It was strange to think a boy I’d never met had any sort of feeling for me. Although I guess I’d had infatuations with some of the older guards over the years who barely even noticed me other than to make sure I was safe.
This brother of hers stood beside Lora and smiled at us. “Hello sister.” His dark brown eyes landed on me and he bowed slightly. “Princess Visteal.”
“This is Aramis,” Lora said.
“It’s good to meet you. Lora is one of my best friends.”
“Yes.” Aramis smiled. “Lora has told us all about you for the last few months.”
It looked like most everyone had arrived and by all the gray and blue uniforms, we were the only three Delhoon. “It appears we’re outnumbered by a lot in this class.”
Aramis nodded. “It is a little strange to be training with the other kingdoms.”
Without warning Zyacus popped in between Lora and me and put his arms around both our shoulders. “Hello, Ladies. Ready for some wrestling?”
Lora grinned but wiggled out from under him. “Wrestling?”
He kissed me hard on the cheek. “Well yes, hand to hand combat includes wrestling.” His lips grazed my ear, “Although I’d prefer a less aggressive type of wrestling with you.”
I immediately pictured him with no shirt and me lying in his arms. My cheeks burned. I hated and loved that a few simple words from him had this effect on me. Like a spark to tinder.
“How about you discuss your love life after class,” Lora said, rolling her eyes. Then she grew a sly grin. “Oh, have you met my brother?”
Aramis stood stiffly on Lora’s other side, his eyes anywhere but Zyacus and me.
Zyacus stuck out a hand. “Hey man, I’m Zyacus.”
Aramis turned, accepting his gesture and gripped his forearm. “Shouldn’t I be bowing before the Prince of Hesstia? I’m not sure of the customs of this place yet.”
“If you’re Lora’s brother then you’re a friend. No bowing is necessary.” Zyacus’s arm fell at his side.
A loud whistle cut through the chatter and a shorter muscular man with no shirt and earthy brown pants strolled into the center of the circle.
“Who’s the shirtless wonder?” Lora asked, looking him up and down.
Tying his long brown hair back, the man said, “Alright class, I’m Professor Roldaheim and it’s time to get started.” He waved us in closer. “Most of you should have a fair amount of skill when it comes to fighting without a weapon so if you need lessons on the basics you’re in the wrong class.” He glanced about taking in each student then he put us into groups of three. One to spectate and give advice, the other two to fight.
Somehow I ended up with Aramis and Zyacus in my trio. Lora stood looking at the three of us from her own group, laughing. Aramis glared at her. I didn’t know what she thought was so funny.
“So, who wants to go first?” I asked.
Aramis looked incredibly uncomfortable. Probably wondering how he ended up with the coupled royals. “Whatever you decide.”
Professor Roldaheim approached and bowed. “It wasn’t my intention to put the prince and princess together. I didn’t think about it. If you’d be more comfortable—”
“It’s fine.” Zyacus gave a curt nod. “We’re not exactly rivals anymore.”
He chuckled. “Oh, interesting. I guess I’m not up on the gossip.”
He looked to Aramis with a sympathetic smile. “There is one piece of information I’ve heard from the other instructors: don’t go easy on the royals. Treat them as any other student.”
Aramis nodded and both Zyacus and I grinned. I for one was glad if other students didn’t take it easy on me. An enemy wouldn’t.
“I’ll be checking in on each group periodically.” The shirtless professor wandered off to a group who’d already started.
“Let’s see what you’re made of, Aramis,” I said, pulling my sword, daggers and knives and placing them on the ground
Aramis did the same, and Zyacus folded his arms across his belly, stepping back to watch.
“Are there any rules?” Aramis asked. “The professor didn’t say.”
“It’s the same as in Delhoon,” I offered. “It’s practice, not full force but try to subdue the opponent. You know, don’t bite, don’t punch in the face, the usual.”
Rolling his neck and shoulders Aramis moved into a fighting stance. I did the same. Whenever I fought against a man, I’d been trained to do things differently. Their strength, especially one the size of Aramis, would far outweigh my own. The point of training meant we didn’t try to “harm” the other person. Strike block, strike, if you land a blow it’s with minimal force.
“There is one other rule,” Zyacus said, “don’t hurt my girl.”
“Hush up, Zyacus,” I said, rolling my eyes.
I watched Aramis for a moment to see if he’d strike first; when he didn’t, I kicked at his thigh and his palm shoved my leg aside. From then on it was punches, elbows, kicks, blocks, some landed. We circled, striking, maneuvering out of the way, like a dance we’d practiced all our lives. A small smile pulled at his lips. I couldn’t help but smile back. He was a fun training partner. We had the same style and it was like we knew each other’s moves.
“Who trained you?” I asked, throwing a hard punch into his palm.
“When I was young, my father,” he said, kicking his leg over my head as I dropped into a squat. “My father said he was friends with Rorin and King Boaden at academy. They often trained together.”
“Really?” I wondered why Lora hadn’t ever said her father and mine were friends.
“Yes,” he answered. “But they didn’t remain friends. Something happened but he never would say what.”
Maybe Lora was worried if I knew I’d hold that against her. I made the mistake of letting my eyes drift to Lora and a fist popped me in the jaw. I stumbled back a couple steps.
“I’m sorry,” Aramis said, dropping his hands. “I didn’t mean to, I thought you’d block it.” He bowed and stayed bent at
