“Show me your tongue, my lord,” she said. “I didn’t know it was forked.”
Barrow offered her a fleeting smile. “The man outstepped his place, as he has a habit of doing too often. He needed to be reminded of it . . . again.”
A tightness overtook Ember’s chest. Barrow had been lying. For a brief moment she’d believed that the most feared warrior of Conatus had chosen her as his apprentice, proving beyond any doubt that she was destined for a life with the Guard, but it had only been a ruse. She turned away, not wanting the others to see her cheeks burn. By giving her back to the others, Ember was now facing Alistair. He watched her face and his eyes narrowed. He stepped beside her, leaning down to whisper.
“What ails you?”
Every buried fear, nagging doubt planted beneath her skin by her family surfaced. If Barrow doubted her place among the Guard, perhaps she didn’t belong here. What if her father was right? She couldn’t bear it.
Alistair touched her shoulder, drawing her slightly apart from the others and peering at her face in concern. “Ember?”
Ember managed to choke out her confession. “Barrow didn’t want me.”
Something about her words made Alistair stiffen.
“Of course not,” he said. “And why would you desire otherwise? He’s too brutal to guide an initiate. And it’s better for you to be trained by a woman—Sorcha has been wanting a squire, and no man would have a woman try to teach him swordplay.”
His words stung Ember more than Barrow’s lie. Did he think so little of her? When he’d given her a sword and taught her to use it, had it only been in fun?
Sorcha was still laughing. “You’re caught in your own web now, my friend. You’ll have to take her on or her father will cry foul.”
“Surely you jest.” Alistair snorted. “Barrow has no call for an apprentice.”
“Do you know me so well, boy?” Barrow’s eyebrows went up.
Alistair scowled at the word boy, but he inclined his head in reluctant acknowledgment of Barrow’s station. “Forgive me, my lord. Ember is a dear friend. I only spoke out of concern for her well-being.”
“Do you fear I would offer an initiate of the Guard ill treatment?” Barrow asked.
“I—” Alistair struggled, glancing around the room to find all gazes upon him. “I meant no insult. Sorcha had claimed Ember, so it seems right that she would be the one to train her.”
“Politics outweigh intent,” Sorcha said, smiling at Alistair. “You’ll find that is often the case, even when it comes to the Guard. We value our swords, but we know they can’t always win the day.”
“Bearing in mind that young Alistair is still serving as squire to Kael, I have decided it follows that I should lay claim to this girl,” Barrow said. “We’ll complete your training together.”
Alistair’s face darkened as he listened to Barrow. “You’ll remain Ember’s mentor, then?”
Ember couldn’t understand Alistair’s glowering when she was ready to shout for joy. Not only was she going to join the Guard, but her life would be training side by side with her best friend.
Barrow was still considering Alistair’s statement. He turned to Ember. She straightened up, hoping that all traces of embarrassment had vanished from her face.
“If the girl will have me,” he said, “I would be honored to train her.”
She started at his words. Accept the training of Barrow Hess? What madness would keep her from agreeing? Well, what madness other than an instinctive fear of Barrow’s ferocious reputation. She wondered if she could make it through a round on the practice field against him. But he’d just said it meant that she and Alistair would train together. Having Kael’s laughter and Alistair’s friendship to offset Barrow’s stern demeanor would be reassuring as she found her place among the Guard. No doubt she’d have to endure an inordinate amount of teasing from Kael and Alistair, but it would be worth it.
Barrow continued, keeping his gaze on Ember though she thought he spoke for Alistair’s benefit. “Ember comes from a landed family with great influence. Even the Circle must sometimes concede to the will of the nobles. We cannot show signs of doubt before them. If Edmund Morrow objects to women fighting in the Guard, it will only fortify his case should we place Ember in Sorcha’s care. If he were to take his complaint to the other nobles, it could cause great trouble.”
Alistair nodded, but he glared at Barrow before casting his gaze on Sorcha.
“I agree,” Sorcha said. “I withdraw my claim on the girl. Let her be trained by Barrow.”
Barrow drew his sword, laid the blade flat on his palms, and dropped to one knee before Ember. Her blood roared in her veins.
“To fight, to lead, and to teach are the roles of the Guard,” he said, holding her in his gaze. “The first two obligations I have fulfilled. I am indebted to my order to meet the last. I have no great knowledge to impart nor do I believe myself a wise teacher, but it would be my honor to guide you.”
Ember reached out, letting her fingertips rest on the flat of the blade. “And I would be honored to serve you, my lord.”
Behind her, Ember heard Alistair expel a hissing breath.
Kael chortled. “Barrow, my friend, you know how to stir up a hornet’s nest. Wait till Father Michael hears about this!”
Barrow rose, nodding at Ember before flashing a smile at Kael. “Father Michael speaks well of peacemakers. Let him now make peace.”
While the knights of Conatus swarmed around her, Ember accepted their hearty congratulations and words of welcome with forced smiles. She couldn’t help but wonder what sort of battle her call to the Guard would spark.
SEVEN
CIAN SAT ON THE EDGE of the bed while Eira finished binding her hair up and then fastened her heavy riding cloak.
“You’ll be missed at the feast,” Cian said.
“The nobles won’t care if one of the weird sisters fails to appear at dinner,” Eira said.
Cian winced at her sister’s use of the foul name that dogged their steps. Catching sight of Cian’s frown, Eira laughed coldly.
“You know I speak the truth.”
“Even so.” Cian shrugged. “You mustn’t let them chase you away.”
“They aren’t chasing me anywhere,” Eira said. “It’s a night of power. We need someone to keep an eye on the villages in the glen in case an aspiring sorcerer attempts to draw on that power.”