Fantasy Romance
Onyx stood defiantly between her two brothers as she met her father’s icy glare.
While she was a full head shorter than either of her brothers, she met her father’s anger with impassive silence.
“You could have hurt yourself or someone else,” he snarled. “You know better than to use magic.”
Onyx flinched inwardly, but she refused to let so much as a drop of emotion show. She had to practice if she was going to get better, and her instincts warned her she had to get better.
The courtyard was swept free of debris as Onyx set up her targets.
A circle had already gathered to watch her train. She had to train, even in this. Especially in this.
She ignored the onlookers.
Sword in one hand and shield in the other, she began her lethal ballet, the song of magic on her lips.
She struck the first target, and shoved the magic through her blade. The target exploded.
And so did the stone wall behind it.
Her feet betrayed her.
The wafting music of her mother’s piano playing distracted her as nothing else could.
Onyx’s brothers grinned at her. “Now we know your weakness.”
She thrust, catching him off guard and scoring a point. “I can still beat you.”
They were kids playing at being adults.
Maybe they would be adults one day.
Or maybe another war would take them before then.
Onyx prayed again that William would become king soon, and that he would lead them with wisdom the regent lacked.
As much as her brother tried to dissuade him, Prince William never forgot the little girl in her brothers’ cast off training clothes.
He worked twice as hard to best the Duke of Aldarius’s two sons in daily training, hoping to again get to practice with their sister.
All to no avail.
If they wouldn’t let her cross swords with him, perhaps she could be his dance instructor. He was awful, but with footwork like hers, he was certain she could train him.
He smiled. Maybe dancing wouldn’t be so awful.
After several days, Prince William still had not seen Lady Onyx practicing. Finally, he asked her brother, “Where is Lady Onyx? I had hoped for her to teach me more.”
“She has returned to the family estate with our mother.”
Prince William frowned.
“Please forgive her impertinence. She is young and trying to prove herself.”
“With two such brothers as she has, I understand her need. All is forgiven, though I would like to practice with her again.”
Sir Godfrey merely bowed to him.