Verange

Chapter 31

They walked back into her house together in silence. His stomach was growling, but Elis had refused to break for food until he could do everything she asked of him. To say it was easy was a lie. The list of what he had to learn had been endless.

She knew he couldn’t stand his own against any of the elves here, but she still insisted that he do his very best. He had to learn how to blend in with his surroundings, how to use his environment to his advantage and how to properly sneak silently through the forest.

He was tired and hungry and collapsed into one of the kitchen chairs as soon as they walked in. she turned to face him, her gaze scrutinizing him. He no longer cared. “Can we eat now, oh teacher of mine?”

She frowned and took the chair on the other side of the table. “Hayden. Tomorrow, I won’t be here, Lithiana will be taking you to the sparring field. I’ve arranged for someone to spar with you. After tomorrow, I will have either won my case, or I’ll pull out and we’ll go on with our new plan. Either way, I should be free until the celebration starts or you’ll be able to come with me.”

Hayden groaned quietly and pushed to chair back on two legs, leaning back with his head tilted back, staring at the wall. She talked so much. “Fantastic. Everyone gets to see just how bad I am.”

He wasn’t looking at her, so he didn’t see her get up and walk over to him. He did, however, notice when his chair was back on four legs and her cool hand was placed on his chest. “Don’t talk like that. For a human, you are an extraordinary swordsman. If you wish it, I could find a human who has been living here for quite some time and you can fight him, but I assure you, he will beat you as easily as I do.” Her stern gray eyes burned as she stared down at him.

He bit his lip and glanced away. “I get it. I need to practice, even if I get beat. I need to be at my best. But why haven’t you been practicing then? I can’t be much of a challenge.” He lifted his eyebrows in question and sighed softly with relief when her cool hand left his chest.

She stepped back from his before she answered him. “Tomorrow, if you wish it of me, I shall spar someone for you. But I won’t enjoy it. Elves don’t agree with the dulling of swords, for they believe you should trust your sparring partner enough to know they will not kill you. I will not change rules to fit my wants. Odds are, my partner or I will walk away wounded.”

Hayden shrugged. “I trust you won’t be killed.”

Her fist hit the table and he scooted back in his chair, worried. “Hayden, that is not what I’m worried about.”

She fell silent after that and turned away, resting her palms on the counter across the room He stood up and walked to her side, never touching her. Never ever touching her.  “Then what are you worried about?” His voice was quiet. She was worked up about something. Speaking loudly would only draw anger from her.

“I’m worried I’ll hurt someone.” Her answer was just as quiet as his question.

Hayden rolled his eyes and went back to the table. “Elis, what good is a fight if you’re worried about hurting someone. You hurt me every time we fight. Don’t let it stop you. You’re amazing, just let yourself go.”

She turned to look at him, slight amusement on her face. “You have never given me more foolish advice. Go sit in the common room. I’ll call you when I’ve fixed some food.”

He smiled and walked out as she had asked. He sat in one of the chairs for several minutes, just thinking, when a knock sounded on the door. Habit forced him up out of his chair and to the door. His hand had just closed around the handle when Elis called from the next room. “DON’T answer the door.”