Forged in Frost

Oath

"Impressive show of strength, milady," says the first man to clap, his brown eyes wide. The applause quiets around him.

Evelyn wipes off her hands, face hot, uttering a single, "Oh."

"Are you our trainer?" he asks her.

Some men laugh. She looks uncertainly between them, wondering if she's being mocked. The first man climbs over the training grounds' fence and crosses to her. Others follow.

"I'm not the trainer," she tells him.

"I didn't know they were letting women join," the man says. "Lockmire has more adventurous thinking than I anticipated."

"You're not from here?" Evelyn wonders.

The man leans close. He smells strangely sweet and herbal. "Don't spread it around, but I'm from the enemy. The big bad city, Esterden." He backs up, flashing his palms. "Worry not. I've sworn my allegiance in front of the count and countess, and I am under threat of painful death if I defect."

"Why did you join here?" Evelyn asks.

The man cocks a brow and wags his finger. "All this without even knowing my name. We do get ahead of ourselves, don't we...?"

He's clearly waiting for something. It takes Evelyn a moment to realize.

"Evelyn," she says.

"Leo," he replies, and bows dramatically. "Achilleo Lucius Trent, if you want to be formal."

"Leo is fine, I think," says Evelyn.

"Oh you do, do you?" Leo says, and sweeps his hair back. His friends laugh. Evelyn smiles awkwardly.

Behind them, she spots General Asher walking up the road to the castle. She brushes the men aside and climbs through the fence.

"Where are you going?" Leo calls behind her.

She doesn't respond. She races to catch up with the general. By the time she reaches him, he's already at the gates to the courtyard.

"Please don't bother the countess," she says, panting.

"I plan to bother the count, actually," the general says. He seems colder than before, as if something inside the training centre hardened his resolve.

His words make her heart sink. Count Hadrian has never been fond of her like Ilvara. "I have the countess' permission and blessing," she says, desperate. She hoists her charm necklace for him to see. "Look. She gave me this when I left."

He casts a cursory glance. "If anyone will help you see reason, or at the very least, forbid you from this pointless course of action, it's another man."

Evelyn releases a hopeless breath and watches him ascend the castle steps, torn between wanting to speak her piece and not wanting to be present when Count Hadrian sends her back to her servant duties.

She decides that, if this is her demise, she will be brave enough to face it. She steps up to the door and enters behind the general. He is already at the opposite end of the room. Evelyn moves forward as her eyes adjust, trying to see whoever is at the thrones. With crushing despair, she sees Grogar, standing guard at Countess Ilvara's empty throne.

"Where is Count Hadrian?" General Asher asks the Orc.

Evelyn stops far enough away that she hopes Grogar won't see her. She feels like a child being brought before her parents for reprimand.

"The count and countess are busy," Grogar says.

"Where?"

"They are engaged in a private meeting."