, you’re only fifteen,” Lina said as she walked towards the cooking area.
“So was Allison!”
Damon stood up. “Evan’s right. We’ll start combat training as soon as I get us weapons.”
Lina turned. “Damon!”
“I’m teaching this family how to defend itself. Even you.”
Lina’s mouth opened and closed in alarm, and Damon left the room. Seth followed him out. “Damon,” he called as the man walked out the back door.
Damon paused on the porch and looked back at Seth. “Yes, Seth?”
“Do you think Governor Alastor will give Sashe and Sierra training?”
Damon frowned and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not sure. I don’t think he would.”
“They might need it,” Seth said. “They’re not Avialies, so it would help them.”
Nodding, Damon said, “I’m sure you’re right. Let’s worry about it later on today.” He stalked off towards the orchard.
Evan came outside and gave Seth an excited look. “Combat training!”
Seth smirked and clapped Evan on the back. “I bet you’ll like it.”
After a long day of work at the orchard, Seth asked Damon if he and Evan could go to Dar’s house. They took the back roads since they ran by the river, and they dipped in the cool water, wiping sweat and dirt off themselves.
Evan was finished within a few minutes. He plopped down on the bank, wringing out his shirt. He grinned at Seth. “Gotta look nice for Sashe?”
Seth splashed him with some water.
Evan yelped as the water hit him, and he kicked some at Seth. He backed away a few feet before Seth could get him again. Seth grinned, shaking his head.
Evan crouched on his haunches near a tree off the bank. “What are we going to Dar’s for?”
“My father trained me with daggers and swords for three years. But not my mother.” He glanced sideways at Evan, who pulled on his damp shirt. “I sometimes wonder if she’d still be alive if we’d trained her.” He said it quickly, hoping maybe Evan wouldn’t hear.
Evan looked at him in surprise, but said nothing for a few minutes. “That still doesn’t answer my question.”
“I want to ask Governor Alastor if I can teach Sashe and Sierra how to use a sword and dagger.”
Evan stared at him. He laughed, shaking his head. “If we teach Sierra how to use a dagger, we’re all done for!”
“If I don’t, she could be killed,” Seth snapped.
Evan rolled his eyes. “I’m kidding, of course. I think it’s a good idea. I’ll talk him into it.”
“You’ll talk him into it?” Seth asked, brow furrowing. He stepped out of the water, combing through his wet hair with his fingers.
“Me and Dar. We can talk him into anything. Within reason. This is reasonable.” Evan picked up a stick and flung it in the air before catching it deftly. “Just watch.”
When they reached the manor, they searched out Dar first. Seth wanted to go straight to Alastor, but Evan insisted they needed Dar. Seth found himself watching out for Sashe, but he didn’t see her around. She could be anywhere in this huge house. Dar was in his bedroom, which was even bigger than Sashe’s.
“Have they found Lyle yet?” Evan asked without preamble.
Dar put down his book. “No, he’s still missing. Father and Mother had to take Allison and Kara’s bodies to the Thieran today.”
Seth shuddered as he thought back to all of the bodies from the battle. The Thieran went through the lines, preparing them for burial in a few days.
Evan leaned on Dar’s desk. “Dad’s going to start combat training me and my mom.”
“Oh, good, you’ll finally know how to duel.” Dar stood up.
“Combat training is probably a lot different from noble dueling.” Evan hopped around on his feet, wielding his walking stick as if he was dancing to music. Dar and Seth laughed.
“What is that supposed to be?” Dar asked, grinning.
“I’m dueling like a noble!” Evan said.
Dar scoffed. “Oh, come on!”
“What about Sashe and Sierra?” Seth asked.
Dar shook his head, his shoulders slumping. “My dad doesn’t think they need it because they’re girls. It’d ridiculous. Allison died yesterday!”
They were silent for a moment, and Seth saw the girl’s body in his mind again. He’d never met her, but he’d heard about her. The way Evan talked about her when Seth first moved there, he knew Evan had been nursing a crush for the girl. But not anymore, obviously.
“He tried to talk Sierra and Sashe into moving away,” Dar told them.
“Moving away?” Seth repeated. “Why? They’re not going, are they?”
“Don’t want to say goodbye to Sashe yet?” Evan batted his eyelashes.
Seth rolled his eyes, half-smiling. “Oh, shut up.” He looked at Dar for his answers.
“What? No, of course they’re not going anywhere.” Dar smirked. “Sierra got angry at him for asking. Anyways, I think we should teach them how to fight.”
“Yeah, Seth could!” Evan motioned to Seth with his walking stick. “He’s been training for three years.”
Dar shrugged and ran a hand through his hair, messing it up from his neat hairstyle. “I’ve been training longer.”
“You haven’t been in battle,” Evan said, poking Dar in the chest. “We should ask your dad to make it official instead of trying to sneak around. Then we can use the weapon room.”
“You have a weapon room?” Seth raised his eyebrows. Dar’s noble upbringing would come in handy. He probably knew a bunch of fancy stuff Seth didn’t, too.
“Come on, where’s your dad?” Evan asked.
Dar led them out of his room to the lower level. He knocked on a wide, wooden door across from a tapestry of an ancient Avialie legend. In it, an Avialie named Jasper was changing into a wolf to rescue his daughters from a bear.
A moment later, Dar’s father opened the door. He lo
oked over the three of them and turned. “Come in, boys.”
“Let us do the talking,” Evan whispered to Seth before walking in. Seth usually wouldn’t have a problem with that, since Alastor was intimidating, but if these two screwed anything up, he’d be angry. He’d have to go behind the man’s back to train Sierra and Sashe, and that would make everything more complicated.
