Page 39 of Stolen Thorn Bride

Tiernan hadn't even hesitated when she made the request, only indicated his agreement that it was wise for her to be able to defend herself.

"Can we start today?" she asked hesitantly. "I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing, but I don't want to go back and ask Eilis because I'm fairly certain she's upset with me at the moment."

Her bodyguard smiled sympathetically. "I recommend not worrying yourself overmuch about Eilis," he said as he steered her out of doors and into the chill spring air. "She has trained for this position for most of her life. It's simply that for many years…"

"She thought it would be Aureann," Kasia blurted out.

Tiernan did not deny it. "Dechlan and King Miach were nearly inseparable from the time they were children," he said softly. "And as Miach's younger sister, Aureann was always with them. They learned to fight together. They were each other's first love."

This was not making her feel better.

"But," Tiernan went on, "the things we expect are not always the things that we need. And I believe at times we convince ourselves that what we are denied is the one thing we need to be happy, instead of looking for the possibilities in what we do have."

Kasia glanced up at him curiously.

"I feel like this means more to you than you're admitting."

His warm smile appeared again, and bonded or not, Kasia couldn't help feeling a little flustered.

"My great-grandmother was human," he said, and Kasia stopped in her tracks, stunned by the revelation.

"What? How? Was it before the Hedge?"

"Because of the Hedge, actually."

As he spoke those startling words, Tiernan led her into a part of the castle she had not yet seen, a covered walk surrounding what appeared to be the practice grounds. Within multiple sectioned-off areas, groups of warriors grappled or crossed swords with one another, and Kasia tried to ignore the rather overwhelming display of prowess on the part of… everyone, really. There seemed to be equal numbers of men and women, and all of them clearly knew what they were doing.

"Uh, Tiernan? Do we have to do our practicinghere?" she asked, wincing.

"I think," he said gently, "that you must begin as you mean to go on. Let them see who you are. There is no shame in starting a thing late, so long as you are willing to learn. The only shame is in never trying."

He was right.

And she was a coward.

Let them stare.

* * *

After a few days,Kasia's new life fell into a sort of rhythm—one that she found not entirely unpleasant.

She began each day by rising early, before Eilis could catch her sleeping on the floor again. Once dressed, she raced out the door to steal food from the kitchen. It gave her a chance to visit with Aral while she ate, and to avoid any further discussions about her sleeping habits.

Thus far, she'd been unable to accustom herself to the softness of the bed, and the one morning she'd slept late, she'd been forced to dive under the covers and pretend while Eilis brought her breakfast and chattered at her reprovingly. Kasia was determined to avoid a repeat of that uncomfortable experience, even if it meant sneaking around like a rebellious child.

Tiernan had caught on to her tactics within the first two days and always met her in the kitchen, after which he remained on guard in the stable until it was time for Kasia's lessons.

Eilis was tutoring her in Elvish, and it was an excruciating experience for them both. Kasia liked to think she was improving, but her teacher had yet to indicate one way or another.

Lunch was in her room, after which she vanished again to the practice yard with Tiernan for a different kind of education.

One where Kasia wasn't sure she was improving at all.

For the first few days, the other elves had stopped to watch as Tiernan gave her elementary instruction in hand-to-hand combat and beginning sword work. She was sure she heard a few chuckles around the fourth time she dropped her sword on her own foot, but had steadfastly ignored them and kept on despite her embarrassment.

By now, they mostly ignored her, too.

Her muscles were sore, and her pride was bruised, but she kept on trying, despite the insistent voice in the back of her mind that wondered why she bothered when she still intended to find her way home. What use would sword skills be in a pig pen? How would knowing how to fight put food in the children's mouths?