2. Sage

CHAPTER 2

Sage

I barreled into Edred, rammed my shoulder into his chest — which didn't even make him stumble — and shoved my forearm up against his biceps to stop his downward swing, just like the previous armsmaster had taught Sawyer and me.

It was a foolish move for far too many reasons. I was a lady. I was supposed to be demure, barely seen and not at all heard. I certainly wasn't supposed to touch a man without being told to and I was never supposed to throw myself into the middle of a fight. I'd also been warned that even though I was stronger than the average woman of my build and station — thanks to the servants' duties forced on me — I didn't stand a chance grappling with someone like Edred who was significantly stronger, taller, and heavier than me.

If I was going to defy what was expected of me and fight him, my best strategy would be quick strikes, never letting him get his hands on me. Better yet, from a distance with a bow.

Of course, if I had a bow and I didn't care about consequences, Edred would already be dead.

But I didn't have a bow, let alone a sword, and stopping his strike while his hand was still up in the air and before he could put his full strength behind his swing was my only option.

"Out of my way, girl." He pushed me aside and I hit the ground with a heavy umph, rolled back onto my feet, and flung myself back at Edred as he swung at Sawyer's back.

My shoulder hit him low in the gut, drawing a grunt. He shoved me back, and I lost my balance and landed on my butt on the hardpacked dirt beside Sawyer.

Edred's eyes narrowed.

"Looks like someone needs a lesson in obedience," Pylos drawled, still leaning against the rough-hewn stable wall.

"Looks like," Edred said, his voice low, freezing the churning fear in my stomach for Sawyer into terror for myself.

I'd thought my safety had been just as guaranteed as Sawyer's. I was a nobleman's daughter and even if I wasn't considered beautiful, I was still a political prize which meant I'd fetch a high bride price. And the only reason Edred hadn't married me off yet — or rather married me off again — was because he was still waiting for the king to declare my betrothed dead. Something I prayed wouldn't happen for at least another season, hopefully more since Sawyer might have to wait months to have his petition heard by the king.

"Pick it up," Edred said, glaring at me.

"What?"

Edred jerked his chin at Sawyer's blunt practice sword. "Pick it up."

"I—" Sure, I knew how to fight. I'd been learning along side Sawyer since I was ten. I'd been fascinated with the skill and had begged the previous armsmaster to teach me when he started teaching Sawyer. For some reason — with my mother's blessing — he'd defied societal expectations and taught me. But Edred had replaced that armsmaster and the last four years hadn't been learning as much as trying to help Sawyer improve in secret to save him from Pylos's beatings.

Even if I'd been steadily growing as a swordsman, I doubted I was anywhere near Edred's caliber. He was a hardened soldier. Not to mention Sawyer's sword wasn't sharp, and while I might be able to score a touch against Edred, I wouldn't be able to hurt him — even if I used the weapon like a club — and that would only infuriate him.

"Pick. It. Up," Edred snarled.

"Sage, don't," Sawyer gasped, reaching for his weapon, his breaths short and shallow and wet.

The darkness of a premonition fluttered across my vision and a sudden crushing fear swept through me overwhelming all other fears. I didn't have to try to figure out what my strange premonition was trying to tell me this time. I knew without a doubt if Sawyer picked up his sword, Edred would kill him.

I snatched the weapon and stood, praying that Edred also wasn't planning to kill me, too.

A dangerous glint darkened Edred's eyes and I yanked my attention to my feet, hoping an act of submission would end this.

"That's it, girl," Edred snarled. "Now come at me."

My gaze leaped back up to him as my pulse roared in my ears and my hands shook, making the practice blade tremble. Edred wasn't even in a fighting stance and his sword was lowered, but I wasn't foolish enough to think I could catch him off guard.

For a moment, I considered actually trying to fight him, showing him and everyone else that I wasn't helpless, that I didn't need them or anyone else to protect me — not that they'd been protecting me. Being protected by the men in your life was just a fantasy, something girls told themselves because their fathers and brothers had complete control of their lives.

But I couldn't win against Edred, and it would be foolish to reveal just how much training I'd received. It was bad enough I'd blocked Edred to protect Sawyer, defying how I was supposed to behave. No, I needed to look weak, not draw Edred's suspicion, and wait for the right moment. Being able to surprise him or one of his men might be the advantage Sawyer and I needed during an escape. At the very least, I needed to wait until I had a weapon that could actually hurt him.

"Come at me!" he roared, making me jump.

I rushed at him, swinging the heavy practice blade in a wide, sloppy arc toward Edred's side. The armsmaster who'd taught me would have cringed at the attack, but I had to do something. I couldn't just stand there and cower even if that was what was expected of me. Disobeying Edred would only make him angrier.

He blocked my attack with a vicious, one-handed stroke that wrenched my blade down and swung a back-handed strike at my head.

Instinct kicked in and I carried through with my already forward and down movement, ducking his strike. I scrambled out of the way instead of swinging at his calves like I'd been taught and rolled to my feet.

With a growl, Edred lunged, barely giving me a chance to bring my sword up. He swung at my shoulder. The strike was obvious, and while it was still fast, it was slower than his usual strikes.

I scrambled back, yanking my sword up to block. The impact jarred through my hands and up my arms, and I gritted my teeth and hung on. Except I wasn't supposed to hang on. I was supposed to be a weak, unskilled swordsman, and if Sawyer and I were going to get through this, I needed to just take Edred's punishment and pray hurting me was enough to satiate his need for violence and he wouldn't turn his attention back to Sawyer.

He swung again, another wide, obvious strike to my shoulder, and I brought my sword up again, holding it out too far like a novice. Our blades collided and this time I couldn't soften the impact with my arms and keep my grip.

The strike knocked the sword from my hands, sending it flying, and Edred lunged in at full speed. His blade skimmed dangerously close to my ribs, and before I could jerk out of the way, he grabbed the front of my dress. With a snarl, he shoved me to the ground, and kicked me in the stomach.

My breath exploded from my lungs.

"Get up." He kicked me again, the impact screaming through my chest. "Come on. Get up."

I fought to catch my breath, but he kicked a third time, then grabbed a handful of my long hair and jerked me up. "Will you interfere in a lesson again?"

"No, my lord," I gasped.

He smashed the back of his hand against my face. Pain exploded in my cheek and the metallic tang of blood seeped over my tongue. The world spun around me and a far-off distant part of me realized he'd split my lip.

"I'd hoped you'd have learned by now."

Except I was pretty sure he hoped I'd never learn.

He hit me again, letting me fall back to the ground. Dark specks danced across my vision and my ears rang, and he drew his foot back for another kick but stopped.

"What?" he snarled, picking up his sword where he'd dropped it and turning toward someone just out of sight.

"A fae," Udara's youngest son said. "Dressed in black. Coming up the road."

"About time," Edred replied. "Looks like the lottery has finally come to Herstind Keep."

A new dread filled me. I didn't need a premonition to know it wouldn't be any of Edred's men forced to make the sacrifice. It would be Sawyer.