They sat at a long table near the master-at-arms, her hands shaking as she tried to eat. Tallo and a few other soldiers laughed more than once when food tipped off her fork. Diamond swore colourfully.
“It’s probably for the best,” Tallo chuckled. “In half an hour, you are going to be running around this training yard with the rest of this rabble. You need to be fit to be fast, and if you are going to wield a sword and other weapons, you need to be a lot stronger than you are now. So unless you want to vomit, I would suggest a bit of self-control.” And he looked pointedly at the pile of food on Diamond’s plate.
Sighing, Diamond reluctantly pushed her plate away. What a dreadful waste!
Hugo, who had finished eating, downed a pitcher of water and pushed his chair back. “When Tallo comes out, so do you. Do as he says. I will be watching you,” he warned then left.
Tallo was true to his word. He gave her half an hour for her food to settle, then made her walk right through the ranks of soldiers in the training ground.
Tom’s face dropped as Diamond stalked past his squadron of trainees. With her shoulders back and her head held high, she caught his eye and smiled tightly.
He paled and nearly fell over.
Diamond didn’t blame him. She had changed dramatically since last seeing her childhood friend. All their lives they had been friends, but since their home and lives had been destroyed, they had moved on. Tom by choice, and Diamond because Hugo had effectively delivered her as a prisoner to the magic-hating Queen.
Tom had joined Prince Jack Oden as a trainee guard and was completely ignorant of what had happened to her in the palace. With a jolt she realised he wouldn’t know she had killed General Edo. All Tom saw was a completely different person than the one he had grown up with. No longer was she the young girl who had dodged the groping hands of traders or run from bullies among the dirty streets of Berriesford; neither was she the frustrated teaching apprentice with unattainable dreams.
Tom was looking at her with wide eyes, taking in her bruised face and her sweaty, dirty clothes.
Diamond was to become a warrior and a magic-wielding weapon. For all her abhorrence of magic, the Queen wanted to use Diamond’s to save the people of Valentia. Diamond swallowed hard. If she failed to impress the Queen in the coming weeks, Tom and Jack would be killed—by Hugo. That will not happen, she thought, clenching her teeth together. I will succeed. Diamond wondered why the powerful Queen would not fight the Wraith Lord herself. No matter, she decided, brushing the thought away. The innocent people who had sought refuge behind the Rift Valley wall—whether Rhodainian or Avalonian—had already lost so much. None deserved death at the hands of the Wraith Lord, a lord who would consume their soul and condemn them to an eternity of darkness and pain.
Leaving Tom behind, she joined the squadron Tallo indicated and listened as he bellowed orders. Their assignment: to run around the edge markers of this training ground seven times.
By the goddess! That must be more than seven miles! Diamond had never needed to run so far in her life. She didn’t even know if she could make it.
When it was her squadron’s turn, everyone ignored her and took off. After two circuits, her lungs burned and she wanted to stop. Young trainees whizzed past her, and Diamond groaned in embarrassment. Her steps slowed in defeat until someone suddenly grabbed her arm and propelled her forward.
“Hey! You can’t stop.” The soldier grinned at her. “You’re nowhere near done. If you stop now, the whole squadron will suffer extra training as punishment—and that will make you very, very unpopular.”
Too breathless to talk, Diamond raised her eyebrows. Really? Well, wasn’t that just wonderful! Diamond wanted to swear at Hugo and Tallo, but didn’t have the energy. The soldier kept his hand under her arm.
“Come on. I’ll run with you. Just don’t stop. Okay? Regulate your breathing, keep your feet moving, and you’ll be fine.”
Nodding gratefully, Diamond concentrated on gulping air into her burning lungs. When the soldier let go, they jogged together in silence. It was nice to have a bit of support, even from a stranger.
“Come on,” encouraged the soldier, “only a few more feet and you’ve made it.”
Vaguely aware of Hugo watching her, Diamond fell over the finish line, landing in a heap on the dusty ground. Her lungs were on fire and she wanted to vomit. The soldier came over just as she made it onto her knees, gagging and retching. He patiently waited for her to finish, then held out a sweaty hand, which she took.
