Page 22 of Enchanted Shadows
“I’m not going to call you the Boobie Brigade, but if you want to call yourselves a team name, I have no issue with it. Just know that after you graduate all three rounds of training, teams are given a number attached. Team One being the best of the best, and the largest number is usually the new ones. More often than not, a training group is split between the other teams, though King Krewan and I believe keeping you all together is best. As the first all women team, I am sure you will start out as Team Nine or something of the like, should you all make it that far.”
“What team were you on?” Fern asked.
“Started on Team Eight just like everyone else, eventually got promoted up to Team One.” I tried another rock. “While Theonwas still king.” I paused and said to Jessina, “We didn’t have the option to not train back then. Once we finished school, if you were Enchanted, you trained. That’s part of the reason why I wouldn’t force Aletta to stay today.”
“And what team are you on now?” Fern asked. “Sorry, I’m not used to your customs.”
“This one,” I said with a grin. “Slay Sisters.”
Wren elaborated, “He’s a general. One of four. Next to the king and queen, he’s one of the four most powerful people in Wylan. And has served as proxy to the king before.”
I glared at her. That was entirely not needed.
“And you’re stuck with us?” Fern asked with an incredulous stare.
I threw another rock. Only one skip. Dammit. “No. I trained the queen, so I was the person she trusted most for this.”
“Is it true you are kin bonded but can speak telepathically?” Jessina asked quietly.
I nodded and tried another rock. Two skips. “It is. She’s like another sister to me.”
Zara threw a rock and it skipped three times. She looked me in the eyes as if to saytake that.
I heard a movement to the west of us and turned to see some fur between a few trees. Black fur. I headed that direction. I liked Rafe, but Shadow was my favorite wolf. Never the alpha but always loyal and willing to do the dirty work. Dependable and tough. Jorah had told me we were similar, and I had loved him ever since. Even if he had a few scars.
I crouched down, talking low to him. The women stayed back.
“How’ve you been, boy?” I asked.
He sniffed at me, and I noted how healthy his coat looked.
“I saw a group of turkeys the other day,” I told him. “Bet you’re loving that.”
He let me pet him twice and then went on his way. Which was about as lovey as he got.
“See you next time,” I told him.
I stretched my back and headed over to the girls, “Back to the Princess Academy we go, Slay Sisters.”
A few steps in, Sam asked me, “Can we come back here? On our evenings off? The barracks get a little stuffy sometimes.”
I could relate. “Given what happened the other day, I only ask that you do not go alone. Go in threes. Deal?”
“Deal.”
By the time we got back, they were content to chat amongst themselves. A change of scenery had been what we needed, what I needed. We were only down two women to eighteen, but I knew more would be going home eventually. I only hoped that by the end of the ninety days, we would have enough to form a cohesive team.
The Slay Sisters had their work cut out for them.
CHAPTER 8
“This is the real thing, ladies.” I stood, watch ready. “Thirty minutes. Thirty minutes to see what you’re made of.”
A few of the women fidgeted on their feet, ready and terrified for the real timed trial. We were three weeks into training, this was the point where most of them were starting to feel stronger, starting to see changes in their bodies. The aches and pains were less soreness from moving muscles in unusual ways and now instead a soreness from building muscle. They were also bonding in record speed.
“There’s no sense in delaying this any longer and letting your nerves get the best of you, so let’s move.” I barked. “Go!”
And then I began running with them.
