Pieces of Eight (The Frey Saga, #2)(33)

He held up a hand to stop me, deciding to get it over with. "I'll give you the condensed version. Anvil had sought the fairies for a specific purpose but before he'd had a chance to explain, you reprimanded him, searing the tongue he'd criticized you with. Though, in your defense, I understand he was quite vulgar."

I was shaking my head, baffled, as I agreed with his story. "I think I remembered that," I said in a rush, "but I didn't know because there was also a hawk and Rune..." I drifted off at the thought of the large dark man but Steed recaptured my attention before I'd gone too far.

He nodded, as if he'd suspected I'd known more than I let on, "There's that, too."

"What?" I gasped.

"Well, quite honestly, it was a little-believed tale that you'd influence over the hawk of your family's honor and in a fit of rage commanded it to attack him. Consequently, though a piece of his tongue was torn out in the process, he proclaimed his fealty to you, the moment he'd witnessed your power."

I blushed, remembering Steed had directly asked me about my ability... and I'd lied. It was plain that he understood my reaction so I blurted out the next question to deflect the unspoken accusation. "How did it happen twice?"

He laughed. "That's an interesting one. Apparently, the hawk had been headed at his face when he realized what was happening and opened his mouth in an expletive. In the confusion, it merely caught his tongue instead and tore a piece away. After you'd settled, he'd gone to the healer and had it stitched up as well as possible. Later, when you'd accepted his allegiance, you were so furious that he'd so blatantly disobeyed you by dealing with the fairies that you burnt the exact spot, simply to prove your point."

I felt my brows raise in astonishment. I thought of all the awful stories Ruby had told and was almost speaking to myself as I asked, "What was he doing with them?" And then I was ashamed that I'd sounded as if I actually did have an aversion to fairies.

But Steed hadn't seemed to notice as he answered, "Yes, I'd asked the same of him. Odd that someone so faithful would incite such wrath, but he was confident in what he'd done. He believes, still, that had he only the opportunity to explain first, you would have understood." I waited. "You see, Frey, it is said that the dust... what is it you'd called it, fairy's breath," he smiled, "it is said the fairy's breath has the ability to grant foresight to some."

I remembered Ruby mentioning foresight, but when I'd dreamt under the intense effects of the dust, I knew that wasn't what I'd seen. "He was trying to see the future?"

Steed shrugged. "I believe the elders had, inadvertently, led the notion." My eyes narrowed. "But, as I said, I was not here then," he explained, closing the subject.

I was reeling. I knew my face was a reflection of that and he watched me patiently, letting me assemble my thoughts.

A movement by the doorway caught my attention and I was annoyed to see the same servant, sure she was watching or listening to us. I shook my head; it irritated me unreasonably.

Steed chuckled, unaware of the spectator. "A bit overwrought?"

I unintentionally shot him a severe glance.

"Was that a threat?" he teased.

I was too cross to think he was funny but when he unexpectedly lunged at me, sweeping me up from the chair. My breath rushed out of me in a huff and I found myself laughing as I was swung in head-spinning circles around the huge room. Mid-swing, we caught sight of Ruby leaning against the entryway, her arms crossed as she sported a heavy smirk.

Steed set me down abruptly and I tottered briefly before regaining my balance. "Merely training," he said to Ruby as she stood shaking her head.

"Well, since it seems you have things fully under control, you might as well continue her training while I grab a bite to eat," she answered.

"Here?" I asked. They looked at me like I was an idiot, but surely there was a reason we had the practice rooms.

"Why not?" Ruby said. "You should be prepared for anything, after all."

I nervously surveyed the room. There were a lot of knives. I was sorry I'd noticed as the metal started to rattle against the smooth planks of table. I took a step back and Steed laughed. When I realized I'd given him the idea and would have to avoid being so obvious, my mouth screwed up in a grimace. Ruby joined his laughter as she situated herself to better enjoy the show.

I watched the corner of Steed's mouth pull up slightly and then cringed as I realized what was coming. He threw me a quick wink just before the first knife barreled toward me.

My first reaction was to close my eyes and duck but instead I forced myself to counter his move. Though I still resisted, my eyes squinting partially shut, I flung my hand, palm out toward the blade, and turned the knife just before it reached me. I relaxed a fraction due to my success, but the blade rebounded from the floor as a second one joined it, both flying directly toward me, faster this time. I focused on them, and then further out to Steed, as I pushed them back, flipping the blades toward him and willing them to my target. He efficiently knocked them aside and lost his playful smile as he focused on the others.

An assortment of knives was now heading directly for me at an alarming rate. I steadied myself, intending to stop them all with one move, when Chevelle’s voice broke my concentration. “Are you throwing knives at her?”