"I would appreciate that," I reply, handing her the seeds. "The more I can do to help, the better. Maybe I'll stumble upon something useful."
Ulla nods in agreement, fingering the seeds as she studies me. There is something unreadable in her expression, then she uses her finger to draw a symbol in the dust on the ground.
“These are our letters,” she starts listing them and each of their sounds.
In the middle of repetition, a new Enduar woman appears at the mouth of the greenhouse. She seems familiar, and her hair is worn in a braid down her back. Her armor and grit-stained face showcase her as a miner.
“Time for defensive training,” the new woman says. I recognize her as one of the council members. The one mated to the woman with a baby.
Ulla smiles. “Svanna! We are learning to read Enduar.”
Svanna quirks an eyebrow. “Our reluctant queen? Learning the Enduar tongue?” She laughs and asks me directly, “Finally see us as real people after Tirin’s death?”
A pang of guilt and shame for my past thoughts and actions hits me in the chest. I find myself nodding fervently at Svanna's question.
"I was wrong," I admit.
Svanna regards me for a moment before nodding curtly. "Yes, you were. For that, you will be my fighting partner today."
With that, she turns on her heel and marches out of the mushroom house, leaving Ulla and me in silence.
My new friend grimaces. “It’s not a wise idea to keep her waiting," Ulla says, breaking the silence. "Shall we?"
I nod and rise to my feet, brushing the dirt off my pants. As we make our way out, I am surprised by how many Enduar warriors are gathered outside. They are all dressed in armor, carrying weapons and shields.
For a moment, I forget that I no longer fear the Enduares. They are a vision of their terrible reputation. Stories of trolls ravaging the battlefield are much easier to understand with singers bolstering the group with a dark, guttural song. I think of waking Teo from his nightmare. His silver hair scrambled around his face, agony painting the planes of his face deep purple.
Svanna stands at the front of the group, her armor and face painted in a fierce expression. She gestures for me to join her.
“Lady Estela finally joins us!” she says, turning to her troops. “Tell the group, small human. Have you ever held a weapon?”
Memories of when I stabbed Keksej cloud my mind. I swallow hard, trying to push past the fear rising in my chest. “I stabbed my old master,” I choke out when Svanna puts her hand on me.
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Interesting. Well, today, we'll teach you how to properly defend yourself. Let's get started.”
Svanna grabs a stone sword and hands it to me. I take it with shaking hands, feeling ill-equipped and helpless. But I remind myself that I'm here to learn, to be better.
We start slow, with basic defensive moves, but soon we're sparring back and forth, the sound of our swords clashing filling the air. Svanna is a skilled fighter, but I'm determined to keep up with her.
As we continue, my fear fades. The clashing of our swords and the sweat on my brow make me feel alive.
I think of Teo above me, looking down at me with dark eyes. Wanting me. I had been foolish not to lean into his touch then. When I spin and lunge, I think of him. Proving to him that I can live down in this mountain. Making him want me again.
For once, I'm not just surviving. It hurts that Mikal isn’t here to share it with me, but he will come soon. And when he does… this cave will be our home.
Who would have known that I’d find my home with the monsters?
Chapter23
Obsidian
TEO
Liana sits on the table next to me, surrounded by the scrolls I’ve spent days picking off the shelves.
There’s a letter in Liana’s hands.
“We are overjoyed at your decision to invite us to your wedding, King Ma’Teo. We will arrive with your emissaries in four days’ time. Sincerely, King Arion,” she reads and looks at me. “This is good news.”