Read Online Resistance (Ilyon Chronicles Book 1) by Jaye L. Knight - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jaye L. Knight
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match wore on, his expression grew more focused, and Kyrin pushed every advantage she had. Soon, they both panted with exertion. Kyrin’s forearms and shoulder muscles burned, but she never let up on her attack.
A good several minutes later, their staves came together in an unspoken draw.
“Very well done,” Collin told her, his grin resurfacing. “You’ve become a master since our first lessons.”
Kyrin couldn’t keep from matching his grin. “Thank you. You taught me well, but you could’ve had me during the match.”
“Could I have?” Mischief sparked in his eyes at his feigned ignorance.
“I lost my balance, and you hesitated.”
Collin leaned on his staff. “What can I say? I’m a gentleman.”
Kyrin chuckled lightly. Ridiculous charmer. “Thank you, sir, for an excellent workout.”
“Any time.”
Kyrin tucked her staff under her arm and reached to loosen the laces of her bracers on her way toward the supply building. She didn’t dare check the faces of the other girls. When she did look up, Kaden waited at the edge of the field. Moisture glistened on his forehead and darkened his shirt. His expression bordered on a scowl as he stared past her. She glanced over her shoulder. Collin now mingled with the other girls, to their near-swooning delight.
When Kyrin moved past, Kaden followed.
“He likes you, you know.”
“Collin?” She shook her head in dismissal. “He likes most girls over sixteen at Tarvin Hall.” Half the reason Kaden couldn’t stand him.
“Do you like him?”
Kyrin gave a short laugh. “Kaden, really, you know me better than that.”
He cast one more suspicious glance back at Collin.
“And anyway, what would you do if I said yes? Threaten him?”
Kaden’s mouth opened, but Kyrin held up her hand. “Never mind, don’t answer that.” It would probably be more than a threat considering Collin’s cockiness.
After depositing the equipment in the supply building, Kyrin and Kaden walked back to the Hall. When they entered, they met Master Zocar.
“It’s about time for afternoon worship,” he announced. He eyed their sweaty, rumpled uniforms. “After you’ve changed, join us.”
Kyrin stiffened.
When neither replied, his eyes narrowed a bit. “It’s been at least a year since I’ve seen you two at the temple.”
Kyrin’s heart beat much harder than she wanted it to. Why did her mind have to go so blank? Before she could formulate a reply, Kaden spoke up in a calm and casual manner.
“We can pray and worship much better when we’re alone and it’s quiet. It’s distracting with so many people. We notice too much around us. Especially Kyrin.”
Master Zocar’s eyes slid between them, and he didn’t speak for a long moment. Kyrin held his gaze steadily whenever it turned to her and resisted the intense urge to swallow.
At last, he nodded. “All right, but I expect you to spend the next hour in prayer and reflection.”
“Yes, sir,” Kaden responded, almost too dutifully.
Master Zocar gave them one final semi-stern look and strode away.
Once he was far down the hall, Kyrin blew out a sigh, glad Kaden had taken over.
“So how much longer do you think we can hide the fact we’re followers of King Elôm?” he murmured.
Kyrin shook her head and her shoulders drooped. “I think the bigger question is what will happen when we’re found out?”
N ight had fallen by the time the men finished with the pickerin. Rayad helped Aldor close up the barn, and all three of them stopped at the well on their way to the cabin. Tyra followed, licking her lips contentedly while her sides bulged with pickerin meat. Once cleaned of blood and hair, the men went inside. The savory smell of beef soup and fresh bread greeted them, and they found Kalli bent over at the hearth. She hummed a happy tune as she stirred the contents of the steaming cast-iron pot hanging over the flames of the large fireplace.
She straightened. “I bet you men
A good several minutes later, their staves came together in an unspoken draw.
“Very well done,” Collin told her, his grin resurfacing. “You’ve become a master since our first lessons.”
Kyrin couldn’t keep from matching his grin. “Thank you. You taught me well, but you could’ve had me during the match.”
“Could I have?” Mischief sparked in his eyes at his feigned ignorance.
“I lost my balance, and you hesitated.”
Collin leaned on his staff. “What can I say? I’m a gentleman.”
Kyrin chuckled lightly. Ridiculous charmer. “Thank you, sir, for an excellent workout.”
“Any time.”
Kyrin tucked her staff under her arm and reached to loosen the laces of her bracers on her way toward the supply building. She didn’t dare check the faces of the other girls. When she did look up, Kaden waited at the edge of the field. Moisture glistened on his forehead and darkened his shirt. His expression bordered on a scowl as he stared past her. She glanced over her shoulder. Collin now mingled with the other girls, to their near-swooning delight.
When Kyrin moved past, Kaden followed.
“He likes you, you know.”
“Collin?” She shook her head in dismissal. “He likes most girls over sixteen at Tarvin Hall.” Half the reason Kaden couldn’t stand him.
“Do you like him?”
Kyrin gave a short laugh. “Kaden, really, you know me better than that.”
He cast one more suspicious glance back at Collin.
“And anyway, what would you do if I said yes? Threaten him?”
Kaden’s mouth opened, but Kyrin held up her hand. “Never mind, don’t answer that.” It would probably be more than a threat considering Collin’s cockiness.
After depositing the equipment in the supply building, Kyrin and Kaden walked back to the Hall. When they entered, they met Master Zocar.
“It’s about time for afternoon worship,” he announced. He eyed their sweaty, rumpled uniforms. “After you’ve changed, join us.”
Kyrin stiffened.
When neither replied, his eyes narrowed a bit. “It’s been at least a year since I’ve seen you two at the temple.”
Kyrin’s heart beat much harder than she wanted it to. Why did her mind have to go so blank? Before she could formulate a reply, Kaden spoke up in a calm and casual manner.
“We can pray and worship much better when we’re alone and it’s quiet. It’s distracting with so many people. We notice too much around us. Especially Kyrin.”
Master Zocar’s eyes slid between them, and he didn’t speak for a long moment. Kyrin held his gaze steadily whenever it turned to her and resisted the intense urge to swallow.
At last, he nodded. “All right, but I expect you to spend the next hour in prayer and reflection.”
“Yes, sir,” Kaden responded, almost too dutifully.
Master Zocar gave them one final semi-stern look and strode away.
Once he was far down the hall, Kyrin blew out a sigh, glad Kaden had taken over.
“So how much longer do you think we can hide the fact we’re followers of King Elôm?” he murmured.
Kyrin shook her head and her shoulders drooped. “I think the bigger question is what will happen when we’re found out?”
N ight had fallen by the time the men finished with the pickerin. Rayad helped Aldor close up the barn, and all three of them stopped at the well on their way to the cabin. Tyra followed, licking her lips contentedly while her sides bulged with pickerin meat. Once cleaned of blood and hair, the men went inside. The savory smell of beef soup and fresh bread greeted them, and they found Kalli bent over at the hearth. She hummed a happy tune as she stirred the contents of the steaming cast-iron pot hanging over the flames of the large fireplace.
She straightened. “I bet you men
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