by Tara Grayce
Averett said something to Julien, then herded Edmund and Farrendel toward Essie. Julien marched toward the other side of the training yard, still shouting and waving to get more soldiers to join the group forming in the yard.
When Averett, Edmund, and Farrendel were close enough, Essie gestured from them to Julien. “Do you really think this is a good idea? There are probably a few soldiers there who would love the chance to get revenge on an elf.”
“All the better to let them attempt it with practice swords than with real ones.” Edmund jabbed his thumb at Farrendel. “Besides, do you really think they’ll have a chance at hurting him?”
“Well, no...” Essie tried to meet Farrendel’s gaze, but he had gone hard, his gaze focused over his shoulder on the soldiers massing at the far end of the training yard.
“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind, but I think this could be your opportunity to remind everyone why we made this alliance with the elves.” Averett’s lowered tone brought Farrendel’s gaze around. “Word of what happens here will spread. Half the city will hear about it before the end of the day, mark my words. If you want to remind everyone why Escarland might want to consider making Tarenhiel an ally beyond the simple ceasefire we currently have, then this would be it.”
Across the training field, word must have been spreading. Soldiers were piling out of the barracks, and even from here, Essie could spot the shoulder bars of a few officers keeping order. Not all the soldiers were volunteering to fight. Most were simply curious and eager to watch.
But a good fifty soldiers now gathered in the ring, including a few officers, who would keep them organized and provide more strategy than a leaderless horde of men would have.
Could Farrendel take on that many? Without guns shooting at him, he could kill that many with his magic far too easily. But this wasn’t a fight to the death.
Farrendel turned to Essie, lowering his tone and speaking in elvish. “Should I use my magic?”
“Can you use only a little bit of your magic? Like you did with the nephews?” Essie also spoke in elvish. Though, the only person they were really excluding from this conversation was Averett. Edmund could understand them just fine, annoying brother that he was.
Farrendel nodded. “Yes.”
“Then do it.” Edmund clapped Farrendel on the shoulder, speaking in elvish as well. “Prove that Essie made the right choice in marrying you.”
That straightened Farrendel’s shoulders and added a hardness to his expression.
As he looked about ready to march across the field and take on the whole pack of soldiers by himself, Essie leaned forward and kissed Farrendel’s chin. “A kiss for luck.”
The corner of his mouth quirked for a moment before he spun on his heels and marched across the training yard, hefting his pair of training swords.
With a grin, Edmund followed on Farrendel’s heels.
Averett crossed his arms. “What did Edmund say to him?”
“More or less told him to prove to everyone that he’s worthy of me.” Essie leaned against the fence, trying to relax. This would be fine. Her brothers wouldn’t let anything happen to Farrendel.
“That explains it.” Averett turned toward the others. “Looks like I’d better get over there before they start without me.”
As he strolled to the center of the training field, Paige leaned against the fence next to Essie. “What’s going on? The servants were chatting that something was going on at the training field.”
That didn’t take long. Essie waved at the gathered soldiers. “Avie, Julien, Edmund, and Farrendel are practice-fighting that crowd of soldiers.”
“All of them? At once?” Paige raised her eyebrows.
“Yes.” Essie gripped the top rail of the fence.
In the center of the training field, her brothers and Farrendel gathered in a circle, probably planning their strategy. The soldiers were also gathered in a larger circle, the four lieutenants who had volunteered for the practice fight organizing them into groups.
A whistle blew. The signal for the pack of around fifty soldiers to face off against her three brothers and Farrendel. The soldiers formed four squads, each led by a lieutenant.
Averett and Julien stood in the center with Farrendel and Edmund slightly behind and to either side. What was their plan? Essie would’ve expected Farrendel to be in front, the way he had been when fighting the trolls.
The whistle sounded again. Two of the four squads of soldiers rushed forward, coming at her brothers from either side.
