The Protector

Chapter 7

I was exempt from training the next day. I refused to remain in bed as was the instructions of the healers, instead the trainers insisted that I sit under the small amount of shade in the courtyard and watch. Before breakfast I had been sent to the infirmary to check on my injuries and to see whether I needed a healer. I didn't want to go but the trainers had insisted I needed clearing before coming back to train. Knowing that I had sustained a significant injury I had been sure to show that I was in pain illustrating that there were no breaks and just bad bruising. I would need to have a few days resting before I would be cleared to train again. I was beyond annoyed. I bandaged my ribs to help me not move them too much and my wrist as in a sling and well bandaged too. I had already healed the wrist, that was easy and didn't take much. The break was clean and so knitting the bone back together was relatively straightforward. What remained was a dull aching which would hang around for a few more days. My ribs were a little harder for me to heal and took most of the night, leaving me tired and my magic depleted significantly. It was always more draining to use my magic on myself than someone else.

You're being watched. Sket had just appeared from the heights of the tree, dropping down onto my lap with a soft meow. My eyes slowly scan the courtyard, trying to see what she meant. Edmon was watching me, sweat was dripping from his temples as he catches his breath. He looks to have just finished a match with one of the other trainees and won. His opponent was still in the dust. He offers me a small smile which I readily return. Our gaze holding the others, neither one of us wanting to look away first. His stare holding an intensity to it as his eyes quickly moved from mine to my arm and then my chest, as if he could see the injuries below and fix them. I fight to supress the blush threatening to grace my cheeks at his attentions. I was spending so much time with him that I was finding that any time we spent apart from one another caused me to miss him. It company was so easy to keep, conversation was never forced or needed and I cherished the time I spent with him. It was easy to admire the prince, I found my attention slipping back to him regularly through the morning's session as he rotated around the different drills. He would often glance up at me, lock eyes for a few seconds, smile and then get back to what he was doing. It was like he was checking in on me, making sure that I was okay.

Although I was enjoying watching my friends train, especially Edmon, I had to admit that I was bored, my ribs ached and I was fed up of not being able to use my arm. Safe to say I was just in a bad mood. I would be cleared to train again tomorrow I would make sure I would be but as much as I tried to get involved in the training I kept getting sent back to the side lines. I was irritated and wanted to make myself useful. I was days into training and already having to sit out, I was missing out on vital coaching. I was scowling in the shade, staring at my fingers on my good hand when the sun disappears.

'it's not that bad.' Leon's voice is full of warmth.

'you don't have to sit here not doing anything.' I snap.

'I've seen all the attention you've been getting, make the most of it.' I frown, what was he talking about?

'Are you really that oblivious?' He sighs as he takes a seat next to me. 'Look around what do you see?' I take a moment to scan the courtyard, what did I see? I didn't know what he was referring to, there were knights training on horseback in the distance, the trainees were currently wrestling or sparring, servants scurried from door to door.

'What are you talking about?' I ask.

'To your right.' He mutters leaning in conspiratorially. Looking at him I then follow his gaze along the wall to my right. Just on the other side of the tree to where we were both sitting were a small group of women, all dressed in some of their best clothes, sitting under a small canopy watching the two of us. Having realised they had our attention the all started fussing and giggling. Leon raises his hand and gives them a small wave. I just stare blankly at them then turn back to Leon.