They entered a study. The bookshelves along the walls were packed with books, and tall windows stretched on the wall across from Alastor’s desk, showing a view of the grounds behind the manor. Alastor sat behind his desk and motioned for the boys to sit. They took their seats, and Seth looked at Evan. Dar was the first one to speak, though.
“Father, you know I think Sierra and Sashe should be training, too.”
Alastor folded his hands in front of him. “Yes, I do.”
“Allison was only fifteen, and she was an Avialie. You know Sierra and Sashe are in danger, too. That’s why you keep trying to convince them to move in with another family.”
“Why are you telling me things I already know, Dar?”
“I think Seth should train them.”
Alastor looked at Seth. “Really.”
“He trained for three years with his father,” Evan said. “He knows how to use a sword and a dagger. He killed four Protectors in that battle.”
Seth looked at him in alarm. How did he know that? Did Sashe tell them? She wouldn’t have done that, would she? He gritted his teeth.
“Two by dagger, another by sword, another by brute force.”
Seth clenched his hands in his lap. “Evan,” he said gruffly.
Dar cut off Evan’s response. “I know we’re all going to do everything we can to keep Sierra and Sashe safe, but something happened to Allison right next to our manor. Anything could happen now. God forbid if something did, they need to know how to defend themselves. Seth and I would be great teachers.”
“You?” Alastor repeated.
“You’ve trained him well,” Evan said. “I still haven’t won against him—although I’m sure that will change after my father starts training me.”
“We’ll see about that,” Dar replied before turning back to his father. “But Seth knows Jolenian techniques; I know Haltarian. Seth has experience; I have practice. It’s a perfect balance.”
“Why would I let two teenagers train them?” Alastor asked.
“Of course we’d be more than satisfied if you hired a teacher or taught them yourself,” Dar said. “But we know you’re busy and you wouldn’t feel comfortable with just any man teaching your daughters.”
“Seth has only been in town for two weeks.”
“Well, he and Sashe have been alone plenty of times, and he’s never used the situation to his advantage.”
Seth straightened up at Alastor’s accusing gaze. “No, sir, I—”
“Sashe escorted Seth to Nia the Thieran for a lingering hurt in his thigh,” Dar blazed on. Seth glared at him. He was going to ruin everything. “He defended her honor against Kale Saven.”
Alastor beat a fist down on the table. “What did he say?” he asked Seth.
Seth swallowed. He didn’t exactly want to repeat it. “He whistled at her, and I spoke up for her.”
“Nia said he was a complete gentleman,” Dar added.
Taking his pants down in front of two women was gentlemanly?
“Besides, everything people from Jolen have had to say about Seth is positive.” Dar leaned back in his chair.
Evan cleared his throat. “And sir, you know we’ll just teach them behind your back if you disapprove. This makes everything easier.”
Alastor sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. Seth held his breath. He leaned forward, about to speak, when Alastor laughed. “Oh, goodness, I’m not sure what I’d do without you two. I’ll supervise the first two lessons. If I approve, you can train them once a week, and I’ll drop in whenever I like.”
Seth’s mouth fell open. “Really?”
“Really,” Alastor said. “Go tell the girls. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled.”
Seth stood. “Thank you.”
“I should be thanking you,” Alastor said, inclining his head. “First lesson the end of this week?”
“Yes,” Seth said as he stumbled to the door. “Yes, sir.”
They left the study, and Evan whooped in the corridor. Dar clapped Seth on the back.
Seth shook his head. “I can’t believe that worked.”
“It’s like I said,” Evan said. “We can talk him into anything.”
“Within reason,” Dar added.
“Let’s go find the girls.” Evan jogged down the corridor, calling out Sierra and Sashe’s names.
“How did you know those things?” Seth asked Dar as they followed Evan.
“What things?”
“About me killing Protectors? Us going to Nia’s?”
“Everyone’s talking about the Protectors you killed,” Dar said. “Not when you got here, but in the last week, definitely. And I heard Kale complaining about Sashe’s new boyfriend when I went into town the other day, so I figured you just stuck up for her when he said something crude.”
“And Nia?”
“Well. . .she dropped by the other day and I heard her and my mom talking about it.”
Seth’s shoulders relaxed. “So. . .Sashe didn’t tell you?”
Dar shook his head. “Of course not. She doesn’t talk about you.”
Seth wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.
“At least, not to me. Sierra, probably, but definitely not Evan and I.”
They found the girls in a sitting room at the piano. Sashe smiled at him, and he gave her a small wave. He leaned on the piano.
Evan pushed Sierra over and sat on the bench, squishing Sierra between him and Sashe. “Guess what we did?”
“What?” Sierra asked, pushing back on his shoulder.
He stumbled and nearly fell off the bench. He caught his balance and stood, running a hand through his hair while Sierra giggled behind her hand. “We talked Alastor into letting Seth and Dar train you in combat.”
“Combat?” Sierra repeated, her face lighting up.
“Yes, with daggers and swords.” Evan fiddled with his walking stick again. “Just in case anything were to happen.”
Sashe frowned. “Allison was with her parents and she still died.”
“But you should still learn,” Seth interjected. “It would help to know these tricks.”
“Alastor was going to train me and not you, but we talked him into it,” Dar said.
Sashe tapped on a few notes of the piano. “I hope we don’t need it.”
“Me, too,” Seth said.
She met his eyes, and he knew he’d do the same thing for her that he did for Vin and Caleb, and probably more.