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TWELVE

Accompanying Queen Janessa from the great hall, Kaira noticed how she gripped her fists tight to her sides, her knuckles white. Surely troubled was the last thing she should have been — the legendary Wyvern Guard had returned to the city. This was the most favourable news they had received since Amon Tugha set foot in the Free States. But no, Janessa walked with a troubled brow as Kaira and Merrick accompanied her through the palace.

She did not head back to her chambers as usual, but instead made her way into the bowels of Skyhelm, down towards the War Chamber. There, outside a small vestibule she ordered them to stop. Janessa opened the door, enabling Kaira to see inside. It was a bare chamber with a single plinth at its centre on which sat the Helsbayn, the legendary sword of Steelhaven’s kings.

‘Wait here,’ the queen ordered. She went in and shut the door behind her.

The pair stood there for several moments, before Kaira began to grow concerned.

‘What do you think she’s up to?’ she asked.

‘How the fuck should I know?’ Merrick replied.

Kaira was used to his terse language but even for him this was harsh. However, it wasn’t the time to wonder what was on his mind.

‘Should we go in?’

He looked across at her with a frown. ‘If she was going to kill herself I can think of easier ways than with a sword. It’s pretty difficult to behead yourself with a four foot blade, though I’ve seen it tried.’

Kaira shook her head in frustration. Merrick was going to be of no help. It was obvious Janessa was concerned about something, but what should they do? She had ordered her bodyguard to stay outside. But Garret would never accept that as an excuse if anything happened to her

Something clattered inside the room. Kaira looked to Merrick, who merely shrugged his reply. It was no good, she would have to enter.

‘Wait here then,’ she snapped at Merrick, and opened the door.

Inside, Janessa sat on the floor, the ancient sword, the Helsbayn, lay next to her. The queen looked up with tears in her eyes.

‘I can’t even swing the damned thing,’ she said. ‘How am I ever supposed to wield it?’

Kaira closed the door behind her and moved forward to help Janessa to her feet.

‘You will not have to wield it, Majesty. No one expects you to fight.’

‘But my father was a great warrior,’ Janessa replied as Kaira helped her up. She dusted down her skirts and glared at the sword accusingly. ‘How will I lead my armies if I cannot fight? Why would anyone follow me unless I can lead them in battle?’

‘It’s true King Cael was a great warrior, Majesty. But not all good rulers must be warlords. You are only as strong as those you gather about yourself, your power is derived from loyalty.’

Janessa pondered on that.

The sword lay there, as though flaunting its illustrious pedigree to the room. Four foot of blade, it had runes etched from tip to base. The hilt was another foot of solid steel, the handle worked in an intricate pattern favoured by the ancient Teutonians, the cross-guard and pommel made of plain unembellished steel.

‘I may soon have no choice whether to fight,’ said the queen. ‘I may have to stand atop the battlements and rally those loyal to me. How can I ask my people to fight in the city’s defence if I am safely hidden away in the palace?’

‘They would still fight, Majesty. For they also fight for themselves, for their families. For their country.’

‘I wish I bore your confidence.’

Kaira knew, though her own loyalty was without question, that the queen was right to have doubts. There were many in the Free States who would gladly have substituted one ruler for another if it meant their survival … or their gain. Even if that would mean serving a foreign master.

Kaira saw hopelessness in Janessa’s eyes. She was just a girl, whose courage was faltering.

‘Then confidence is what we must build,’ said Kaira, stooping to pick up the Helsbayn.

As Kaira gripped it she could instantly feel the dead weight, much heavier than it should have been for a solid steel weapon of that size. How Janessa had even lifted it off the plinth was a mystery. As Kaira tested it in her grip it felt clumsy, unwieldy and poorly balanced. Why a warrior like King Cael had carried such an inferior weapon for so long she could not imagine. It was one of the Nine Swords, said to have been crafted by Arlor himself, a weaponsmith without peer, but such a legend was hard to believe. Despite the Helsbayn’s reputation it was nothing more than a cumbersome hunk of metal.

Nevertheless, it was the ancestral sword of the Mastragalls, crafted almost a millennia and a half ago. It was Janessa’s by right of birth and if she were to wield any weapon then this would have to be the one.

‘Please watch, Majesty,’ Kaira said, holding up the Helsbayn and demonstrating the proper form. ‘The sword should be gripped in both hands, right hand closest the cross-guard. Hold it close to your body; you can even rest the blade against your shoulder if it’s too heavy.’ And given the sword’s considerable weight Kaira felt sure it would indeed be too heavy for Janessa. ‘Lead with your left foot, right foot back. You’ll find it better for balance.’

The queen watched intently, though it was obvious she had never been privy to any kind of combat training.

‘You try, Majesty,’ said Kaira, holding out the weapon.

Janessa took it, and Kaira noted she seemed to handle the weight well. As she tried to mimic Kaira’s stance it almost looked as though the sword was lighter in her grip. Even so, her form was clumsy, her stance weak.

‘Perhaps we should try with a practice weapon first, Majesty?’ said Kaira.

‘No,’ came the reply. ‘I must learn, and you will teach me. This is the sword I must wield, what better weapon to learn with?’

Kaira nodded at the command. ‘Very well, Majesty.’

‘While you are the teacher you need not keep calling me “Majesty”. Janessa will be fine.’

‘As you wish … Janessa.’

It felt strange to say, almost disrespectful, but if that was the queen’s demand then that was what Kaira would call her.

Drawing her own blade, Kaira took up the defensive stance. She held her sword upright, blade pointed slightly forward. Janessa did her best to match the posture and, to Kaira’s surprise, adopted it as well as most novice Shieldmaidens; even managing to hold out her unwieldy weapon at the proper angle.

‘That is good,’ Kaira said, growing in confidence with her student. ‘Perhaps next time we should try this in more suitable clothing.’

Janessa grinned, glancing down at the gown, which covered her from neck to foot. ‘Yes, perhaps I should have armour made?’

‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,’ Kaira replied, feeling more relaxed with this girl with every passing moment.

‘Should I swing?’ Janessa asked, readying herself to raise the weapon above her head.

‘Perhaps briefly,’ Kaira replied, wishing now more than ever that she had insisted on practice weapons. ‘But slowly, and keep control of your blade at all times.’

Janessa raised the sword and Kaira cringed, expecting at any moment that the weapon would fall from her grasp and cut a furrow across her head. But Janessa raised the blade as directed, following it up with her eyes.

‘Keep looking ahead,’ Kaira commanded, memories of barking orders in the training yard of the Temple of Autumn coming back to her in a flood. ‘Always watch your opponent, not your weapon.’ Janessa’s eyes flicked straight ahead, her expression turning from tentative to stern. ‘And put your tongue away.’ The tip of Janessa’s tongue popped back into her mouth.

‘This is easier than I thought,’ she said with a smile.

‘Concentrate,’ Kaira ordered. ‘Now bring the blade down, firmly but under control. Slower!’

Janessa lowered the blade in an arc, keeping it under control. Again, Kaira marvelled at her strength. Even the most experienced Shieldmaiden would have struggled with the weight of the Helsbayn.