Shadow's Past by Natalie Johanson

Author:Natalie Johanson [Johanson, Natalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tea and Dagger Publishing
Published: 2021-10-15T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Mariah strode down to the Shield’s training rooms, her blood pounding in her ears as she did. The Shields she passed must’ve seen the rage in her eyes and wisely left her alone. She didn’t often venture down to this section of the castle, much preferring to train in the fields and the clear air over the sweat stink of their hall. How could he be so stupid? She clenched her hands at her sides. As she neared the training room at the end of the corridor, the sounds of swords clashing together became louder, and eventually the grunts and shouts could be heard through the thick doors.

The two Shields standing guard on either side of the door glanced at her, then at each other, before taking a step away. Smart boys, she thought with a glance at them before pushing her way into the training room.

She found him, training with Aaron near the far wall, and her blood started to boil all over again. She stripped her uniform jacket off and tossed it at a nearby trainee as she stormed toward Micah and Aaron. As she passed a rack of training swords, she pulled one at random, spinning it until it rested in the palm of her hand. Aaron glanced at her over Micah’s shoulder and ended the sparring match. He jerked his chin at Mariah, and Micah half-turned over his shoulder to look at her.

Shit, I’m in trouble. She looks mad/furious/scary. Micah’s thoughts tumbled at her as he turned and wiped his sweaty forehead on his loose sleeve.

“Aaron,” she spoke low, her eyes never leaving Micah. “I need to have a word with the king. I’ll take your spot for now.”

Aaron glanced between the two of them and backed away. Mariah spun the sword again in her hand, flipping it up and around.

“Am I going to like what this conversation is about?”

“No,” she snapped and swung her sword. It was lighter than her normal sword, and the balance was off, but a sword was a sword, and she could handle any of them like a master.

Micah met her blows and soon they fell into a give and take of strikes and parries. Her anger made her blows sharp and quick. Micah’s eyes grew pinched, almost as if he had forgotten she’d gained Swordmaster status long before he had.

“Are you out of your mind?” she asked him with a sharp swing at his ankles.

“Excuse me?”

Mariah’s sword caught his, and she spun their blades until he was forced to step back to free it. “Clanship.”

“It’s a good idea!” Micah snapped and thrust his sword at her.

Mariah parried it away easily and slapped the flat of her blade hard on his exposed arm. “It’s reckless, dangerous. You can’t know the consequences of this to act this rashly.”

Micah shouted with the sting of the hit and stepped back. “I’m not being rash.”

Mariah sensed anger coming from his thoughts at that statement.

“What planning have you done?” She thrust, hard and fast, and forced Micah to stumble back in order to deflect it.

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