43. Chapter 43

Chapter forty-three

H aven followed Tasha to their usual training grounds. Unlike other days, Roman was there waiting for them.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Haven asked as she came to stand beside him.

"Heard what happened. Came to check on you"

"Thank you" She smiled sheepishly. Roman stepped closer, wrapping Haven in a tight hug.

"I'm sorry about what happened," He told her, "How are you doing?"

"Good. I was a little freaked out at first but Nik let me use his shower to clean the blood off. My bathroom is kinda trashed" Haven attempted to downplay how she felt after the attack. She didn't want anyone to know quite how affected she was and quite how much Nik had helped her.

Roman released her and stepped back,

"Nik huh?" He smirked

"Shut up" Haven rolled her eyes, "It was just a shower"

Roman snorted and gave her a look that told Haven he did not believe her. Technically she wasn't lying, the only thing that happened this morning was Nik letting her use his shower. Last night on the other hand, well that was a bit of a different story.

Roman nudged Havens arm and began walking away,

"I'll let you ladies get back to it. Have fun! Don't let her work you too hard H!"

Haven laughed as Roman walked away, other days she might agree with him but after everything that happened today, all she wanted was to work. Haven wanted to work so hard she forgot the way the blood of the guard clung to her skin, the way it smelled, the way it didn't want to leave her skin no matter how hard she'd scrubbed.

"Enough chit chat. Time to get to work'' Tasha spoke, breaking Haven's train of thoughts. Haven was grateful to Tasha for preventing her from diving further into those memories. Tasha took off at a run a second later, taking to their usual route around the castle grounds. Haven smiled, relieved to be getting started and took off after her.

"I think today we'll start doing three laps" Tasha told Haven as she caught up to her.

Havens smile fell. They weren't supposed to start doing three laps for another two days. She was barely able to complete two. This was going to be exactly what Haven wanted, a long and tiring training session.

***

Haven and Tasha parried back and forth. It was almost the end of their weapons lesson. Haven still wasn't able to get the sword from Tasha.

Haven took two small steps back. Tasha advanced with her sword,

"Keep an eye on your opponent's feet, often they will angle their feet in the direction they plan to move"

Haven nodded, covered in sweat and ready to drop.

"With daggers you have to get in close," Tasha continued, "That's usually the hard part, especially when someone has a sword. You have to figure out how to get past their defenses without getting injured in the process. Once you are past their reach with the sword, you gain the advantage."

Tashas sword clanged with Haven's dagger. Ducking down and advancing towards Tasha's body, Havens arm came up towards Tasha's wrist, the one holding the sword. She was attempting to knock into the part of her wrist that would cause a spasm, forcing Tasha to drop the sword.

She had yet to complete this move but today felt different. Maybe it was what happened this morning, maybe Haven had finally started to grasp Tashas training concepts. Either way, as Havens arm connected with Tashas wrist, time felt like it was moving in slow motion .

Haven barely heard the sound of metal clanking against the ground as the sword dropped. Immediate triumph overwhelmed Haven.

"Yes!" She cried, throwing her arms up in the air.

Tasha stepped back,

"Good but remember, a real fight wouldn't be over until the other person was either incapacitated or dead. They still could have tried to get your dagger from you. Or used their hands to hurt you, and if they possess magic then that would be another problem entirely"

"Oh come on Tasha! Let me have this!" Haven whined, she knew she likely sounded like a child but she really needed this win and Tasha was not giving it to her.

"Very well," Tasha nodded, "You did good," She told her, "I guess this means the dagger is now officially yours"

The biggest smile Haven had ever felt stretched across her face. She had almost forgotten that she'd be allowed to keep the dagger once she completed her task. Haven had been training with other weapons but she was best with the long dagger she'd picked up on day one.

Tasha stepped over to the line of other weapons, drawing two sheaths out of a burlap bag.

"Two?" Haven asked

"Pick up your other dagger," Tasha told her. Nodding to where the dagger from Binah laid in the grass.

Haven grasped a dagger in each hand, her training dagger was longer than the one from Binah but they still felt equally balanced in her hands. Tasha finished gathering the sheaths and stepped in front of Haven. Crouching low she said,

"I would recommend wearing your shorter dagger at your ankle and your other at your hip"

Tasha slid down the leather of Havens boot, attaching a small sheath to her ankle. Reaching up, Tasha took the dagger Binah had given her and fastened it into the sheath at her ankle. Next, Tasha showed Haven how to attach her new sheath to her hip with a leather belt.

Haven settled her training dagger into the sheath at her hip, the emerald gleaming in the sunlight.

"You look like a warrior" Tasha told her, a small smile and proud look evident on Tashas face.

Another wide smile spread across Havens face. After the events of this morning, she welcomed the newfound badass feeling she felt after both daggers were sheathed in their new homes.

Haven felt unstoppable and powerful. All of this may have been unexpected but Haven was determined to be the best queen possible for the people of her kingdoms. To honor her father and mother. Whether they lied or not, Haven knew her parents loved her and would be proud of the woman she was becoming.

Haven wasn't given much time to think over her newfound confidence because Tasha pulled her from her thoughts by clapping her hands together and announcing,

"Now onto our magic lesson"