(Chapter 16: The Northern Villa, cont)

  Ean stared up at Phong, breathless and gasping and grudgingly impressed. Phong smiled down at him, his own chest heaving. He wiped the lightest sheen of sweat from his brow.

  “You’re very good.”

  Ean choked on a laugh because Phong had beaten him in a matter of minutes, and using Sun Dance, no less. Phong looked up at the others. “Your companion fights well.”

  He genuinely meant it, and Ean could hear the trainees murmuring among themselves, meaning they were impressed too. It helped soothe his injured pride. Ean gingerly felt his sternum to see if anything had broken.

  “Up,” said Phong, motioning him to rise.

  Ean didn’t feel like getting up. He’d be fine lying on the grass for the next hour, but he was used to the command. He pushed the ache away and rolled up to his feet.

  “Here’s where you need to correct your stance.” Phong dropped back into the opening position of Sun Dance and instructed Ean bend his knee an inch more and turn out his front foot a couple of degrees.

  “And tighten here.” Phong tapped him in the stomach and then walked him through the first block and strike sequence. The changes were minor, but startlingly effective. Ean immediately felt more grounded, and more power in his strike.

  “This is a sun flare,” Phong said, performing the move with him. “The sun does not radiate with one limb, but with the whole body. And this next piece, the two kicks, these are sunbeams striking through a cloud. It is light and fast, and you must land it softer, like a sunbeam landing on the ground.”

  He showed Ean how to fix his landing, and that too, made the dance better.

  “You should come to practice. I will teach you more.” He patted Ean on the arm and left to retrieve his outer robe.

  Ean jogged after him, a stirring of hope in his chest. “Can you teach me how to catch an arrow?”

  Phong turned, robe in hand. “What?”

  Ean mimed shooting an arrow, then catching it.

  Phong squinted. “Why would you ever need to catch an arrow? Get a shield. Take cover. Run away.”

  “It’s to graduate,” Ean said. “I have to catch an arrow aimed at my heart to show that I’m at peace with death.”

  Phong’s face became troubled. He shook his head. “That’s not being at peace with death; that’s taunting it.” He pulled on his robe. “Don’t mock death, shadow-walker. It will always have the last laugh.”

  He gave a nod and returned to his trainees. Ean felt a pang of disappointment, stronger than the ache in his muscles. Phong was one of the best fighters he’d ever seen. He’d hoped he would have some insight to help him pass his trials. He sighed, pushed the emotion away, and re-sheathed his weapons.

  Nadia took them back to the temple for the mid-day meal. After they ate, they were informed that visitors were expected to help around the temple to earn their keep. Flora went to brew healing draughts in the infirmary. Chadwick and Asali agreed to assist in the orchards. Ean followed Leo into the library and spent the rest of the day learning their filing system and returning tomes to the shelves.

  Leo was far more interested in the books than he was. Ean’s tastes ran towards the epic verses, which were in short supply in the Scholars’ collection. Leo found several texts to borrow, one on law, two on ancient history, and a small set on arithmetic. Ean helped him carry them back to their room before dinner.

  The evening meal was finer than the previous two. There were several different meats, large pots of soup, and platters of roasted vegetables. Dessert and tea were served after the meal, during which five Scholars got up to sing. They sang without accompaniment, their voices providing the instrumentation and the lyrics. They were a talented group and well-practiced, using the natural echo of the stone walls to sustain notes, mimicking a fuller choir behind them.

  They were three songs in when Cirocco came to their table. He inclined his head to Leo. “If I could speak with you, Prince Leonid, I have news I wish to impart.”

  Leo stood. Ean made to follow, but Cirocco put out a hand. “With the Prince only.”

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  “Not happening,” Ean said.

  Leo pushed him back down. “Sit, Ean. Enjoy the music.” He cracked a grin. “Maybe have a glass of wine to relax.”

  “Fuck you,” Ean griped. Leo knew full well that shadow-walkers didn’t drink. He grudgingly watched them leave, not really worried about Leo’s safety, but not entirely comfortable with letting him out of his sight. If Ean had sat in on the previous conversation, why couldn’t he join this one?

  “Do you think it’s about the sword?” Asali asked.

  “It’d better be,” Ean said. “The Philosopher was most unhelpful last night.”

  The choir struck up another song, and this time the rest of the hall joined in singing. Ean usually enjoyed audience participation, but now the extra noise aggravated his discomfort.

  “Do you think we’re in some sort of trouble?” Flora asked. “We did find their lost temple after all.”

  “Maybe they’re telling Leo we’re all stuck here,” Ean said, meeting her gaze. “Forever and ever.”

