Sprout by Kendra Moreno & Poppy Woods

Author:Kendra Moreno & Poppy Woods [Moreno, Kendra & Woods, Poppy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

I yawned against the back of my hand as we listened to the old Vigna ramble on and on about the origins of the Citadel. Cerulea wanted to learn more about this city in the trees, so Kyrion arranged for someone to give us a tour.

What I didn’t realize when I agreed, however, was that it would feel like yet another school lesson. I glanced from the older louloudi where he walked ahead of us to my best friend and shook my head.

“You’re too impatient,” she accused.

“It feels like those Princess lessons, as you call them, from home.” I pouted my bottom lip out at her, but she just smiled and shook her head, waving for me to be quiet.

“Everyone in Vigna is trained to fight. In some ways, we are much like your Protean guard, there,” the Vigna continued. Behind us, Olis snorted and I bit my lip against the laugh that threatened to spill out.

“Mr.—” I couldn’t remember his name.

“Terran,” he supplied.

“Mr. Terran,” I chuckled. “Can you tell us how exactly you’re like the Proteans?” I hissed in a breath when Cerulea poked me in the ribs. Sneaking a look over my shoulder at The Brute, I couldn’t help the smile that curved my lips. He was fuming.

“Ila, he is going to lose it,” she whispered, quietly enough that Terran couldn’t hear us.

“Well, much like the Proteans, every Vigna is trained from birth to protect their court. We pride ourselves on the equality amongst our fighting force—”

“Are there many women?” Cerulea asked, drawing my gaze. I’d only asked the question to needle Olis; I didn’t expect her to be interested in the topic.

“Of course, miss,” the old man laughed. “There are as many women among our warriors as there are men. The louloudi of Vigna do not embrace the sexism of other courts.”

I wasn’t entirely sure if I’d just been insulted or not, but I found the notion completely interesting. It was true. Allys—Olis’ sister—was one of very few female guards employed in Orchidasi. It was much the same in other courts across Tuatha, from what I’d heard and seen thus far. There simply weren’t that many female warriors.

Except in Protea.

Everyone in Protea was expected to be a skilled warrior. Their entire culture revolved around it. I’d never been there but even I knew that. I didn’t know the same thing held true in Vigna, though.

“That’s rather progressive for such a wild court, isn’t it?” Cerulea’s boldness didn’t escape the Vigna’s notice and he narrowed his eyes on her, his tail whipping behind him as he considered his response.

“Perhaps, we are wild,” a deep voice rumbled somewhere behind us. We each turned to face first The Brute, then the King. Kyrion stood with his arms over his chest, his bright yellow and red eyes blazing as he no doubt misjudged whatever he just heard. I cringed to think what he must think of us. “But what you call ‘progressive’, we call normalcy. Every louloudi should know how to defend themselves, and by default, those around them.

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