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  He chuckled. “Try again.”

  She nocked another arrow.

  “When I taught my sister to shoot, I always had to remind her to relax her stance and not be so rigid.”

  Reid took a few calming breaths, trying to make sure she was clear and focused.

  Markis came up behind her. “Raise your left arm.”

  She did as he instructed.

  He lowered his head closer to hers, looking along the length of her arrow. “You’re aiming below the target.”

  “I am?”

  He lifted her left arm slightly, then placed his hand on her right arm, adjusting it. Reid heard the door open behind her, but she didn’t bother to see who entered. Her focus remained on the target.

  “Good.” Markis took a step back. “Now shoot.”

  Reid released the arrow. It cut across the room, landing with a thunk in the outer ring of the target. “Yes!” She beamed at Markis. “Thank you.”

  “Lady Reid,” Gytha said. “What are you doing?”

  “Shooting.” Reid set the bow on the table, turning to address the woman.

  “You’re supposed to be getting a tour of the facility.”

  “I am,” Reid said. “This is part of my tour.”

  “Commander Dexter wants you to join the novice training session. Come with me.”

  Novice? He thought Reid needed to train with the new recruits? Did he have so little faith in her? To test her, Ackley and Gordon had forced her to spar with someone far above her skill level. She still remembered the beast of a man she’d gone against. Yet now, Dexter wanted her placed with the beginners. Was there no happy-medium? On the bright side, she wouldn’t look like a fool in a novice group.

  “Thank you for the tour,” she told Markis before she followed Gytha from the room.

  Gytha led Reid to a different section of the building. When they came to a door, Gytha abruptly stopped, facing Reid. “What is going on with you and Markis?”

  “He was giving me a shooting lesson.” Reid’s brows scrunched in confusion. “Why?”

  “You are engaged.”

  “I know.” It would officially be announced tomorrow.

  “Then why are you spending time with another man?”

  “Dexter wanted me to take a tour of the facility.”

  Gytha took a menacing step closer to Reid. “He did not instruct you to come here to flirt with one of his officers.”

  Reid snorted at the insinuation. “I wasn’t flirting with Markis.” She had no interest in flirting with him or anyone else for that matter.

  “He was flirting with you.”

  “I can assure you he was not.” Markis was just being kind.

  Gytha shook her head. “Are you truly this clueless?”

  “Markis is a friend.” All Reid’s friends were men. She was used to and comfortable with that fact.

  “I will not sit idly by and watch you make a fool of Dexter,” Gytha said, lowering her voice. “He deserves to be respected and loved.”

  The force of Gytha’s words surprised Reid. She’d known Gytha and Dexter had a relationship that ended when Reid arrived in Axian. But, for some reason, she hadn’t expected Gytha to still have feelings for Dexter, much less admit them to Reid. The fact the couple could no longer be together made guilt consume Reid.

  “I’m sorry.” The apology was inadequate, but she couldn’t change anything. If she were in Gytha’s position, she’d feel the same way. “Since I was raised as a man, I never had to worry about such things. I didn’t think anything about it, nor did I realize it might seem improper. I promise it won’t happen again.”

  Gytha narrowed her eyes as she studied Reid. After a long, uncomfortable minute, she nodded curtly. “This way.” She opened the door, ushering Reid outside into one of the smaller training courtyards.

  Short grass covered the ground and buildings surrounded the area on all four sides. There were around twenty-five people present, all about Reid’s age. She scanned their faces—only a fourth were women.

  Gytha whistled. “Line up.”

  Everyone immediately got into rows of five across and five deep. Reid moved to join them.

  “You stay beside me,” Gytha said, taking a spot in front of the trainees. “You will be my partner.”

  Reid did as instructed, clasping her hands behind her back.

  “Today, we’re going to practice what to do if someone tries to attack you from behind,” Gytha announced. “Lady Reid, stand behind me and wrap an arm around my shoulders.”

  Reid did, already knowing what Gytha intended to do.

