Page 43 of Court of Rivals
And yet, it doesn’t stop me from instantly touching myself, thinking about them. Burning for them.
17
Harper
I had a rough night's sleep and a full day of training, and yet, I’m still restless. I don’t know why, but it’s starting to drive me crazy. Ever since I got here, it’s like I can’t seem to feel settled. Will I ever feel settled again?
There’s a knock at my door. I take a deep breath, setting down the book beside me that’s detailing one of the great wars with the Hollowborn. It was a riveting read, but I honestly don’t mind the break. Reading all the descriptions about the bone wyrm melting the flesh off the riders was getting to be a bit much. I’m already prepared to have some dark nightmares tonight.
Opening the door, I find several servants standing, waiting. “We brought your clothes from the tailor, my lady.” One woman says cheerily, her hands full of clothes.
I step out of the way. “Come in! Come in!”
All four servants enter and go straight for my wardrobe, filling it up with a combination of more leather fighting outfits, and spectacular-looking dresses made of the finest fabrics I’ve ever seen. They’re an array of colors unlike any dresses I’ve ever seen in my life.
“What are all the dresses for?” I ask.
The first servant-woman, a robust older lady in a plain dress with a low neckline, bobs as she speaks to me. “Dragon riders are expected to attend many of the king’s parties.” She winks at me. “He likes to show his riders off.”
Okay… I guess that’s something to look forward to.
Another servant lays an outfit on my bed. The fabric is a pretty reddish-leather. The pants are leather that look soft as butter and the matching top seems to be secured with leather around the neck. It’s pretty, though not something I’m used to wearing.
“It’s for your training today, my lady,” the woman says, bobbing her head but not looking at me.
My lady.It sounds strange. I want to correct her, but I don’t want to make things even more awkward, so I keep the thought that they shouldn’t be calling me that to myself.
“Thanks.”
They all file back out, and then I turn to the outfit on my bed.A new outfit? Why not.
Dressing quickly, I’ve just barely got myself straightened out when the bell tolls, marking the start of our first activity of the day. I don’t honestly know how the dragon riders know what’s going on each day, because it seems random. As hard as I’ve tried, I haven’t picked out a pattern in anything we do. From what Roland has said, it’s mostly different types of training sprinkled around three meals a day. Although I’d heard it said that we do class work too, which I’m kind of looking forward to.
Heading out my door, I feel strangely exposed. My entire back is open, and the front’s a little more low-cut than my typical clothes. But if the king had this specially made for my training, I’m going to try to give it a shot. Besides, the leather is really soft and well-made. I’ve never worn anything this expensive in my life.
I wind around the hall until I make it to the doorway leading out into the training yard. The other dragon riders are already there. I’d opted for my breakfast in my room today, so I could keep studying my book, but I was betting most of them were coming directly from the dining hall. Already they’re tearing off their shirts and tossing them around, then getting into circles to fight, so I guess I already know what today will bring. More hand-to-hand combat, but this time I’m determined not to be called up.
Picking a circle, I linger on the outskirts of it and watch as one man after another goes into a circle and faces off with his opponent. They punch, kick, tackle, and wrestle each other to the ground. There seems to be no limits within the circle, which is strange to see, but probably best prepares them for real battle. I wrestled with my brothers a ton growing up, but I always knew they held back. They could’ve punched me square in the face, like Prince Alaric did, but they never went that far.
We’re on the fifth fight in the circle I’m at when one man knocks out the other. Everyone cheers for the winner, and the loser is dragged out of the circle and tossed to the side. There, one man waves a smelling salt under the unconscious man’s nose to bring him back. I’m watching him, wondering if he needs my help, when I make the mistake of making eye contact with Prince Lucien.
“You!” he says loudly, pointing at me. All gazes turn to figure out who he’s looking at. “I challenge you.”
My stomach twists, but everyone is looking, so I slowly move into the circle.
“Ready to embarrass yourself again?” Prince Lucien asks, giving me a wicked smile as he secures his long blond hair behind his head.
I smile. “We’ll see who's embarrassed by the end of this.”
We start to circle each other, and his narrowed green eyes watch my every move. But there’s something there. Uncertainty. Regret. I’m not sure.
“Or you could just say that I’m the victor, and we end this right now…” he suggests softly, as the men shout around us.
“Not a chance,” I say, every muscle in my body tense.
“These might look like games, but they’re not. This is real. And if you fight me, you might not like what happens.” It’s weird. He almost sounds sincere.
“Stop mouthing off and just fight me,” I say.
