Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
He quirks a brow at me. “I don’t care what you need. It’s not your turn.”
“It is, actually,” I start to say. I’m about to throw my jacket open and reveal the fact that I’m female, and ladies always go first—but I don’t get the chance.
“Oh, I see. Another spoiled city kid desperate for a lesson he doesn’t know he needs to learn.”
I cast a glance over at Jory, who doesn’t look happy about this because I’m making a scene in his place of business.
“Don’t,” Jory whispers to me. “That’s Rafael.”
He says the name like there’s weight to it, like I’m supposed to know who he is talking about.
“Who?” I squint my eyes and look back at the guy. I’ve never heard of any Rafael. Probably because I don’t know a lot of actual criminals. As much as I like to slum it on occasion, I’m still pretty insulated from the worst parts of Eclipse. Even at the weapon-smith, I shouldn’t really be meeting anybody actually bad. That makes me think this guy, whoever he is, is just acting like he’s impressive.
He takes my question as the insult I intend it to be. At first he smirks, but then he narrows his eyes at me and speaks in low, menacing tones that don’t quite go all the way through the words. It’s like he wants to be intimidating, but he can’t quite bring himself to fully invest in the moment.
“Meet me outside the monastery at one o’clock, and bring a body bag.”
“Bring your own,” I shoot back.
He turns on his heel and leaves, giving me the last word, which is satisfying as hell.
“Just a sharpen, please, sir,” I say to Jory. “Sounds like I’m really going to need it.”
He arches a brow at me and shakes his head.
“You just made quite an enemy,” he says. “I’ll let you leave out the back once I have this sharp, in case he’s waiting out front for you.”
“Don’t tell him anything about me,” I say as I hand my sword over.
“There’s not a chance I’ll be saying a word. I’ll be denying having any idea who you are, Darcy. Girl, you have got to start being more careful. Eclipse City isn’t at all like the academy. You’re not going to get special treatment everywhere.”
“Well, that’s insulting,” I pout at him.
“It’s not insulting. It’s just true. You get spoiled at that academy, and here. I worry about you, Darce. One day you’re going to realize you can’t always get away with everything.”
“I’ll let you know if that happens.”
Jory rolls his eyes and sets about sharpening my sword for me. While he works, I sit out back by the forge and think about the day I’ve had, and the day yet to come.
That’s two duels.
Somehow I’ve managed to live twenty years without ever being in a duel, and now I am going to be in two in a single day. That’s how life works, isn’t it. When it rains, it absolutely pours. Doesn’t matter. I can kill the first guy at midday and have a good fifty-minute nap before the next one shows up to be dispatched.
King’s guards are trained to kill. I’ve never actually killed anybody before, but I’ve always known it was only a matter of time before I did. Because of how I entered the academy, I have been trained to fight since I was old enough to hold a sword. Most recruits don’t start until their teens, but most recruits don’t have the fortune of dead parents.
I glance at my watch. I’ve got some time before I have to take a life for the first time, so that’s good.
“Alright. It’s sharp.”
I reach for the sword, but Jory holds it out of my reach, his muscles gleaming in a sweaty blacksmith sort of way.
“What are you doing?”
“Promise me you’re not going to actually go to that duel,” he says. “Go back to the academy. You’ve made enough trouble for one day.”
“I promise,” I lie.
“You’re such a bad liar.” He calls me out right away, but he gives me the sword. “I want you alive, Darcy.”
“Nothing bad is going to happen to me,” I promise him. “I’m careful.”
“No. You’re not. Seriously. Don’t go fight that guy. He’s the best swordsman in the city. They say he’s a…” he lowers his voice, “terrorist.”
Jory has always been exposed to people I’m not because he handles a lot of weapons and the sort of people who need weapons are the sort of people who use them. But that guy I just met looks more like a model than a violent criminal. Besides, he was kind of sassy about it. If he was really a piece of shit, he could have just punched me in the face. He didn’t. So it’s probably fine.
“Okay. Thanks, Jory. See you next time.”