To Save a Kingdom

CHAPTER 10: A MOTHER’S DISAPPROVAL 

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More days passed as Kai busied herself with walking around her room and eventually, the second floor halls. She built up her stamina and her muscle endurance, and Brendan soon noticed he could no longer keep her to the confines of her bedroom or even the palace. 

He gave her tours of the palace and gardens along with the countryside that ran behind the back of the palace ground. At first, she tired easily, their walks were rather short, but they soon grew in length.  

The wound on her torso had healed beautifully and was not much of a problem anymore However, it did make the muscles where the cut was quite sore, but like she always said, ‘it was manageable.’

Soon after she started walking without any problems at all, Brendan would come visit her in the mornings to already find that she had had an early breakfast and was running around the training grounds, exercising her leg muscles even more. Once he figured out her morning schedule, he even joined her. 

Brendan found that he was happy it was almost Midwinter, because that was normally the time the knights –or specifically, his squadron –had off and he was able to keep Kai busy. He didn’t want Kai to have time to think and possibly consider traveling to a different place.  Things tended to get dangerous more in the winter months than any other, and it made him uncomfortable thinking about her traveling in such harsh weather conditions.

After a particularly fast paced jog, Brendan breathlessly said, “I want to show you something follow me.” 

She put her hands on her slim hips, opening up her airways and followed. He led her past the stables to a grey-stoned building with a large, thick, wooden door. 

“What is this place?” she asked, looking around at the exterior. Brendan walked up to the door and opened it. 

“Why don’t you come in, and find out for yourself?” he asked, crossing the threshold with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

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She crinkled her nose and walked in after him. It was a huge armory that held all types of weaponry. Swords and knives were on one side of the large room, while lance, staff and archery equipment were designated on the other side. 

Kai gave a small chuckle. This man certainly knew her weakness. She walked over to the knives section of the armory. The craftsmanship of the blades was not to be rivaled. They were the best weapons man could make. She looked at the array of knives and saw that some even had small gems studded into the hilts.  

Beautiful, she thought to herself.

Kai looked up to find Brendan clearly amused at the wonder displayed on her features. She made a face at him.

“Why did you bring me here? To boast?” He ignored her comment. 

“I thought you might appreciate this place a bit more than others. Also, I’m extending you the invitation to use whatever weapons you like, granted you clean them and put them back after you use them,” he answered with a smile. 

“Are you serious?” she asked, fingering the hilt of a rather beautiful blade.

“Not at all,” he answered sarcastically.

“Oh shut up,” she replied with a playfully nudge to his arm.

“Would you like to spar?” he asked conversationally.

“You remember what happened the last time I crossed blades with you? You practically killed me,” she reminded him, taking the sword down from its mount on the wall. “But sure. Why not?” 

Kai slinked by and through the door with a new sword in her hand, knowing Brendan would trail behind her.

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Brendan followed Kai out of the armory grabbing another plain broad sword that hung on the wall next to him. 

“Let’s go to the sparring courts. You won’t be able to slip on gravel over there.” He eyed her teasingly.

She looked back at him, a glare of playful revenge in her eyes. 

“I swear, Brendan, if you so much as nick me, I’ll disarm you so fast you won’t know what hit you.”

“I look forward to it with pleasure, my lady,” he replied, bowing his head in mock reverence.