Page 106 of The Blade in the Ashes
“Regardless,” he breathed after clearing his throat. Shaking off my touch, he turned and lifted his chin. “You deserve more than forcing that upon yourself.”
I swallowed, stomach turning as I became all too aware of Lorence’s drying saliva on my face.
“Do not offer more than you wish to give someone, Iris,” he said, the command more of a plea. “Please.”
Iris.
Not bird.
I wet my lips, subtly wiping my mouth with the back of my hand before nodding. “Okay.”
Chapter Thirty
Rankor
“So, what are the princesses like?” Elaijah asked from beside me.
I snorted, glancing at him from my periphery. Bruises painted his skin, dark blue around his eyes and black across his knuckles. I’d opted for a tough-love approach to teaching him how to fight, but he hadn’t seemed to mind. He was rather hardy, in fact, much to my surprise. It usually took him a few tries to learn new skills, but he was remarkably determined. He never gave up or complained about exhaustion or pain. Even when I’d knocked against the back of his head when he’d failed the master a sideways dodge, he’d only cursed once before demanding we go again.
I had to admit, his resolve was impressive.
“He wants to know what the princesses are like,” I yelled over my shoulder to Kent, who chuckled softly.
“Oh, they’re lovely,” Kent said sarcastically.
The princesses had rarely spent time at court; their mother had insisted on sending them away to school rather than have an in-house governess like Clay had had. It might have been her attempt to shield the girls from the Dragon’s cruelty. When they visited, they’d been doted on by everyone from nobles to staff. Clay’s stepmother had been clear that their every wishshould be granted, and since neither of them was the heir, the Dragon barely interacted with them at all.
“Myla is still very young,” I explained. “And energetic. Ezmie is...”
I trailed off, entirely unsure how to describe Ezmie.
The words that came to mind were not appropriate ways to describe a princess. Especially not one who was now, technically, the heir to the crown.
“She’s what?” Elaijah asked, glancing between Kent and me.
I met Kent’s gaze, finding the same discomfort on his features. He shrugged at Elaijah, kicking his heel into his horse to bring it to a trot. “Well, you’ll meet her.”
Throwing my head back, I laughed. “Yes, we’ll let you figure her out for yourself.”
His brows pinched with skepticism, but he didn’t push the issue, choosing instead to stare out at the large school in the distance, which seemed to grow larger and larger as we approached.
The National Institute of Athenia was a massive structure. The pale-faced bricks of the main building stretched into towering spires that kissed the grey sky. Surrounding the primary wing were several additional buildings, each lined with tall shrubs, which I could only assume were additional housing, libraries, or educational rooms. Young men and women hurried through the courtyards, rushing back and forth with books in their arms.
It was breathtaking.
I’d never been much of a student. I’d always been more inclined to be active and moving than locked away in a classroom, but even I could appreciate the devotion these students all had to their studies.
“Do you have the missive?” Kent asked as he and I dismounted our horses and handed off our reins.
We’d decided it would be best for the others to stay at the front gates of the institute. This would be a quick trip after all; we’d simply send for the princesses and be on our way. The faster we got back to the camp at Nikolai’s, the better.
I pulled out the sealed parchment from the inner breast pocket of my jacket. “Signed, sealed and soon-to-be delivered.”
Kent nodded and ushered me forward, allowing me to lead the way towards the large doors that led to the primary campus. Wrapping my fingers around the golden handle, I pushed forward, savoring the rush of warm air that fell over us as we stepped inside.
Next to me, Kent whistled under his breath, rocking back on his heels as he glanced around. Bookshelves lined every inch of the rotunda, stretching from our feet to the tops of the eighteen-foot ceilings.
“This is something,” I admired, spinning in a slow circle so I could take in the posts before the grand staircase that led to even more shelves of books.
