To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2)(57)

Yavi choked on his tea. “In your room? You want me to ask a guard to watch you sleep?”

“Well, not to stare at me while I sleep, but simply be in the room.”

“What, staring at the ceiling?”

“I don’t really care what he stares at as long as he doesn’t leave until morning.”

Yavi pressed his lips together.

“Also, I’d like to move to your side of the palace, if you don’t mind. Wolfan said most of the strange activity happens in Yajna’s wing.”

“Of course I don’t mind you moving to my wing, but I don’t think having a male guard in your room all night is prudent.”

“He would be on official business, and of course I wouldn’t have him watch me bathe or dress for bed.”

His hand curled into a fist on the table beside his plate. “You would rather have some stranger in your room all night than share a room with me?” His expression softened as a thought seemed to dawn on him. “Oh, I see. It’s because you don’t wish to sleep on a cot, isn’t it? You can have the bed; I’ll take the cot.”

“Yavi,” she sighed, “do you really think me sleeping in your bed while you lie on a cot nearby is the best way for us to avoid you breaking your oath?”

He fell silent.

“Wolfan isn’t a stranger—he’s a very nice young man. I trust him,” she said.

That muscle in his jaw twitched again.

“He would be standing guard duty, nothing more,” she added.

He rubbed a hand over his face, then took in a deep breath. “All right, Graciella. If that is your wish, I suppose that is what we will do.”

Relief washed over her. “Thank you, Yavi.”

“Don’t mention it.” He picked up his fork and stabbed into his pile of eggs.

§

While servants were moving her furniture to a bedroom down the hall from Yavi’s quarters, Graciella took the sword he’d given her the day before and went to meet him in the armory for a second lesson. She didn’t bother to change out of her work dress or pin her braid up since she was no longer trying to impress him.

He was already there when she arrived, examining the swords in the rack. He bowed to her as she approached. “Hello again, Graciella.”

“Hello, Master Yavi.” She smiled. “I am ready for my lesson.”

“Good.” He led her to the center of the room. “Let’s practice what you learned yesterday.”

She worked with him on her thrust and the catch-and-parry technique he’d taught her yesterday.

“I’d like to learn to use two swords, like you do,” she told him when they paused for a break.

“Oh?” He grinned. “Well, two swords are twice the fun.”

“Is it hard to control two swords at once?”

“For some. It depends on how ambidextrous you are.”

“Oh, I’m very good with my left hand.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, from using my hands so much in the kitchen. I knead more with my left hand than my right, in fact.”

“Let me see how strong your left hand is. Grip my arm.” He peeled his leather sleeve back a bit.

She squeezed his forearm with all her might.

He chuckled. “All right, now with your right.”

She did the same with her right hand.

“I’d say you’re right—your strength is pretty balanced. Here, let me find another sword.” He strode over to the rack and chose one. “This one should be about the same weight as your other one.”

She took it with her left hand, gave it a few swings. “Okay.”

He chose a second sword for himself as well, then returned to the center of the room. “Now, I normally like to use scimitars, but they are heavier than a regular sword, so we will start out with these shortswords.” He twirled the swords on each side of his body and then stopped them by the hilts. “Let’s practice a cross-slicing attack.”

Graciella nodded eagerly. “Okay.”

“Observe.” He crossed his swords over his head, lunged forward to thrust, then sliced with the blades out to the sides.

She loved watching him practice with swords. He was truly art in motion. Fierce, powerful art. Art that made her a little weak in the knees.

“So your starting position is this.” He raised the swords and crossed them over his head.

She imitated the stance, raising her swords and crossing them.

He laid his swords on the stone floor and came over to correct her posture with a hand at the small of her back. “Straighten your spine and pull your shoulders back. Bend your knees.” He checked her arms, pulling her elbows back until they were in line with her shoulders. “Okay. That looks good. Hold that position a moment.”

She did, waiting until he picked up his swords and demonstrated the rest of the move.

“Keep your wrists flexible when you work with two swords,” he advised. “You don’t want to jerk the blades too stiffly, because you want them to work in perfect sync. It’s difficult for an opponent to defend against two swords if your technique is good.”

She followed his lead, practicing the thrust and cross-slice over and over as he coached her. Her hair started coming loose from the braid down her back, and she used her forearm to brush it back from her damp forehead.