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"No Pick it up"

When I coh the basic defensive moves "If you can’t attack like Jaron, at least I can teach you to defend yourself"

He thrust his sword at ht past mine and jabbed my ribs

"You’re worse than when I last saw you," Mott said

"You shouldn’t have whipped et stabbed"

I s in a swat on his thigh

"Not bad," Mott said, "but you lack the discipline that would be expected of a prince"

"I could always say that I’m out of practice"

"Nonsense Prince Jaron was an ae before he disappeared You cannot be as pathetic as you are now and hope to pass for him Why do you think his sas raze e him to take his studies hting seriously He is known to have once declared in front of the entire court that he intended to lead the Carthyan armies in war one day"

"Then he sounds like a fool," I said, thrusting forward Mott dodged me and easily blocked my move "Mistress Havala said that Eckbert was a peaceable ruler, at all costs Carthya has avoided war for generations"

"Carthya has enee Darius understood that Perhaps Jaron did as well Their father never did"

"Are you saying Eckbert was a bad king?"

"He wasn’t evil Just na&iued alliances, stockpiled their weapons Eckbert failed to see their hungry eyes as they looked toward Carthya" Mott shrugged "He failed to see the enemies within his own castle"

I used the opportunity to jab at his side, then followed it with a slice that threw his sword off balance Mott backed up two steps and readjusted his grip "Good ht better with Jaron’s sword," I said

"You fought better because it was a superior sword, even as an imitation It’s too bad that it’s been taken Conner now believes it wasn’t any of you three boys He thinks one of the servants took it to sell, knowing you boys would get the blaan probably took it to help train Roden"

"Unlikely You dislike Cregan, Sage, but he serves Conner well He’d do anything Conner asked"

"So would you"

Mott stopped and lowered his sword "I wouldn’t kill for hio unanswered "Then your lian killed Latamer on Conner’s orders, and you helped it happen That’s the sa flickered in Mott’s eyes He pressed his lips together and said, "Our lesson is over Hang up your sword and I’ll walk you back to the house"