The Heart Forger (The Bone Witch #2)(78)

“This is what the women of my kingdom wear for sword practice, my lord,” Princess Inessa said gravely. “It is our custom.”

“But you have no need for a sword! You are the emperor’s betrothed!”

“For as long as I have a kingdom, then I will always have need of a sword. And I am prepared to fight for it as well as any man here.”

There were a few murmurs among the Daanorians. Emperor Shifang asked Tansoong a question, and the official stuttered out a response.

The emperor laughed and clapped his hands. Likh took the opportunity to move away to my side. “I was so sure he was going to find out about me,” he breathed.

“Likh, you’re more feminine than I am.”

“Oh, I wasn’t referring to that…although that had me worried too. I was snooping around the palace when he found me and asked me to accompany him here.”

“What were you looking for?”

“I was looking at the palace wards. Kalen was right—it’s more complicated than regular spells, but I think there’s a way to untangle them.”

“Are you definite about this, Likh?”

He grinned. “It’s similar to zivar making, really. Think of magic as a spool of yarn. You can make complex patterns with it, but sometimes, some of Chesh’s spells get a little too heavy for the accessories we use. I’m usually the one tasked with unraveling the thread back into the spool, so to speak. It just takes patience.”

“You do know I don’t understand half of what you’re saying, right?”

“I guess it’s something those with purple heartsglass understand more than those with silver,” the asha admitted. “Give me more time to figure it out.”

“His Majesty has had training with the sword as well,” Baoyi translated, looking like he’d taken a bite of lemon. “If the princess wishes to defend Daanoris together with him, he would enjoy an exhibition of her prowess.” It was clear Baoyi wanted to express more of his views about that, but his secretary tugged nervously at his sleeve, shaking his head.

“Would you like to spar with me, Your Majesty?” The princess sounded coy.

If anything, the emperor laughed even harder. Already, a servant was hurrying forward with a small, ornate sword, the hilt meticulously covered in jewels despite its wooden blade.

Are you sure you want to let this happen? I hissed at Fox.

I know enough about etiquette not to scold the princess in front of another kingdom’s emperor. Besides, she’s good enough to beat him. Look at how he carries his sword. The gems on it are too polished to be anything but ceremonial. The emperor might think himself competent, but I know he isn’t.

That’s exactly what I was afraid of!

Tansoong was frantically shaking his head, issuing admonitions in Daanorian. The emperor paused and made a counteroffer.

“No fighting,” the councilor said, this time to us. “Instead, the emperor and the princess shall display their skills for the public to judge.”

That sounded like the better choice to me. Our hosts’ hospitality would come to an abrupt end should Princess Inessa accidentally skewer the emperor with her blade.

Shifang started first. His series of maneuvers were nothing special, similar to the ones I was taught as a novice.

Princess Inessa responded with more intricate movements, her sword slicing through the air with precision. I was impressed. Fox was either an extremely good teacher or she was an exceptional student.

The emperor, however, was clearly not pleased. The routine he performed next was a little more complicated than his first, though still not up to par to the princess’s initial display. The applause was louder when he finished but not entirely genuine.

Princess Inessa watched him carefully and proceeded to sabotage herself when her turn came: dropped swords, flimsy moves, and clumsy spins. “I must concede to the emperor,” she announced as she ended. “I cannot begin to match his skill, and it would be futile to continue this further.”

The message was relayed back to the emperor, whose spirits were noticeably buoyed. I felt Fox scowl. Princess Inessa bowed prettily to the emperor and handed her wooden sword back to my brother, her hand now tightly clutched over her collar, as was her habit.

Lose the battle to win the war, I reminded Fox.

I know, but I can’t stand that she’s forfeiting to that insufferable ass.

One soldier glanced over at me and said something to his comrade. They laughed.

Kalen snarled something in Daanorian, cutting off their laughter. Then one of the men offered what sounded like a challenge. Kalen’s face broke into a wolfish grin.

“We’re going to do something different today, Tea. You’re going to face off against those two arrogant idiots in mock combat.”

“What?!”

“At the risk of sounding immodest, fighting me is a lot different than fighting two guards who can barely tell which direction to parry. I’ve seen them spar. Trust me, you’ll do fine.”

“But—”

“Anything I wanted.” Kalen’s voice was soft and studied. “You promised me, remember?”

It’s a good way to measure your progress, Fox murmured.

“If it means anything to you,” Kalen continued, “he said you didn’t look like you knew how to use a man’s sword, except to act as its sheath.”