The General and the Princess

Chapter 20 || Alleyni

 "It's time, Al." Alleyni tried to ignore Evyn's voice outside of her chambers.

She had spent the rest of the morning in her room, pacing disconsolately and trying to devise some plausible solution to the mess she was in, but it was too late—she had chosen Kyald, and now her father would use him to manipulate her every move. Ghael owned her, and she hated it. She had become Lyssa.

She pulled her hair into a ponytail and straightened her leggings and linen shirt in preparation for her meeting with Varyn. While the man might be an adept instructor, his pompous arrogance and cavalier demeanor would drive her mad. Additionally, her father was only allowing her to train so she could destroy any semblance of a relationship between Varyn and Lyssa. Knowing her sister, Lyssa would do anything she could to infuriate her father after the tables turned on her, and an attractive, penniless rogue would enrage him.

Evyn and Alleyni marched down the hall, into the main courtyard, and then down to one of the training rooms by the armory. Ghael had reserved the room for her practice with Varyn, equipping it with chain mail, armor, shields, swords, knives and a variety of bows. All of Alleyni's pluck had disappeared from the day she had marched into Ghael's chambers to demand that he let her learn how to defend herself. Now she felt like little more than a bullheaded child who had managed to get her own way but was still unsatisfied. What will it take to quell me? Will Kyald be enough?

The door finally swung open, Evyn bid her a reluctant farewell, and Alleyni entered. The room was round, dimly lit, and painted a dark maroon that reminded her a little too much of blood. There was nothing visible except for a single silhouette in the center of the room.

"Hello?" she whispered, fear tingling down her spine as the door slammed shut behind her.

"Princess, welcome. It seems we have found our fates tangled again." The sneer in Varyn's voice was just as infuriating as the night before as he stepped from the shadows. "Your father has recruited me to teach you how to defend yourself. I was tempted to tell him that you were quite capable of doing that on your own, but he doesn't seem like the type who cares to be trifled with."

"Don't be snide with me, Varyn. You got what you wanted. Lyssa's wrapped around your little finger as surely as you're wrapped around hers," Alleyni growled, walking closer to him until they stood face to face.

He laughed. "Your little sister does not have anything over me, I assure you. I am very hard to manipulate because I care about very little. Including your sister."

"You miserable oaf!"

"I've been called worse."

"Why on earth must you be the one to teach me to fight? Is there not someone else within this castle who can swing a sword and is at least remotely tolerable?"
"Oh, did I fail to mention? I'm not just a pretty face; I've been titled the best sword in the West. Your father had good reason to choose me despite your obvious distaste for my company."

"As if you are so fond of me," Alleyni growled, spitting at his feet.

Varyn laughed again and began to circle her, finger thrumming on the hilt of his sword. "I told you that you aren't so bad. You do have a terrible habit of berating me every time we interact with each other."

"That's only because you are constantly doing something worthy of my chastisement," Alleyni retorted, balling her fists.

"I suppose now is as good a time as any. Before we pull out any weapons," Varyn said, removing his sword and casting it to the side, "you need to learn to concentrate. You've obviously learned how to verbally attack someone, but even when you berate me, I find it incredibly easy to find things that will infuriate you. You do not defend yourself, you lose your focus, and you're defeated. It's the same way in fighting. You need to know what you want, focus on your goal, and let nothing stand in your way."