Rayna the Dragon Rider (A Time of Dragons Book 3) by Cynthia Vespia

Author:Cynthia Vespia [Vespia, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cynthia Vespia
Published: 2024-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

18. The Emperor’s Daughter

From the hillside K’lani sat beneath a large spring blossom tree and watched the Khai soldiers train. They struck men made of straw with long bamboo staffs. The soldiers all remained in perfect step with each other.

After a while K’lani saw it as more of a dance than a fighting technique. Their footsteps moved with fluid grace. The arc of the staff glided through the air on each swing. But when the bamboo struck the training dolls it created a snap that echoed into the surrounding canyons.

K’lani leaned forward trying to observe every strategic motion they made. She jotted down the steps in a small journal. Alongside detailed drawings, she left herself notes Captain Khadan shouted to the Khai as they trained.

While she drew the next set of steps a large shadow cast over her. At first, she thought it to be her sister Kemi. But since learning of her fiancé’s demise, Kemi rarely left her room. No, the person standing behind K’lani is the one she despised more than any on Ischon.

“It’s against the law to reveal the secrets of Khai training.”

“I wasn’t going to release it to the public, Zhayn,” K’lani said not bothering to look up. “It’s for my eyes only.”

“Wrong, it’s only for the Khai.”

Zhayn reached down and snatched the journal from her hands. When K’lani tried to get it back he toyed with her by dangling it within reach then yanking it away. It had always been that way between the two of them.

Growing up together they were like brother and sister. Because Zhayn was a few years older he enjoyed teasing K’lani. Even though he’d grown into a tall, muscular fighter he still held the same childish wit. But K’lani couldn’t say anything about it. Zhayn was the son of her father’s closest ally and a seated member of the council. Even if she did tell her father, he would side with Zhayn.

It didn’t matter. K’lani was used to doing things for herself. After meeting Rayna, the famed dragonslayer and aiding her in a quest, K’lani grew more confident. It helped her to hold back tears when her father scolded her for leaving Ischon without permission. She kept her tears back again as Zhayn’s taunting grew more frustrating.

“Give me the journal, I need it.”

Zhayn tucked the small booklet under his arm. He squared his jaw and narrowed his eyes. K’lani could tell he was being serious then.

“This isn’t a joke, K’lani,” he told her. “You cannot expose training secrets to the public. What if someone got their hands on this?”

“Please, Zhayn. There are private things in there. Things I’ve written about my mother.”

At the mention of the Empress, Zhayn’s eyes softened. He relinquished his obsessive need to follow the rules and handed back the journal. K’lani quickly packed it away before he changed his mind.

“Don’t let anyone else see you with it,” he said. “And don’t come up here again. If Captain Khadan spots you, it won’t end well.”

K’lani caught Zhayn’s arm as he was leaving.

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