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Despite being the only female in the barracks she was still housed with the men. Any doubts Captain Garret had harboured regarding the wisdom of this had soon been dispelled. Recognising her prowess, the other Sentinels quickly treated Kaira as one of their own.

If only the same could have seen said of Merrick.

Kaira glanced across the small chamber that passed for both refectory and lounge for the Sentinels. Merrick sat in his usual position, staring out of the small window, jaw clenching and unclenching, heel tapping out an incessant beat.

‘We should head to the yard,’ Kaira said, standing.

He glanced up at her, raising an eyebrow. ‘Is that your answer to everything? More training?’

‘Strength in body, strength in mind,’ she replied.

‘You’d just like to try me out again. I think you get some kind of sadistic thrill from it.’

She smiled at that. ‘Can’t say it hasn’t crossed my mind. Though I am getting bored of beating you.’ Kaira had found in recent days her attempts at levity were becoming more successful. Outside the cloistered environs of the temple she was gaining new talents all the time, but for Merrick the comparatively lenient regime of Skyhelm’s barracks seemed like a prison.

Of course it had been difficult for him in those early days but, with a lot to prove to himself as much as anyone, he had actually thrown himself into his training as hard as she had. More recently though, she had seen him growing anxious, she suspected, for his old life, for the freedom it gave him, for the women … for the drink. Merrick had persevered, and she admired him for that. Every day he seemed to improve physically, his skills with a blade almost unparalleled, but his mind seemed elsewhere.

He returned her a smile, but Kaira could see through it. The easy confidence, the arrogance he had borne when they first met was gone now. She sensed the vulnerable, lonely child, abandoned by his father, who had watched his mother die from the plague, and eventually squandered his family’s fortune.

Sometimes it seemed his only solace was in the training yard.

‘Well, let’s get to it then,’ he said, apparently invigorated by the prospect.

She followed him out to the training yard where several others were already sparring under Captain Garret’s watchful eye.

Garret’s burden was taking its toll on him. Kaira did not envy his lot. He was tasked with protecting the palace of Skyhelm and their queen, and would be called on soon to defend the city against an invading army. The Sentinels would be at the forefront of the defence. All the more reason to spend as much time as they could practising their craft.

As they walked out into the yard, Kaira recognised the two Sentinels fighting in front of their fellows. Statton was young, handsome and probably the best sword in the order after Merrick and herself. When Merrick had first brought her here she had fought Statton and another warrior named Waldin. She had managed to best them both, but not easily.

Statton fought against Leofric, a promising recruit who had started soon after she and Merrick had joined. Though clearly a gifted swordsman, he was no match for the more experienced Statton.

As she and Merrick watched, Statton easily broke Leofric’s defence again and again, choosing to toy with him rather than issuing a finishing blow. Kaira didn’t consider it fair; Leofric would gain little unless instructed in how to remedy his weaknesses, but she never deigned to question Garret’s way of teaching.

‘Enough,’ called Garret, after Statton easily parried Leofric’s thrust for the umpteenth time. ‘I see our sword masters have decided to join us.’ He gestured to where she was standing.

The rest of the Sentinels turned to regard Merrick and Kaira. They had taken to calling the pair ‘sword masters’ some time ago and it made Kaira cringe every time it was uttered. Merrick, however, was unperturbed.

‘It’s clear our brother Sentinels are in need of further instruction,’ he said to her with a grin, taking one of the wooden practice swords from its rack and deftly spinning it in his hand. ‘We shouldn’t disappoint them.’

Garret smiled and gestured him towards the practice square as though conceding to Merrick’s suggestion. It never failed to surprise Kaira how much Merrick could get away with — Garret would never have tolerated such arrogance from any of the other Sentinels. Their captain was a stern taskmaster, but he seemed to hold Merrick in particular regard for some reason. She could only guess Garret felt somehow responsible for Merrick’s fallow years after his father left.

Merrick strode to the centre of the square, glancing around as though goading someone, anyone, to challenge him. For Kaira this was becoming something of a tiresome charade. She looked at Leofric, who handed her his practice sword with the twitch of a smile. Having been humiliated by Merrick several times, the young novice was keen to see himself avenged.

Kaira walked forwards to face Merrick, whose face wore a confident grin. But Kaira had known him long enough now to see past his egotism, to see behind his mask of self-assurance. There was little that was self-assured about Merrick Ryder. Yes he was a skilled swordsman, yes he had the gift of charm and a handsome face some might have found alluring, but to Kaira he was just a lonely boy in the body of a man. Not that she would let that hold her back.

‘When you’re ready,’ said Garret as they faced one another.

Kaira merely stood there, waiting. Merrick, with his guard lowered, was goading her to attack but she had been here enough times to know it would not be long before Merrick’s impatience forced him to act first. She didn’t have to wait long.

He strode forward, his guard down, but she still didn’t move, her wooden sword held loosely at waist height.

As predicted he struck out, feigning low then thrusting high. It was a speculative strike, which she easily parried, but with Merrick she knew to be on her guard. For all his predictability in approach, once engaged he could change his attack in an instant and she knew better than to take him lightly.

Merrick backed away, still smiling. Kaira’s feet were firmly planted to the spot, not taking a step back, even when he came in again, this time scything in four swift blows from left and right. Kaira’s sword parried each in turn, though she almost misjudged the last one. Could it be that Merrick’s skill was improving while hers was not? She dismissed that thought immediately. It would not do to harbour doubt, not in combat. That way only lay defeat.

The rest of the Sentinels were muttering their support now, some for her, some for her opponent. Despite his haughtiness Merrick was popular with his fellows, always ready with a joke, always able to raise a smile. Kaira couldn’t help envying that. Though more comfortable now with casual mirth, she was much more guarded about her thoughts and feelings. Still, she had her own supporters. The older Sentinels respected her skill and her discipline, but she knew respect was all she’d get. Merrick was well liked, despite himself.

He moved in again, this time determined to force her on the back foot. She parried his first set of blows easily, then spun, ducking a swing and bringing her own sword in to take him in the ribs. Merrick managed to dance away just in time, much to the delight of the other Sentinels. They were laughing now, excited by the display.

As Merrick skipped away, Kaira took the initiative, following him and unleashing a volley of swings and cuts. Now it was Merrick’s turn to parry and dodge, and the sound of their wasters clacking together filled the practice square with a staccato beat.