“Hi, the name’s Reese, Reese Dunns,” he said. Clear hazel eyes twinkled down at her as he grinned.
Grateful, she smiled back. “Hi Reese, I’m Diamond. Thanks for your help. I wouldn’t have made it on my own. I’m so unfit it’s embarrassing,” she gasped, trying to push herself up but soon gave up. Her legs shook too much to stand.
Reese chuckled and lowered to his haunches. “Well, the Queen’s fearless master-at-arms did beat the crap out of you before breakfast.”
Diamond groaned. Great. They had all been watching her pathetic fighting skills. She uttered a stream of curses under her breath at Hugo.
“Don’t worry, we were all rooting for you,” Reese said, giving her a conspiratorial wink. “Maybe when you have learnt a few tricks of your own, you’ll get to fight that miserable bastard who never takes his eyes off you. I expect you’ll eventually learn how to land a few punches of your own. You might even land one right on his jaw. Now wouldn’t that be satisfying?” he whispered, grinning wickedly and wiggling his eyebrows.
Diamond coughed and snorted a laugh. “Yes, it would,” she agreed, smiling despite her heaving lungs.
Hugo sat on the ground, leaning against the inner barracks wall. Carefully and methodically, his big hands moved as he sharpened a sleek knife blade. He stilled; even from so far away, Diamond knew he had heard their conversation. Her stomach plummeted but Reese didn’t seem to have noticed.
“I’ll see you later.” Reese winked and sauntered away.
Chapter 2
Diamond’s heart lifted a little. At least someone in this place wanted to be friendly with her. That feeling disappeared as Hugo strode over.
“Get up,” he growled.
“Really? When do I get to rest?” she snapped, his coldness tipping her past the edge of caution.
“You don’t. Over here now,” he ordered, watching her struggle up before leading her to the edge of the training ground and away from the masses of sweating, swearing troops.
Nervously, Diamond wondered what she was in for next.
A mocking smile curled Hugo’s lip as he cocked his head, regarding her sorry state. “This is where you begin to realise how hard your life is going to be until you become stronger. This is where you learn to respect me, Tallo and every other warrior here. Because we are going to help you become strong enough to fight for yourself as well as the people stuck in this valley at the Queen’s mercy.”
Diamond’s eyes drifted over to where Reese watched them.
“What? Do you think your new friend will come and save you from this part of your training? No soldier is stupid enough to interfere. Besides, he’s next on my list. He also needs a hard lesson in disrespecting a senior officer, which I am by the way. I am the one who is going to teach you how to kill with any blade placed in your hands, and I will be the one to show you how to wield your magic with enough skill to stay alive. As such, you will respect me.”
His deep voice grated along Diamond’s bones, and she flinched instinctively as he shifted his weight. Diamond remembered the brush of his fingers as he took her necklace, his betrayal in the throne room. She squeezed her eyes shut against the horrifying memory of a dagger, the one Hugo had given her, sliding between General Edo’s ribs and piercing his heart. Anger, grief and a terrible hopelessness at what she had been forced to do ripped at her insides. Her magic flared in response, heading straight to Hugo’s as it always did.
With no effort, he stopped it and thrust it
away from him.
“Not yet, Diamond. First you learn to respect me, then you learn to wield a blade. After that we will play with your magic.”
Diamond felt his magical rejection deeply. But she would not let her hurt show. Ignoring the cold wind that whipped dust into her face, Diamond opened her eyes, set her jaw and adjusted her stance to face the elite guard.
“You have to earn respect. For me to respect someone, I need to trust them. I don’t trust you anymore, Hugo. You destroyed that, not me.”
Hugo’s sapphire blue eyes darkened to obsidian, then he smiled coldly. “You don’t need to trust me, only do as I say. If you want to pass the Queen’s test, that is.”
Diamond tried to block the kick he aimed at her belly, but as soon as he moved, she knew it was hopeless. Hugo shifted his weight sideways and propelled the roundhouse kick with such swiftness that his limbs blurred. At the last moment he pulled his kick, but his shin still connected with enough force that it drove the breath from her.
