From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [6]
Captain Tristan Loam stepped between the approaching Carmine soldiers and where Achan lay on the ground. The captain was tall and broad with reddish hair, a short beard, and a cushion of a belly, though Achan didn’t doubt he was a formidable swordsman.
Captain Loam peered down on Achan. “Are you well, Your Highness?”
Achan licked his bloody lip and panted. “Aye.”
“Take a moment before we go again.”
Go again?
Achan let his head fall back on the ground. He swallowed a bit of blood and stared at the azure sky. It took several deep breaths to cleanse his strangled lungs. On his right, golden standards perched along the sentry wall, flapping in the wind, each marked with a bunch of plump red grapes. Achan watched their movement as his breathing returned to normal.
Captain Loam’s voice muted as he addressed his men. “We’ll give the prince a moment to rest, then get back to it.”
Aww. The knotty-pated baby needs a rest, a soldier said.
Can’t believe he’s fighting us at all, another said.
Half-trained lout don’t deserve Lady Averella.
Achan stiffened at the jeers, but then he finally understood. The soldiers were angry about his betrothal to Lady Averella. Bran Rennan, who had been engaged to her, was one of their number. In their eyes, Achan had taken Bran’s woman.
Aw, pig snout. Achan had hoped to bond with these men by coming here this morning. But he’d been naive, as always. There had been too many factors to anticipate. Half-trained, indeed. Achan wanted to go back to the peace of his chambers. Hide there. Or leave Carmine altogether.
But that was not what a sovereign should do.
A shadow stepped before him. Achan squinted until Shung’s hairy outline came into focus.
Shung extended an arm. They are merciless warriors. Very brave. Glad they’re on our side.
Achan reached up and grasped Shung’s forearm. They wanted to beat me.
Shung jerked Achan up. That’s the object of the lesson.
No. Achan straightened his helm and wiped his sleeve over his bloody lip. His jaw and thigh stung. He met Shung’s dark eyes and allowed anger to crush his self-pity. They wanted an excuse to beat me without the ramifications of beating the Crown Prince of Er’Rets. They’re cowards.
No man had been willing to speak his mind. To confront Achan for taking Lady Averella from Bran. For such an act would be insubordination. Treason. Cause for discharge or at least a whipping. No. These men simply wanted an opportunity to vent their anger without backlash.
Achan found his waster and shield on the ground and picked them up. His armor pulled on his shoulders and trapped heat against his body like a forge. The rivets in his chain armor tugged at strands of his hair and grated against his shoulder blades through his sweat-soaked hauberk.
“Ready to go again?” Captain Loam asked.
Bet I take the sorry piglet down, a soldier said.
Yer full of dung, Zin. Keep to the plan. I almost had him.
Achan searched the crowd for Grigio, but either he’d vanished behind the observers or Achan hadn’t gotten as a good a look at him as he’d thought. In hopes of discovering the gifted soldiers, Achan lowered the shields around his mind completely, as if he had forgotten everything he’d been taught. The act released the pressure of his bloodvoice. Anyone gifted would feel it like a blow.
When three soldiers sitting on the benches cowered, Achan knew he’d succeeded.
Your Highness? Sir Caleb’s voice, panicked, burst in Achan’s mind. Are you injured?
Achan snapped his shields back in place. Sorry, Sir Caleb. Just a little experiment.
“Your Highness?” Captain Loam awaited his answer.
“I thank you, Captain Loam, for a vigorous practice, but I have other matters to attend to.” Achan returned his waster and shield to the racks, then walked to where his attackers sat, opening his mind to Shung. His heart hammered in anticipation. Stay close, Shung. This might go badly.
Shung walked alongside Achan. What do you mean?
Achan stayed open to Shung, but expanded his reach to the three soldiers, making sure Lady Averella’s maroon dress sleeve that was tied to his