Daughter of Winter

Chapter 18

Kendryek was still gone.

I woke up earlier than normal, the sun was only just beginning to crest the horizon, and began to practice my persuasive magic. I sat in front of the mirror, saying things to myself, alternating between using the magic and speaking normally. I wanted to get as strong of a control over it as I could - it was the most powerful weapon that I had. I only stopped when Tonilia came to "help" me get prepared for more training with Hadrian.

She talked the entire time and I listened, if only to distract myself from thinking about what Kendryek could have seen when he went to the Spring Court. In her ramblings she made no mention of my increase in power or anything else that was important, until she said the name Damien.

"Did you hear that Damien is coming from Quercus' Court?" she asked. She continued without leaving me time to answer. "I cannot believe it! The legendary heartthrob warrior is coming here, to live with us! I hope he notices me..." she said, quietly drifting off as she realized how unlikely that was. Then, she perked up. "Would you be offended if I requested to be his servant instead of yours? You understand, don't you?" she asked me. I didn't answer, thinking she would not want to hear it. She did, and waited until I responded.

"I don't know about that one, Tonilia," I replied carefully. "I've heard a few worrying things about him." She furrowed her eyebrows at me and grumbled. She did not speak to me the rest of the morning.

Hadrian was waiting for me, as always. He wore the same robes as yesterday, the day before that, and the day before that and glowed with a different aura than the others. Instead of an iridescent, almost rainbow-like aura, his was red and dark. He faced my direction and sniffed the air when I got close.

"Double the distance," he ordered. I started to protest. "I will triple it if you do not do as I say." I grit my teeth and swallowed my anger, vaguely considering using my persuasion on him to reduce how far I had to run.

So I started.

This time, things were different. The pace I normally ran felt like a casual jog to me now, so I sped it up, running faster and faster until the world around me became a blur of motion. Wind whipped my face and tore at my clothes, but I felt my body begin to lighten. I felt free, truly free, like a sparrow on its first flight.

I ran the distance Hadrian expected of me in the same time as usual. He made no mention of this feat. He acted as though nothing had changed, like I didn't crush his expectations. I glowered as he led me to the training grounds.

Instead of handing me my blade, he tossed it to me. I effortlessly caught its handle and immediately assumed a defensive position, preparing to be swiftly taken down.

He approached cautiously, testing my guard with a few jabs and swings. I blocked them easily. He backed away.

"Attack me," he said. I stepped forward, closing the distance between us and faked a thrust, quickly reacting with a right shoulder swing. He deflected it with a flick of his wrist, the metal ringing sharply.

I felt a pricking sensation on my neck just before he teleported behind me to knock me on the ground. I caught myself this time, only stumbling instead of falling. A flash of anger struck me. I was not going to be knocked down again.

I regained my footing and took a deep breath, focusing in on that anger and briefly letting it consume me. I brought my arm back and swung at him with as much force as I could muster, feeling that prickle in my neck again. I used the momentum of my swing to turn me to face him again.

I grabbed his foot with my arm and drove my sword towards his chest. He teleported again, but this time he retreated. He drew a second sword from within his black robe. My anger burned colder.