Page 8 (2/2)

I smiled at them Now, I couldn’t flirt I was terrible at it, but I had learned froht They seemed to puff up their chests underyou train, you’re both very good"

They flushed and began hts with the happy realisation they were the perfect men to ask of this Not too tall, nor too broad

"I wonder if you ht teach me how to use a sword"

Reith’s jaw dropped before he re his expression "A sword, Miss Rogan?"

I offered hian "Yes Nothing too difficult of course, but I do think with us travelling into Alvernia that it may be of use to me to kno to defend myself a little"

The men shared a look I breathed relief They weren’t too shocked by the idea In fact Officer Stark nodded deteran Shall we show you first how to grip the sword?"

I grinned excitedly, unable to believe they had acquiesced so easily I was so used to being treated like Haydyn; like I was a piece of precious glass that would shatter at the slightest touch Reith, being the shortest of the two, circled oing around rossed in their teachings, laughing with them as I thrust the sword like a limp noodle, I didn’t hear his approach until…

"What the bloody hell is going on?"

Reith ju as he looked at the person behindyou," Wolfe snapped, glaring at hed, shifting uncoan asked us to show her so, Captain We didn’t see any harm in it"

"Any harm? Any har, for havens sake"

Blood flooded ue fro at him like a banshee "Captain Stovia," I fu the sharp end of a sword!"

"And!" He ignored e an is to be addressed as such"

"I asked therowled, "Well I’ them" His own cheeks were flushed now as his blue eyes sparked like hot chips of aqua, you ask me first before you acquiesce to her request"

"Yes sir" They botha little

Wolfe turned on his heel and beganaway, his spine stiff with irritation

"I have a name!" I called out to him lamely She indeed

As soon as he was out of earshot, Officer Reith whistled, "I don’t knohat it is about you, Lady Rogan, but you’re the only one who ever makes Captain lose his coed hiht" Reith sed, looking euilty So they had remembered I had inadvertently had Wolfe’s father killed then, had they?

"Yes," I replied wryly "People react oddly when they’re talking to their archene deflated now But I stiffened when I heard Reith ets Captain so hot"

I gri Wolfe as he ordered the men back onto their horses Of course he sawme? I wasn’t an idiot – Wolfe hatedwhen he took his chance for vengeance

If only I kne to use a sword

Spoilsport

I wasn’t speaking to Wolfe for hu tohis men’s help behind his back He rode ahead the entire way to Peza and I glared at his back without distraction Lieutenant Chaeron keptanored hiht suddenly be knocked off his horse and onto his ass

Having sent one of the , ere h Peza to the Grof’s home I stared in wonder at Peza, co and exuberant calls of welcome I was amazed by the similarities to Silvera It was as if Silvera had been copied by a master artisan and plunked down in Peza The architecture was the same, the street plan was the same; even some of the market square seemed the same, if only a little smaller The difference, however, was the aweso on the outsides of buildings, ht of having to clean and replace those tapestries, and at having to refresh the murals every few years But this was the city of art and it made sense that the people wished to display it wherever they could