  Flora’s eyes widened comically, until Asali kicked him under the table. Ean jerked back with a hiss of pain and Flora huffed out a breath, picking up on the joke. Perhaps it had been mean-spirited of him, but she was too easy a target sometimes. A server came over with a pot to refill their tea. Another refilled the wine glasses. Ean turned his attention back to the singers. If nothing else, maybe he could learn a new song while they waited.

  The music finished relatively early. Ean was used to performances lasting well into the night, but as the Scholars rose before dawn, it made sense that they’d retire sooner. The group returned to their rooms and they all sat around the fire, waiting for Leo. It took a while, long enough for Chadwick to doze off on the couch. Ean was just thinking about setting out on a search mission when the door opened and Leo stepped through.

  His face was pinched, that was the first thing Ean noticed. And when he claimed the seat across from them, he dropped into it with a heavy sigh that made Ean sit forward, preparing for whatever bad news was going to follow.

  “Well?” Asali asked, nudging Chadwick awake with her elbow.

  “The Elders met with me,” Leo said, rather needlessly. They’d all been there for that part. “They questioned my intentions for the sword and then the safety of all of Viridas if I were to claim it for Eastmere. They think the Eld sword is safest with them, but I told them about Sudala.”

  Asali nodded. “It only took a year of infighting for Sudala to fall to Westenvale’s influence. Think of what they could do with a village this small.”

  Ean grimaced. The Scholars fought well, but Westenvale had the advantage of numbers.

  “The Scholars believe their camouflage will keep Westenvale out of the Villa,” Leo said. “And even if it fails, they feel confident that they can keep the sword a secret, even under the worst inducements.”

  “Torture,” Asali said.

  “And worse,” Chadwick added. “Dream walkers, likely. Maybe even an Incurso.”

  Ean felt Flora shiver next to him. He didn’t blame her. He’d seen the aftermath of a mind-invader once, and had nightmares for a week.

  “I cautioned them as much,” Leo said. “They didn’t seem concerned, but they put it to a vote.”

  “And?” Asali prompted.

  Leo paused. His eyes flicked to the side. For the briefest of seconds, Ean had the strangest feeling that Leo was considering lying to them.

  But then the Prince sighed, turned back to the group, and said, “It was close, but they decided in our favor. We are to leave tomorrow, retrieve the sword, and then make our way back here to meet with Cirocco.”

  “Where is it?” Asali asked.

  “A three day climb to North Mountain.”

  “I don’t suppose they’re going to spare us a guide?” Chadwick asked.

  Leo shook his head. “The Elders still aren’t convinced that we should have the sword. I imagine if we all died in an avalanche, they would sleep easier at night.”

  Ean frowned. Leo was making a joke of it, but the trap would be easy enough to set: a few tarps underneath a pile of drifting snow and a pull string. They’d be buried under tons of ice, never to be heard from again.

  “Three days,” Flora mused. “We should send word. Aldine and the King will want to know.”

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Leo cautioned. “We don’t have the sword yet. And we don’t know who’s leaking information to Westenvale and the Wildmen. It may be best for us to send no notice at all.”

  The others nodded. Chadwick stood and made a show of stretching. “If we’re climbing tomorrow, we should all turn in and get a good night’s sleep.”

  He had a fair point. Asali and Flora followed his example, retiring to the room they were sharing. Leo poured himself a glass of water from the pitcher on the side table and then returned to the fire. He fiddled with the glass more than he drank. His discomfort, and his earlier hesitation, confused Ean.

  “You’re about the retrieve the Eld sword,” Ean said. “I thought you’d be happier.”

  “I thought I’d be happier.”

  “So what’s the trouble?”

  Leo looked up and forced a smile. “Maybe I just can’t believe it yet. I’ll probably be in a better mood tomorrow.”

  He toasted Ean with his water glass, drained it, and then headed into the bedroom, the one that Chadwick had already entered. Each of the rooms held two beds, and while Ean didn’t mind having the third all to himself, it felt like Leo was avoiding the question.

  Or maybe Leo was avoiding him and his loud opinions.

  Ean let out a frustrated sigh. Leo had used Ean’s words with the Philosopher. He thought that meant Leo trusted him. But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, Ean realized how foolish it was. Yes, he’d saved Leo’s life in Northpoint, and defended him against the Wildmen, but it hardly made up for trying to kill him in the first place. That was a wrong that would never be undone.

  Ean scrubbed a hand over his face then got up and hung his swords on the door before turning in. If the Scholars changed their mind about letting them seek the Eld sword, he was going to be ready for them.

  Although, if Phong attacked, he didn’t really stand a chance.