Diamond yelled. Her knees sagged to the ground and tears streamed down her face.
Hugo stared down at her, his face grim. “Next time don’t be so insolent and foul-mouthed to me or about me. At least not where I can hear you.”
Diamond glanced up and looked to Reese, who was watching them from across the dusty training yard.
“Oh, rest assured,” he said, glancing at Reese too. “Your new friend is about to get the same reminder about respecting his senior officers.” A slight snarl twisted the contours of his scarred mouth. “If, by some miracle, you ever manage to land a punch on my jaw, I’ll take the whole squadron down to the East docks and buy them a drink. In fact, if you ever become that good, I’ll buy them a whole evening of drinks, little girl,” he sneered. “I’ll leave it up to you to tell Reese that.”
Diamond lifted her chin, determination shining in her eyes. “That’s going to cost you a fortune one day, commander,” she ground out.
Hugo brushed himself down. “I doubt it,” he stated with a derisory twitch of his eyebrows. “Now, get up and re-join your squadron. You have weapons training today. And remember what I said—you will bleed these next weeks, but my only concern is that you become the weapon you are meant to be. Do not expect leniency from me.”
Diamond didn’t respond but watched him walk over to Reese. She stifled the sobs that threatened to burn a hole in her chest. It seemed impossible that she had ever been cradled in the warmth of his arms, that she had felt safe just because he was nearby. It didn’t matter. She would stand or fall on her own. She didn’t need his support or friendship.
By the time Diamond picked herself up out of the dirt, Reese was sporting a thick lip. Slightly stooped, she hobbled over to the squadron that was practising their archery skills. The mixed group of men and women, both fae and human, quietly made a space for her near Reese. It seemed he harboured no ill will for his thick lip as he gave her a sympathetic smile. She tried to return it.
“When I manage to land my fist in his face—and I will eventually—he’s going to take this squadron to get drunk. So the more help I get from everyone, the quicker you all get your reward,” she told him, a determined glint in her eye.
He nodded once, and she knew he would spread the word.
The rest of the day passed without incident. Diamond managed to trudge to the mess hall at lunchtime but barely said more than a few words to Tom before she devoured some food to regain her energy.
Explaining briefly what had happened with the Queen was a welcome respite from the incessant throbbing of her bruised body. Tom paled, looking sick as he realised the implications of the immortal monarch having Diamond as her weapon and the consequence if Diamond didn’t achieve her given objective.
“What do you think she wants your necklace for?” he asked, his brow creased in a frown.
They were sitting alone on a bench at the edge of the mess hall. Tom was gaining weight fast. His shoulders and chest were broader, and he seemed older, more mature since joining the soldiers. He flicked back a brown curl from his eyes—a familiar gesture.
A weak smile tugged at her lips and she shrugged her aching shoulders. “Who knows? But I saw recognition and greed in her eyes when she saw it.”
“Why? What does it do? It never looked anything special to me,” he commented.
“I have no idea,” Diamond sighed, rubbing her tired eyes. “Maybe it has something to do with the shield.” She racked her brains, trying to figure out what was useful for an immortal fae Queen stuck in the prison of her own capital city. “Anyway, enough about that. How are things with Zane going?” she asked, wanting to banish her own problems for a short while.
Tom blushed, which instantly made her feel better.
Chapter 3
Diamond made sure she was ready by dawn each morning, well before Hugo knocked on her door. During the day she worked hard, gritted her teeth and did her best not to yell when she was knocked down or battered.
By the end of day five she was utterly exhausted. Unused to such constant physical demands, her body protested with each tiny movement. Even walking required a mammoth effort.
Tallo spent all afternoon instructing her on how to pull back a bow string, then made her loose arrow after arrow. Her fingers and arms were bruised despite using gloves and arm guards. Her muscles trembled so much she feared she may fall over. A brisk wind dried her sweaty, dirt-caked shirt against her skin. She grabbed at the stiff material, pulling at it. Trudging through the outer gate, ignoring the guards completely, Diamond groaned and stared at the path she now had to walk before she could collapse into bed. It seemed like a hideous mountain looming before her, when in truth, it was only a gently sloping dirt track.
