Page 13 of Forcing Fate

“Aye, it’s unseemly lass.” He tugged his goggles back down over his eyes. “If you don’t mind, miss, I’d rather be getting on with my work.” And with that, he used his set of tongs to pull the metal disk out of the coals and hammer at it again.

Discussion over.

Alright, well, if it was unseemly, I’d just have to ask Master Damon for an escort or a list of duties. Or he could actually let me assist him, as the Council instructed.

Taking a deep breath, I turned and headed in the direction the smith had vaguely gestured. I kept my head high and put on an air of importance—as if I knew where I was going. At each crossroads, I checked either way for any sign of a class with shields.

A low whistle drew my attention to a man leaning up against a building near an alley. His dark eyes trailed over my body, taking their time in the most immodest manner. A heavy black beard covered his face and his sinister grin had my stomach clenching in disgust. I straightened and continued on my way, my pace quicker than before.

Hearing the clang of swords, I did my best to follow it. Turning down path after path, I searched for any sign of Master Damon when I noticed a man trailing behind me. The man from the alley.

Had he followed me?

No. He’d been going the same direction as me, that was all. Still, I dared not look him in the eye. Surely I wasn’t in any danger. These were the King’s grounds. And for all that was good and right in the world, it was broad daylight.

I turned down another path between two buildings and came up short, as it proved to be a dead end. Backtracking, I spun and almost collided with a large, towering frame. Fear tightened like a vice around my throat. The man followed me.

My heart beat faster, but I lifted my chin in defiance. I had no reason to be afraid.

“Pardon me.” I tried to squeeze past him to the road, but he moved with me, blocking me. Taking a quick step back, I gave myself a bit of distance between us.

“What’s a pretty thing like you doing, walking out here all alone?” His tone was low and quiet—menacing. “You could get lost, you know.”

“I am Master Damon’s assistant. I’m sure he’s looking for me. So if you please–” I shifted to the left. Again, he blocked my way, this time stepping closer. I faltered for distance, stumbling back.

The man chuckled and ran a hand down his beard, with a wicked glint in his dark eyes. “Master Damon misplaced you, did he?”

He reached his hand up to my face. Though I was sure he was just reaching for my hair, I lurched away from him. My shoulder slammed into the wood of the building and I stumbled back as true fear sent my heart racing.

“Step away, soldier!”

A voice behind him rang out with clear authority. The man grimaced and turned to the side, revealing Willhelm at the mouth of the alley. My shoulders sagged with relief. Clearing my throat, I pushed off the wall and moved around the stranger.

“Sir Willhelm.” The strain in my voice was clear, despite my attempt at keeping it steady.

“Miss,” he spoke to me, but his eyes didn’t leave the man behind me, “Master Damon wondered where you might be.”

“Yes, I was on my way to see him. Would you be so kind as to escort me?” I asked, sincerely hoping he would say yes.

“As you wish.” He gestured for me to move around him. Once he stood between me and the stranger, he lifted his chin. His voice dropped to a growl. “This won’t happen again, soldier.”

Willhelm offered his arm, and I took it without hesitation. He steered me off, confident his orders would be obeyed. I liked Willhelm. As a Dragon Rider, I wouldn’t be so helpless. For now, though, his protection was a stroke of luck in this apparently uncivilized place. Some of the tightness in my chest eased, but in its wake, a strange sense of shame sank low in my belly. Frustrated, I shook off the feeling. I had nothing to be ashamed of. I’d done nothing wrong.

“Thank you,” I muttered.

“I thought I made it clear this was not a place for young ladies without an escort.”

The sharpness in his tone startled me. I wasn’t a petulant child. It’s not like I expected to be cornered by strange men if I ventured off on my own. “I apologize. Master Damon left me without instructions. I had only gone to find him when–”

“If Master Damon leaves you without instructions again, you simply wait for him. Don’t go gallivanting off without warning.” His frustration was evident as his gaze cut through the crowd. His strides lengthened into a ground eating pace. “I’ll see you to Master Damon’s current class, then meet you at his office at the fifth chime.”

“Thank you kindly.”

I, once again, struggled to meet his strides and was trying to hide my gasps of breath when we reached the training arena. It wasn’t an extensive structure, but it was big enough to hold forty men, two rows deep in a semicircle. It was a roofed enclosure, though it had two giant doors on both its northern and southern sides, allowing a breeze through.

Master Damon stood on a rickety wooden crate that wobbled with each shout he threw at the men. Beside him, an archer with a quiver full of blunt, chalk-tipped arrows loosed shot after shot into the soldiers.

“Tighter! Get closer together! Oi, you redheaded oaf, use those muscles and lift that shield higher! If that wall drops, it will be on your head!”

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