  “If you find yourself in this position, lean forward,” Gytha told the group. “Then use your attacker’s momentum to flip them over your body. Like this.” She demonstrated the move as she spoke.

  Since Reid had been ready for it, she was able to land on her back without getting hurt.

  “Now, it’s your turn,” Gytha said to the trainees. “Partner up with someone next to you, then take turns being the attacker and getting attacked.”

  Reid jumped to her feet.

  “You know how to fight,” Gytha stated.

  “Yes.”

  Gytha shook her head, clearly nonplussed. “But you’re a woman from northern Marsden.”

  “Who was raised as a man,” Reid reminded her.

  “I hadn’t realized that included learning to fight.”

  “My father made sure I received extensive training.” Although, he’d been sure to shield Reid from any sort of battlefield experience.

  “Why are you with the novice group?”

  “I assume Prince Dexter finds my skills lacking.”

  “What are your strengths?”

  “I like to fight with twin swords rather than spar with my hands.”

  “Does the commander know this?”

  “No.” He hadn’t bothered to ask. And when Reid had fought him, the only weapon she’d had was a dagger—which she’d thrown at him.

  “Just when I think I have you figured out, you surprise me.”

  Reid couldn’t tell if she meant that as a good thing.

  “There’s a weapons class after this. How about you help me with these trainees, then you stay and join me for that class?” Gytha asked.

  “I’d like that.”

  Gytha’s smile was sly. “That’s because you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

  Reid assumed Gytha meant that as a joke, but she couldn’t be sure. For the rest of the class, Reid went around to the trainees, giving pointers on their forms. It was fun to see other women learning and taking fighting seriously. It was something Reid had never experienced in northern Marsden. But maybe that would change one day. Maybe Reid could help make that change. Perhaps marrying the prince was a good thing. Not only would it put her in a position of power, but it would also provide her with the means to seek positive changes. And now that she was her father’s heir, she would have even more opportunities to accomplish those goals.

  When the class ended, everyone quickly dispersed. A minute later, a dozen men entered, Dexter bringing up the rear.

  “Welcome,” Gytha said, addressing everyone. “Today, we’re going to focus on sword work. Grab a sword, and let’s begin our advanced weaponry class.”

  Ah, hell. Reid had assumed this would just be a step up from the last class—not advanced weaponry. She eyed Gytha, who smiled smugly. Reid wanted to wring the warrior woman’s neck.

  Chapter Seven

  Since a regular sword was simply too heavy for Reid to wield, she’d grown up using twin swords her father had commissioned especially for her. They were designed to be lighter so she could manage them effectively. But that had been against common foot soldiers in Ellington. The men in this training yard weren’t ordinary soldiers.

  Gytha instructed Reid to pick a sword.

  “I’ll just watch.” There was no need to make a fool of herself. She knew her limits. It was obvious she was outmatched. From the corner of her eye, sh
e spotted Markis. For some reason, it helped to know she had a friend here.

  Gytha tossed a sword at Reid, who had no choice but to catch the thing. It was even heavier than she’d feared.

  “Everyone, pair up,” Dexter instructed.

  “Need a partner?” Markis asked, suddenly at Reid’s side.

  “Yes.” Relief filled her. She couldn’t handle fighting a stranger right now. Not when she could barely lift her weapon.

  “Do you even know how to use that?” Dubiously, he scratched the back of his head.

  “Yes, although I’m used to a much lighter one.”

  “Hang on.” He took her sword, then jogged over to a large bin. A minute later, he returned, carrying two wooden swords. “Let’s use these instead, shall we?”

  With a grateful smile, she took one of the wooden swords and stood opposite Markis. She tried to recall the training session she’d had with Ackley where he’d demonstrated how to modify what she knew in order to succeed against an unfamiliar opponent.

  “Ready?” Markis asked.

  Reid nodded, adjusting her grip on the hilt, trying to get a feel for the weight of the weapon.

  He swung, and she easily parried the blow. She kept herself reined in, not wanting to go on the offensive until she had a better read on him.

  “I’m not the best swordsman,” he said. “My talent lies with the bow.”

