This Vicious Grace (The Last Finestra #1)(39)

“The scarabeo aren’t soldiers, either,” Kamaria said. “I doubt they’ll follow the rules of engagement. We might as well learn something useful. And I wouldn’t mind watching you do that knife trick again.”

Neither would Alessa, but she suspected for different reasons. Dante was nice enough to look at under normal circumstances, and primed to fight, he was glorious, but as far as she knew, Kamaria preferred girls.

“What weapons do you get to choose from?” Dante asked.

“Bayonets and long swords, I think?” Kamaria said.

“Exactly. So why are you fencing?”

“Tradition?” Nina ventured.

Dante’s expression lost its edge as he turned to her. “On the day of Divorando—”

“On the day of Divorando, we’re supposed to use our powers to ward off the invasion.” Kaleb was sullen, but less confrontational. “The gods gave us the gifts for defense, so that is what we use. Any weaponry we carry will be ceremonial.”

“No wonder so many Finestre and Fonti get wounded.” Dante’s brows drew together. “If it were me, I’d rather not wait around to be gored.”

“Finestre and Fonti?” Kaleb sneered.

“Si, stronzo,” Dante said. “Fonte is from the old language, and the plural is Fonti, not Fontes. Finestre, Fonti, Scarabei. I wouldn’t expect un somaro like you to know that, though.”

“Congratulations, Dante,” Alessa said with a wide grin. “You’ve just been promoted. In addition to bodyguard, you are now the Cittadella’s premier fighting coach.”

If his glares were as deadly as his knives, she’d have bled to death.



* * *



“Could you at least try not to threaten anyone this afternoon?” Alessa said to Dante as they waited in the training room for the others to return for the afternoon session. “This is difficult enough without them scared of you, too.”

“Kaleb’s an ass.”

She fought to keep her expression severe. “Everyone is under a lot of pressure. I’m sure he’ll improve eventually.”

“Doubt it,” Dante said. “People don’t change.”

“That’s not true.”

“It’s completely true. Kaleb was born an ass and he’ll die an ass.”

“Well, he’s also a Fonte, so if you hurt him, they’ll send you to the continent, and he’ll continue living as an ass while scarabeo gnaw on your bones, so cut it out.”

Dante looked thoughtful. “Free transport. Might be worth it.”

Alessa pointed to a chair in the corner.

Kamaria arrived first, gaze flicking around the nearly empty room until she found Dante, who pulled out a cloth to polish his knives, appearing to ignore everything else.

“Finestra,” Kamaria said by way of greeting.

“Kamaria. Good to see you.”

“Yeah, sure. What Kaleb said about my brother last night.” Her expression held a challenge. “He didn’t—I mean, I don’t think—” She sighed. “He’s never been one to turn down a dare, and his friends … It’s just, I’m sure he regretted it as soon as he woke up.”

“I won’t hold your brother’s decision against you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“It’s not.”

Renata entered the room in a whirl of motion, and Kamaria turned away, leaving the rest unsaid, as Tomo and the other Fontes strode in.

“Ah, Kamaria, join us,” Tomo said, ushering them to one side of the room while Renata turned her attention to Alessa with the intensity of a general on the eve of battle.

Alessa struggled to focus, her attention sliding back to where Tomo sat, surrounded by a ring of Fontes.

Renata climbed onto a stone ledge against the wall. Above her, a large spider scurried on a half-completed web, glistening fibers stretched in an intricate design. Renata pointed to the lower edge of the web. “What happens if I tug this string?”

“It will break,” Alessa said dutifully.

“Precisely. Get up here.”

Alessa stole a glance at the Fontes. Nina quickly looked away.

On the ledge, Alessa followed Renata’s directions and lightly pinched one strand.

“Pull. Gently.”

The web shifted shape but remained intact as Alessa drew the string down.

From the corner of her eye, Alessa caught Dante watching as the indignant spider stopped working and scurried into the corner.

“Now, return it and release without damaging anything.”

This part was more difficult, requiring Alessa to roll her fingers to detach without snapping the thread, but soon the web was back in its original condition.

“There, you see?” Renata smiled. “A Fonte’s power is intertwined with their soul, and if you try to pull it free, you damage the connective fibers. You need to draw just enough of their gift to meet the part of you that controls your own power, then release. It isn’t a fight, it’s a give and take.”

Alessa frowned. “I think I understand.” Maybe.

“I know you’re nervous. I’ve been in your position.”

Not exactly.

“Finestra?” Tomo called out. “I told the Fontes that I will demonstrate first.”