The Prince's Blade: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Magelands Eternal Siege Book 3) by Mitchell Christopher

Author:Mitchell, Christopher [Mitchell, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brigdomin Books Ltd
Published: 2020-11-06T00:00:00+00:00

Aila frowned out of the carriage window as the crowds lining the street struggled to get a glimpse of the champion, their cheering and shouting almost drowning everything else out.

‘Are they always like this?’ she said.

‘Aye,’ said Corthie, ‘but today was only my third time out there. I’m sure they’ll get bored of it soon enough.’

Aila nodded. ‘I bet there are a thousand women in Icehaven right now who hate me.’

‘Don’t say that. Everyone loves the image of me, but they don’t know me. You know me.’

‘Do I? Last night I thought I did, when we stayed up talking, and drinking wine, and… the other thing, but after seeing you today I’m not sure any more.’

Corthie smiled. ‘I especially enjoyed the “other thing”. We should do some more of that when we get back to the palace.’

‘Something tells me you’re not taking this seriously.’

‘I don’t think I understand what’s bothering you. You say you don’t really know me, and maybe you’re right, but that’s fine, because we’re getting to know each other. I learned loads about you last night that I didn’t know, and I’m looking forward to learning the rest.’

‘I just… well… I find it hard to equate the Corthie I was speaking to last night with the Corthie I saw out there this morning. In fact, I don’t think I can come to watch you again; it’s too much for me to take.’

‘Because you think I’m going to get killed?’

‘Yes, there’s that. Also though, you seem like a different person when you’re fighting the greenhides; a scary person. You made Belinda look moderate and demure, and she’s neither of those things.’

Corthie’s smile faded. ‘You think I’m a monster?’

‘No, but there’s a well of violence within you that I hadn’t seen before, which runs counter to the man you seem to be when you’re not fighting.’

‘It’s how I was trained to cope with it,’ he said. ‘For the four years I spent on Lostwell, I had to separate the two halves of my life, and keep them shut away from each other. There’s no middle ground. This is who I am, but when I pull on battle-vision and go out to fight, I become that other person, as if I’m in a trance. No, not a trance. I’m focussed, concentrating on everything around me, and I let my body’s reactions take over.’

‘You enjoy it, Corthie; I saw you.’

‘Aye, that part of me does enjoy it. It’s intensely liberating. Some people need fear to motivate them to fight, but I’m never afraid out there.’

‘That’s not normal.’

He smiled. ‘I know.’

Aila glanced out of the window and saw the large bulk of Alkirk Palace approach.

‘I’m going to change the subject,’ Corthie said, ‘because we’re nearly back, and there’s something you should know. I wanted to tell you last night, but to be honest I was so happy to see you that it slipped my mind. I’ve been sworn to secrecy, so Lady Yvona might get annoyed, but I’m not going to keep anything from you.

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