  “While I have no doubt you are exceptional with the bow,” she said while blocking a series of strikes, “you are one of twelve in an advanced weaponry class.” Which meant he knew how to use a sword. Talking was probably a ploy to distract her. Her friend Knox often did that.

  “Speaking of which, why are you here?” He circled around her.

  She followed him, keeping her front facing his, so he couldn’t attack her from behind. “Captain Gytha invited me. She made it sound like it was a good idea.”

  “That’s what I feared.” Lowering his sword, he glanced over to where Dexter and Gytha fought one another.

  Fascinated, Reid watched as Dexter struck Gytha’s side. In retaliation, she slammed the hilt of her sword against his shoulder. He twisted, ramming his elbow between her shoulder blades. When the blow knocked her to the ground, he put his foot on her back. Grunting, she punched the ground and conceded the match.

  Reid swallowed. Dexter hadn’t gone easy on Gytha. In fact, a trickle of blood ran down her face. Dexter reached down to help Gytha to her feet. They spoke quietly to one another. Reid was just about to turn away when Dexter gestured over at Reid and nodded. Wiping the blood from her cheek, Gytha started in Reid’s direction.

  Reid faced Markis, eyes wide, silently pleading for him to do something.

  Raising his sword, he said, “Let’s go another round.”

  She lifted her weapon, shoulders tense.

  “Markis,” Gytha snapped. “Go fight with Dexter.”

  “I’d like to finish my round with Lady Reid.”

  “It wasn’t a request.”

  Markis nodded. “Yes, Captain.” He gave Reid a worried glance before exchanging swords with Gytha.

  At least Gytha now had a wooden sword instead of a metal one. Not that she couldn’t do damage with a wooden one, but at least she wouldn’t sever Reid’s limbs.

  “Let’s see what you can do.” With no more warning, Gytha raised her sword and viciously swung, aiming for Reid’s side.

  Reid barely had time to lift her sword to block the strike. The force was much stronger than she’d anticipated. Standing with her feet a little wider than usual to maintain balance, she warily eyed Gytha, waiting for the next attack.

  The woman snarled, then came at Reid with a series of moves meant to back Reid into a corner while simultaneously wearing her down. Having no choice, Reid parried each blow as she took a step back, trying to think of a way to turn the situation around. Years of training kicked in. Her arms moved of their own accord, holding Gytha off. Within the first minute, Reid’s arms ached—it had been far too long since she’d practiced. Regardless, she forced herself to remain strong and not to cower.

  Growling in frustration, Gytha sped up her movements, her hits becoming more aggressive. She feinted to the left, then lunged, trying to hit Reid’s left side. Reid managed to block the blow, her arms shaking from the impact. But then Gytha’s foot slammed into Reid’s shin, making her leg buckle. Before she could even think to defend herself, Gytha twisted, kicking Reid’s exposed right side. Reid flew to the ground, her head slamming against the stone wall. Stars exploded across her vision, then dispersed into blackness that hovered around the edges of her consciousness.

  Multiple blurry Gythas seemed to appear above Reid. “Maybe the novice class is better suited for you.”

  “Are you okay?” Markis asked, kneeling beside Reid. His fingers trailed over her head, examining it.

  Reid couldn’t answer. A ringing sound bombarded her ears, her vision swimming in a cloudy sea of images she couldn’t quite make out. Everything hurt. She closed her eyes, trying not to vomit.

  “What were you thinking?” Markis demanded.

  “Watch how you address your superior,” Gytha sneered.

  “My superior? My superior would have never taken such a cheap shot.” Reid felt arms slide under her body, vaguely aware when Markis picked her up.

  She opened her eyes, blinking frantically. As everything started to come into focus, she noticed the soldiers no longer sparred. Instead, they stared at her. She couldn’t even summon the energy to be mortified by the attention. Her body ached.

  “I’m taking her to the infirmary,” Markis said.

  Dexter approached. “Don’t move,” he murmured. Then, addressing everyone, he raised his voice. “Back to work. Now.”

  The soldiers immediately complied.