When they were only a few yards away, a crackle filled the air a moment before a wall of blue lightning flared between the soldiers and her brothers with only a narrow gap left in the center for only a few soldiers to come at them at a time.
Farrendel had told her he’d started like this, simply providing a shield. Interesting first move on her brothers’ part.
“That’s Farrendel’s magic?” Paige had gone still, staring.
“It’s impressive, isn’t it?” Essie had been using that word too often, but she couldn’t think of what else to call his magic. Scary, perhaps, but she didn’t want to give the wrong impression.
His magic was scary. It might be awe-inspiring now, but she had seen how easily it could turn deadly. Even though she trusted Farrendel to stay in control of his magic, it was still uncomfortable standing there, watching his magic get all too close to her brothers and her people’s soldiers.
The groups of soldiers staggered back a step, staring ahead and upward at Farrendel’s shield of blue lightning.
Averett and Julien pressed forward, taking on two of the soldiers at a time. For several minutes, they fought, disarming the soldiers one at a time with Edmund providing aid when needed.
At this rate, the soldiers would eventually overwhelm Averett and Julien when they tired. Not to mention, this fight would last far longer than Essie had been expecting.
Then Julien shouted something Essie couldn’t make out above the clash of weapons and the crackle of Farrendel’s magic. Edmund crouched. Farrendel leapt, using Edmund’s back as a springboard. Edmund stood in time with Farrendel’s leap, giving him an extra boost into the air.
Farrendel somersaulted in the air above Averett’s and Julien’s heads. As he straightened, a bolt of his magic lashed out, touching the swords of the nearest soldiers.
The soldiers jumped and dropped their swords. Farrendel landed lightly on his feet in the cleared space in front of Averett and Julien, the two training swords ready. After only a moment’s pause, Farrendel stepped into the pack, the blue lightning bolts of his magic trailing down each of his blades.
After an initial pause, the lieutenants urged their squads of soldiers to move forward. They rushed Farrendel, probably trying to overwhelm him with numbers.
Farrendel met them with whirling swords and crackling magic. His hair whipped around him, and yet, when the soldiers tried to grab the strands, they never seemed to be able to touch it. It was as if Farrendel sensed the movement or the stirring of the air through his hair and spun in time.
Perhaps elven hair really was magic. If it started glowing when he sang, she wouldn’t be surprised at this point. Not that she could picture Farrendel singing.
Essie’s brothers pressed close behind Farrendel, far closer than the elves had during that ambush. They spread out, taking on any of the soldiers that made it past Farrendel, though Essie suspected Farrendel was letting a few get past him so that her brothers felt useful.
Farrendel, Averett, Julien, and Edmund fought their way to the far side of the training field. Only about fifteen of the soldiers facing them were left still holding weapons.
Averett waved toward them. “Well?”
Farrendel’s mouth quirked. He flicked his hand. Bolts of magic flared, leaping from training sword to training sword, knocking them from the soldiers’ grips. Magic exploded outward. Dust flew. Even standing yards away, Essie couldn’t breathe for a moment.
Then Farrendel’s m
agic winked out. The dust slowly drifted back to the ground, revealing all the soldiers knocked to the ground.
Were they all right? Essie dug her fingers into the wooden railing.
One of the soldiers sat up with a groan, quickly followed by the others.
Essie’s breath whooshed out. They were bruised but fine.
Edmund pumped his fist in the air and whooped. Julien slapped Farrendel’s back so hard Farrendel stumbled forward.
Averett patted Farrendel’s shoulder and faced the watching crowd of soldiers. “That was quite the display of elven power. I, for one, am glad he’s on our side, thanks to my sister’s marriage.”
The soldiers laughed. Just like that, the defeated soldiers were lining up to shake hands with Farrendel. For his part, Farrendel tolerated all the hand shaking, putting on his hard, impassive warrior face for it. Maybe not the friendliest expression, but at least he didn’t show how freaked out he was.
