Rise (The Order of the Krigers #1)(35)

I rubbed my temples; the stuffy room felt confining. I carefully stepped around Vidar and went outside on the platform. Leaning against the railing, I was still close enough to the medallion for protection. Breathing in the fresh, crisp air, I gazed at the clear sky and the brightly lit stars above. The leaves gently rustled in the soft wind.

“You’re up late,” Anders said as he walked across the bridge toward me, hidden among the shadows of the trees.

I jumped, not expecting to see him at this hour. “I was reading.”

“Anything interesting?” he asked, joining me on the platform. He wore all black and dirt was smeared over his face.

“No,” I said, shaking my head and staring up at the stars. For some reason, being out here alone with the assassin unnerved me. I didn’t feel like talking about the book or Heks right now.

“You should go to bed,” he said, leaning against the railing a few feet away from me. “We only have one more day of training before we leave to get your weapon. You’ll want to be well rested to meet whatever challenge awaits.”

“What are you doing up?” Given his attire, he’d obviously been out somewhere. Did Vidar send him on a mission? Did he just kill someone?

“I’d rather not say,” he mumbled, rubbing his face. He sounded tired.

I moved closer to him. “Do you think so little of me that you can’t tell me what you did tonight?” Or was he too ashamed to tell me he’d killed?

He went very still. “Is that what you think?”

“It’s the only reason that makes sense.” I must have been more tired than I realized because I felt like crying.

“Kaia,” Anders said, letting out a deep breath. “You have to understand that I’ve been around for a very long time. Do you know how hard it is to lose a dear friend or someone you love?”

My father’s illness was difficult to deal with. I couldn’t imagine being stuck this age while everyone I knew grew old and died. It would be torturous. “So you don’t even want to be friends with me because I’m eventually going to die?”

“Some deaths are harder to deal with than others. The last time I … lost someone close to me, I decided to never go through that again.”

Not only was he not aging, he wasn’t even living.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“So am I. If you ever change your mind, I’m here.” We stood in silence for several minutes.

He glanced sideways at me. “Vidar sent me on an assignment.”

I closed my eyes. Anders had promised me no unnecessary killing.

“You have to know,” he said, “part of my curse is that I am bound to Vidar. If he orders me to do something, I have to do it.”

“I don’t understand.” Couldn’t he make his own choices?

He gazed at the stars and sighed. “Vidar is a good man. Even if I weren’t bound to him, I’d still pledge my life to serve him. He’s never asked something of me that wasn’t necessary or for the betterment of the kingdom.” Anders curled his hands around the railing, his knuckles turning white.

I didn’t have anything to say. After all, I was planning to kill Morlet for that very reason.

“What? No retort? No lecture?”

I laughed. “No. Right now, I want to enjoy the fresh air. It’s beautiful out here.”

He shook his head. “I’ve been around for so long that I forget what it’s like to care for someone.” He turned to face me, a small smile spreading across his face, softening the lines around his eyes and forehead. “You remind me of that.” He reached out and squeezed my hand.

My breath caught, and my heart hammered in my chest. “I hope you consider that a good thing,” I said, trying to ignore the sudden awkwardness I felt.

He chuckled. “Depends on my mood.” He reached up and pushed a strand of hair off my forehead. “I’m exhausted. We should both get some sleep.”

Suddenly eager to put space between us, I whispered, “Goodnight,” and hurried back inside. Vidar was still in the same position, sprawled on the ground. Stepping around him, I crawled into bed, my hand tingling where Anders had touched it.

***

“Faster!” Anders ordered. I spun and kicked my right leg, hitting his chest. “Excellent.” He grabbed my wrist. “Now break away.”

Doing what my father had taught me, I leaned slightly forward, toward my opponent, and then pulled my arm up, breaking the hold. I immediately punched his stomach and when he doubled over, grabbed his shoulders, ramming my knee into his face.

He righted himself, breathing hard. “Good job,” he said, his voice a little higher pitched than usual. “Just remember we’re practicing. You don’t need to hit so forcefully.”

“Trust me,” I said, smiling. “That was gentle. If I wanted to hurt you, I would have.”

The corner of Anders’s mouth pulled up. “With that attitude, you’ll make it through your trials and receive your weapon without a problem.”

After working together all morning, we finally stopped to rest. I sat on the ground, stretching my legs out before me. Somehow sparring with Anders was easier than talking to him. I learned to fight at such an early age that it was second nature to me.

“Here.” Anders handed me a leather pouch with water inside. I took a sip and gave it back to him. “Your father trained you?” I nodded. “Where did you practice?” He plopped down next to me.