  Turning to Reid, he asked, “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” she replied, her voice barely audible. “The force of the hit jarred me, but I’m okay.”

  “Can you stand?”

  “Probably.”

  Markis tightened his hold on her. “You hit your head pretty hard.”

  “Set her on her feet,” Dexter commanded.

  Markis hesitated before slowly releasing her, setting her on her feet.

  When Reid stumbled, Markis grabbed her shoulders, offering support.

  “She’ll be fine,” Gytha said dismissively.

  “What are you still doing here?” Dexter asked, his tone sharp. “I told everyone to get back to work.”

  Gytha’s eyes widened and she opened her mouth to argue. Dexter merely raised his eyebrows, and she snapped her mouth closed. She grabbed Markis’s arm, proceeding to drag him away. They both picked up their discarded swords, then began fighting.

  Dexter’s intense gaze pinned Reid in place. “Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked again, his voice low and throaty.

  Everything seemed to spin around her. “I’m fine.” She reached up, touching her throbbing head.

  He wiped his forehead with his arm. “Do you need me to fetch a healer?”

  “No.” She swayed, pinching her eyes shut against a wave of dizziness.

  Dexter reached forward, encircling her waist with both his hands to steady her.

  His touch froze her in place. She forced her eyes open, staring directly into his. As she focused on him, everything around her stopped moving. The tips of his fingers dug into her sides. “I’m fine,” she insisted, more to herself than to him.

  Cautiously, he released her. “You don’t look like you’re fine.”

  She could feel steady strength radiating from him. “I just need to lie down.” Turning ever so slowly, she took cautious steps toward the exit, hoping she’d make it without falling and embarrassing herself further. She wanted to maintain what little dignity she had left—if she even had any.

  After pushing the door open, she entered the building and made a left. Once she heard the door click shut behind her, she collapsed against the wall, willing herself not to vomit. T
hankfully, the world no longer spun and the ringing in her ears had stopped. However, she felt nauseous and her head throbbed.

  Not wanting anyone to see her hunched over in the hallway, she forced herself to stand straight as she made her way to the exit. Outside, she squinted against the bright light, trying to decide what to do. The city suddenly felt too busy, too noisy, too overpowering. Longing for the solitude of the country filled her.

  Without a conscious decision, she started walking west, continuing straight until she’d exited the city. After half a mile, she spotted a field of lavender. She glanced over her shoulder, making sure no one followed her. Not spotting anyone, she trekked down one of the rows, being careful not to step on any of the plants. The fragrant scent permeated the air, smacking Reid with a wave of homesickness. She missed her father and her sisters. Her castle and her land. She missed her friends.

  When she reached the crest of a valley that extended for miles, she paused and took in the sight. The wind brushed against her skin, and she basked in the smell, the feel, and the warmth of the outdoors.

  A tear slid down her cheek. Reid folded to the ground, hugging her legs. She’d always considered herself strong and fierce. After all, she’d been raised as a man and took pride in not emotionally falling apart like other women. Yet, here she was, feeling like a wreck.

  Resting her head on her knees, she stared at the valley. Field after field of agriculture extended for miles. Everything was so vibrant. She’d thought by coming here, she’d find her true home. Since men in Axian treated women as equals who could hold jobs, own land, and wear whatever they wanted, Reid thought she would finally have everything she desired. This was where she’d thought she belonged. So why did she feel so alone?

  She rubbed her face, exhausted. Marrying Dexter was the right thing to do. She knew that. However, the thought of tying herself to another person, especially a man like the commander, terrified her. She’d never been romantically involved before. No one had ever even kissed her.

  Today had been humiliating. Reid gingerly touched her head where she’d smacked it, assessing the lump that was already forming. Why did Gytha feel the need to challenge and belittle Reid? Dexter had willingly chosen to sever his relationship with the warrior woman. Reid hadn’t known anything about it. If Gytha wanted to be mad at someone, it should be him. Gytha’s eyes had been wild and furious as they’d fought. It had scared Reid, who hadn’t been prepared for the woman’s anger to flare.