Some of the soldiers who had watched the first time called for another round, but Averett bowed out with all the diplomacy of the king he was. He steered Farrendel toward where Essie stood along the fence, Julien and Edmund trailing behind as they extricated themselves from all the backslapping.
When Farrendel was close enough, Essie leaned forward and took one of his hands. “You did great.”
His hard expression cracked, a hint of a smile blooming.
“What do you think, Avie?” Edmund strolled up, swinging his practice sword. “Can you clear your schedule? I think it’s time we hung out as brothers with our new brother-in-law.”
“I’ll see to it. Enjoy your brother time.” Paige kissed Averett’s cheek before she nudged Essie. “It’s been too long since we’ve had girl talk.”
Essie had missed her long chats with her sister-in-law. But she glanced at Farrendel. She didn’t want him to think she was just abandoning him to the mercies of her brothers.
Julien reached over the fence and ruffled her hair like he used to do when she was little. “We’ll take care of him.”
Farrendel was a grown elf. Essie didn’t need to hover the entire time they were here. He needed to stand on his own two feet with her family just as she had with his, and that would only happen if she wasn’t there watching over his shoulder.
Still, she squeezed his hand and switched to elvish. “Are you all right with this?”
Farrendel glanced at her three brothers. He straightened his shoulders, much as he had when facing the fifty Escarlish soldiers minutes ago. “I will be fine.”
“All right.” Essie kissed his cheek.
This would be fine. Her brothers seemed to like Farrendel. They just wanted to get to know him better. Hopefully Farrendel would relax enough to let them.
FARRENDEL STOOD to the side as Essie’s brothers let the Escarlish soldiers know that the practice fights with the elf were over for the day. It was mildly amusing to see how disappointed the soldiers were. As if getting thrown about by his magic had been entertaining.
Averett and Julien strode up to him, their shirts soaked with sweat. Farrendel had not prolonged the fight long enough to perspire, but the morning sun already beat down on the courtyard. Without the shade of the trees and being farther south, Escarland’s late summer was far warmer than Tarenhiel.
Edmund jogged to join them. He grinned. “The pond?”
Averett flapped his shirt away from his skin. “Good plan. Though...” He turned to Farrendel. “You can swim, right?”
“Yes.” Of course he could swim. It was a basic skill taught to every young one at an early age. Did humans not think it a necessary life skill?
He found himself herded down a path into the forested part of the grounds once again. It was futile to try to resist Essie’s pack of brothers.
The trees opened up to a pond with a dock jutting into it. The pond appeared to be fed by a creek that flowed out the other side to connect to the Fyne River on the other side of the tall wall. This spot was sheltered between the river and the forest, reminding him somewhat of Lethorel, the retreat for elven royalty where he had spent much of his growing up years.
Edmund gave a whoop and broke into a run, peeling off his shirt as he went. He hopped on each foot as he pulled off his boots at the edge of the pond. Julien was only steps behind him, dropping his boots next to Edmund’s.
With another undignified shout, Edmund raced the length of the dock and jumped from the end, tucking up his knees in the move Essie had called a cannonball. A massive splash sent water into the air and waves across the pond.
When he popped to the surface, he gestured. “Come on, Julien! Can you do better than that?”
“Easily!” Julien sprinted the length of the dock and launched himself into the air. His cannonball came down with a tremendous splash that sent a wave over the end of the dock.
Averett dumped his boots and shirt on the pile. With a whoop, he jumped in as well.
Farrendel grimaced, slowly pulling off his boots. He had not mentally prepared for this. Would Essie’s brothers question him if he jumped in with his shirt on? It seemed Essie had been correct that swimming only half-dressed was customary for human males.
“Come on.” Julien was the one gesturing now. All three of Essie’s brothers had popped to the surface, treading water in the center of the pond.
Edmund grinned. “If you don’t jump in, we’ll go over there and throw you in.”
Somehow, Farrendel did not think they were bluffing.
