“Hang in there, prince. You’ll get there.”
Losing was bad enough, but getting his ass kicked by a girl made it worse. What if the kingdom found out he couldn’t even overpower a puny blonde? How would they trust him to rule the kingdom?
As Cade left training, a scroll tied with red ribbon appeared in front of him. He opened the note. Come see me was scribbled in cursive, signed by the queen. He wasn’t sure where she’d be at this time of day, but he headed to the parlor. Kassandra sat at the pearl colored, grand piano.
“Music has never been my calling,” she said as she twisted around on the bench. “My sister stole all that talent in the family.”
“My trainer is a girl,” Cade said. Surely his mother would be able to fix it.
Kassandra laughed. “Of course, Cade. I am the one who assigned her.”
“You assigned a girl to prepare me for the battle?”
Kassandra rose from the bench and waltzed to the couch placed underneath the room’s large window. “I’ll pretend to ignore the disgust in your voice. Don’t forget your mother is also a girl.”
“You’re a wonderful woman, mother.” Cade bowed to her. “I just assumed that someone with more experience would be better suited to train me.”
“Poppy was in the top of her graduating class. She isn’t as big as the other warriors, but she’s smart. How else could she take down men twice her size?” Kassandra crossed her legs and placed her hands on her knee. “Your father is ill. He’s hung on such a very long time, but I don’t know that he will last much past the battle. I believe he wants you to be his successor, so he’s holding on until you can win.”
Cade doubted it. Father had always had a soft spot for Raith. As a child, Cade was sure that his father favored Raith over himself. It wouldn’t surprise Cade if his father died the day before the battle blessing, the official commencement of the Right of Heir, so Raith would be king forever and Cade would have no chance to challenge him for the crown. Unless Raith was killed, in which case, the crown would pass to Cade, with or without their father’s blessing.
Kassandra continued. “Things will be changing soon, my son. And Poppy will be a huge ally to our cause, so play nice.”
Cade didn’t know they had a cause. And what type of change was she talking about? “Change?”
“Don’t worry about that, yet. You just focus on winning the battle.” Kassandra patted the empty spot next to her. “Come sit.”
It was unusual for his mother to be talkative. Cade joined her on the couch. Kassandra dismissed the guards and asked them to shut the door.
“How is Scarlett doing here?” Kassandra spoke quietly.
“Fine.” Why all the secrecy? Scarlett was just a human. Her emotion was delicious—sure—but she was nothing that out of the ordinary.
“And you’re still gaining your fae energy?”
Cade hadn’t tried to produce it lately, but when he focused, a teal orb grew in his hands, filling his palms. It was twice the size as the last time he’d generated it.
Kassandra grinned. “Wonderful. The more power you bring to the battle, the better. We have waited a long time for this. Keep focused, and don’t let the girl go home.”
Cade didn’t plan on it, but he wasn’t sure why his mother cared so much. “I can always find a human to bring here. There are plenty who want to escape their world.”
“There’s something different about Scarlett. I don’t know what it is, yet, but if she fills your magic supply like you say she does, then she’s to stay.”
“Yes, mother.” Cade said.
Kassandra cradled Cade’s face in between her soft hands. “You must win this battle Cade. No matter what it takes. The Summer Court cannot go to your brother.”
Cade nodded. Kassandra dismissed him.
When he went back to his room, Scarlett wasn’t there.
Raith had spent the day in his room in the castle. He folded the note in his hands as small it would go. It was a reminder of his scheduled battle practice. The soldier just couldn’t take a hint. What about Raith leaving last time did he not understand?
As much as Raith didn’t like the idea of someone else telling him what to do, he hated the idea of his little brother beating him in battle even more. While Raith might be able to waltz into the battle untrained and humiliate Cade, he also might show up unprepared and get his ass handed to him. He knew Cade well enough to know that Cade would attend all of his training sessions, extra even. His little brother was anything but unpredictable, a golden boy to his core.
With a groan, Raith headed to his training session. In the tower, Jaser swung a staff around the training room.
“Look who decided to bless me with his presence,” Jaser said as he hung the staff on the wall. He approached Raith, who lingered in the doorway.
Jaser towered over Raith a few inches and had a sturdy build. He looked young, but Raith couldn’t deny the fierceness he carried.
Well, he was already there. Might as well give Jaser a chance.
“What amazing things can you teach me?” Raith stared at Jaser, noticing a scar sliced across his right hand.
Jaser pulled his sleeve down to hide it.
Raith thought of his own scar, just above his left eyebrow—not as easy to conceal.
“Lesson one: never underestimate. Anyone. Ever.” Jaser searched the weapon wall until he found a small dagger in between a bow and staff. “Or any weapon.” He flung the dagger into a chest on the other side of the room, its tip piercing the wood. “Death comes from precision, not size.”
Jaser explained all the weapons to Raith, their uses and downfalls, the best time to use each. At first, Raith pretended to listen. Then he found himself enthralled by Jaser’s words. Raith hadn’t expected to care about the history of each weapon, but he was fascinated. He’d learned about Summer Court history as a child, but his teacher’s lessons were dry and boring. Passion radiated from Jaser as he spoke. Raith tried to act nonchalant, but Jaser smirked.
“Summer defeated Winter with this blade here.” Jaser grabbed a bronze-headed spear from the wall.
“It’s not even made with summer magic,” Raith said.
Jaser twirled the spear through the air. “Nope. The General got mad and chucked it over the Winter front line and it shot right through the Winter King. He didn’t even see it coming.”
“Ouch.”
No wonder Winter wasn’t too fond of the Summer.
“That’ll teach a King to be in the middle of the battle. I don’t know what he was thinking.”
“So, they just surrendered?”
“His daughter was only fourteen. She wasn’t ready to be a Queen,” Jaser said. “Summer would have won anyway. It was only a matter of time.”
“Moral of the story: always watch for spears,” Raith said. “Got it.
“That’ll do for today,” Jaser said as he hung the spear up. “Tomorrow we’ll start to practice.”
“How’d you get stuck as my trainer?” Raith asked. Jaser was far too knowledgeable and talented to be behind the scenes as a teacher. Usually retired soldiers taught, not young, healthy ones.
Jaser shrugged. “Captains don’t like to lose.” He smirked. “Plus, the way I see it, training you is more important than standing guard at a post that never gets attacked.”
Raith wondered what the story behind Jaser and the captain was. Sometime he’d have to ask about it. Jaser seemed likable, and Raith didn’t like a lot of people. He wasn’t ready to let his guard down yet, but he was surprised to admit he may have been wrong. Jaser didn’t seem like someone to get latched under Kassandra’s fingers. Maybe Raith could trust him—only time would tell. If he wanted to win the battle, he might have to.
For now, Raith wanted to go back to his tree to relax.
“See you tomorrow then.”
Maybe training wouldn’t be so bad after all.
After training, Raith headed through the castle entryway to his tree.