In The Darkest Midnight by Grace Draven

Author:Grace Draven [Draven, Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Grace Draven
Published: 2018-04-15T18:30:00+00:00

~ 6 ~

Two years later

The Maiden awakened, Year 3840

Jahna sat next to her father amidst a crowd of other noble families who gathered to watch the Exhibition. As usual, the bookmakers were busy taking wagers over who among the combatants would win in this year’s bouts, and Uhlfrida himself had laid down a sizeable sum in favor of his son, despite Sodrin’s loss two years prior. While her brother didn’t think their father believed in his abilities to show well during Exhibition, Jahna saw the wager as proof of his faith in Sodrin’s chances of winning.

She huddled inside her cloak, gloved hands wrapped around a goblet of hot mulled wine. This year the snows fell heavy during Delyalda, but it didn’t stop the crowds from packing into the palace grounds for the spectacle and pageantry of the Exhibition or the Firehound ceremony that would take place the following night.

Uhlfrida drank from his own goblet and gestured at the figure striding across the arena toward them. Radimar’s red hair shimmered, even under the winter sun’s dull light, a beacon that drew many a gaze, including Jahna’s. Her father shifted in his seat, restless and eager for the bouts to begin. “I expect Sodrin to win this time. Three years of Radimar’s instruction, and he should know how to wield a sword without lopping off his own arm.”

“Have a little faith, Father. You’ve seen yourself how far Sodrin has come. He’ll make you and Sir Radimar proud.”

They weren’t empty reassurances. Jahna still practiced basic skills in the morning with both men, but Sodrin had progressed so far beyond her under Radimar’s grueling training that they were no longer equal sparring partners. It pleased her to see the gap widen so far between them.

Her time in the training solar had been the result of a bargain made between her and the swordmaster—her time under his tutelage in exchange for his information regarding the Ilinfan Brotherhood to record and keep for Scripture House. She could hold her own against the likes of Evaline Lacramor now, but her best skills were reserved for the quill and ink and her ability to write down those things most important to the record keeping of Belawat’s history.

Radimar reached them and bowed, a dusting of snow spilling off his shoulders as he did. “Lord Uhlfrida, my lady. Sodrin is as ready as he’ll ever be for the Exhibition. He’s eager instead of anxious. He’ll do well in the bouts.”

“He better,” Uhlfrida groused. “Or I’ll be considerably poorer than when we first arrived here.”

Radimar slid a knowing look to Jahna who tilted her head and arched her eyebrows in an expression of “Same thing every year.” He returned his attention to Uhlfrida. “He’ll have to work hard for the win, my lord. One of his opponents is good, very good. Swordmaster Finulis trained his father.”

Uhlfrida groaned. “Then he’s lost already.”

“Father!” Jahna scowled at him, annoyed by her sire’s pessimism.

The swordmaster shrugged. “Not necessarily, my lord. Remember, it was the father, not the son whom Finulis taught.

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