He added his boots to the pile, along with his belt. Then, as quickly as he could, before he could think himself out of it, he yanked off his tunic and shirt. As he did not know how deep the pond was, he would need to emulate the human version of entering the water and attempt a cannonball of his own.
He dashed to the end of the dock and jumped outward. He gripped his knees. The moment of hanging in the air as he fell seemed longer than it did for a dive.
His back smacked into the water, then the cold closed over him. Water rushed up his nose, not something he had anticipated with this unusual method for entering the water. He blew the water out as he sank deeper into the water, not wanting to come up coughing and sputtering.
Uncurling, he shoved from the bottom and pushed to the surface. He broke into the air, shaking water and hair from his face.
Essie’s brothers cheered, though it turned into chuckles. Edmund laughed. “I have never seen someone do a cannonball so solemnly.”
“Like it was a serious endeavor.” Julien splashed Edmund.
“Be nice to our brother-in-law.” Averett shoved a wave of water at both Edmund and Julien.
The water fight quickly devolved into a bunch of dunking and thrashing. Though, they left Farrendel out of it. They might feel comfortable lightly teasing him, but they were being careful not to push him farther than he was comfortable going.
A part of him was grateful. But another part, the larger part, wanted to belong to this family. Could he be one of them in a way he had never managed with his own family?
His family had always been distant, and not just because he was illegitimate. He was much younger than the rest of his siblings. His brother had already been married by the time Farrendel had been born, with Farrendel’s nephew Ryfon born only fifteen years after Farrendel was.
It was not an uncommon problem among elves to have siblings so strung apart that they never managed to be close. And yet, Farrendel had not managed to be close to his nephew and niece either.
Perhaps this was his chance to do things again and be a part of a family.
Diving beneath the water, he hugged the bottom, coming up beneath Edmund. Grabbing his ankle, Farrendel yanked him underwater before darting out of reach.
He popped to the surface a few seconds before Edmund, bracing himself for the reaction.
Edmund came up with a big grin. “Well done, little brother. I didn’t realize you could be that sneaky.”
Was that a smile he felt tugging on his face? Farrendel splashed a wave of wat
er at Edmund.
Somehow, the water fight turned into him and Averett against Julien and Edmund. Until Farrendel had met Essie, and then her family, he had forgotten how to have fun like this.
When he finally climbed from the water, he wrung the water from his hair, then reached for his shirt, intending to pull it on as quickly as possible.
Footsteps crunched on the bank and halted behind Farrendel. “Essie mentioned you had scars.”
Edmund. Farrendel gripped his shirt, knuckles whitening, skin crawling. Feeling those stares. Imagining their judgment.
“Pretty impressive.” Julien’s voice and tone had Farrendel glancing up. Julien pointed to a scar down the length of his arm. “I got pushed from a tree.”
“You fell. Not my fault.” Edmund strolled into Farrendel’s line of sight. He pointed at a scar that ran across his stomach. “A little argument with some border guards.”
He did not say which border and whose guards. Farrendel did not dare ask, though a scar like that was done with a bladed weapon, not a gun.
Averett tapped the scar of a bullet wound to his shoulder. “Assassination attempt.”
“We all have our scars.” Julien shrugged. “They aren’t a big deal.”
They did not care? He had caught his own family talking about his scars once, saying how it was a shame he was so scarred. How they needed to make sure they kept loving him since it was doubtful anyone else would.
But Essie had. And, maybe, her family too.
Still, Farrendel breathed a sigh when he had his shirt on, more relaxed with his scars covered.
Edmund halted with his shirt halfway on, one arm in, one arm still wedged trying to get into the arm hole. “I have an idea.”
“That sounds ominous.” Julien tugged his shirt over his head.
Edmund’s grin widened. “No, this is a great idea. I think you’ll like this one.”
When Edmund’s gaze focused on him, Farrendel’s stomach sank. Julien might like this idea, but would he?