These last few nights, she, Kitty and Rose had all stayed up late to chat or visit to the library. She wondered if Kitty and Rose would mind if she didn’t join them and just slept tonight. All she wanted to do right now was sleep.
It had been hard to see Rose after her part in Diamond’s kidnapping, especially when it had resulted in Diamond’s imprisonment and the death of others. Rose had admitted to knowing Diamond’s kidnapper, a warrior with red wings and red magic. He had been powerful but not powerful enough to subdue Hugo. Incredibly, Hugo had simply absorbed the red warrior’s magic and continued to fight.
Diamond smiled a little. Rose had blushed prettily when she had admitted to knowing the red warrior. Diamond was pleased for her friend but hoped it would not be long before Rose could arrange for her to meet him. The rebel lord he served held information about Diamond’s mother, which Diamond needed.
Hooves sounded on the gravel path. Curious, she looked over her shoulder. Her stomach clenched. Prince Jack Oden was swiftly riding up behind her. Diamond hadn’t seen him since the throne room and wasn’t sure how she felt about her friend since he had agreed with the Queen’s plan to turn her into a weapon. Diamond took a deep breath and exhaled. She had found it in her heart to forgive Rose for her part in the kidnapping, even when it had led to bloodshed. She should at least give Jack a chance.
As usual, Jack was flanked by two guards. One she recognised as Roin, the burley captain of Jack’s royal guard. The other was Zane, the arrogant fae warrior who had taken a huge liking to Tom.
The three of them easily passed Diamond, blocking her progress with their horses. Anger and guilt twisted Jack’s handsome face as looked down at her. Even Roin, who was normally an affable man, looked shocked. Zane stretched his wings and folded them back in, a clear sign of fae disgruntlement. He raised his brows and pulled a face before gazing towards the barracks.
Tom.
For all his disapproval of her appearance, it seemed Zane was still more interested in Tom’s welfare than anything else.
“Tom’s fine, Zane. I think you’ll find he has changed quite a bit in the past few weeks. He’s stronger, faster and has a bit more meat on his bones now,” she attempted to joke, reiterating Zane’s words from when he had first met Tom. “And he migh
t pretend otherwise, but I know he misses your company,” she told him before meeting Jack’s eyes.
Tight-lipped, Jack eyed her up and down. Diamond hadn’t realised she looked so bad. Her head stung from a blow she had failed to block. Dried blood itched her cheek, and she had not bothered to wipe herself clean at all during today’s training.
Perhaps I do look a bit rough, she conceded, feeling a little detached from herself. Exhausted, she turned away and walked up the path.
Jack swore and vaulted off his horse. “Hey!” he pulled her to a standstill.
Diamond paused and met his eyes. She swayed unsteadily on her feet. Cursing, she locked her legs whilst trying her hardest to regain her balance.
Without saying anything, Jack nodded at Roin, who jumped down off his horse and lifted her off her feet. Diamond began to protest but Jack cut her off.
“Be quiet,” he growled as he swung back up on his horse.
Roin smiled sympathetically and passed her into Jack’s arms. Gratefully, Diamond collapsed against his chest, closing her eyes as they made their way to the palace. Exhaustion made it difficult for her to concentrate while Jack muttered obscenities directed at the Queen and Hugo. Reining in, Jack lowered her to the ground then guided her to her room. He greeted Kitty briskly, ordering her to draw Diamond a bath.
The pretty, blonde maid took one look at Diamond, dipped a small curtsey and quickly began her assigned task. Jack helped Diamond sit on the bed, then his strong hands undressed her. She muttered a half-hearted protest as Kitty returned and helped him pull her shirt off. They both gasped at the sight of her bruised body.
“By the guardians, what in the name of Chaos is Hugo thinking? The way he was behaving before made me think he wants you as his mate. He should be coveting you, not beating you black and blue.”
The Goddess and The Guardians Boxset: The Complete Romantic Fantasy Quartet Page 35
