The Alpha King Marked Me. I Still Haven't Told Him I'm A Girl novel Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Eleven

The crack of wood fills the training yard, swords colliding together in a flurry of motion. Bryn grunts, twisting his sword around mine, sweat glistening on his brow.

"You’re holding back," he growled and meets me in a fiery blow. One I easily deflect. "That won’t fly in the next drill."

It’s not that I want to hold back.

It has been a week since I killed that Ebonheart monster and nearly got executed for saving the prince’s life. The news has spread like wildfire and I’ve had more run ins with the soldiers than I’ve ever had in the months I’ve spent here.

They want to know how the beasts fight, what they look like and most of all, they ask how I did it.

That’s the problem. I don’t know how. And something strange has been happening to me.

I can run for longer now without stopping for a breath. I last longer in the pit without breaking a sweat. I barely notice the time pass when I train alone and when I’m through, the punching bags are busted, the swords broken.

Yesterday, when the Quartermaster had paired me up with Leander, just to put me in my place, I had punched Leander once.

And knocked him out cold.

After which I spent the entire night staring at my tiny, calloused hands, wondering what the hell was happening to me.

Everyone has given me a wide berth, but Bryn seems not to care that they all think I’m some kind of monster.

Wiping sweat from my cheek, I circle him slowly, feet silent. "You don’t think I could hurt you?"

Bryn laughs, holding up his sword with both hands. "You’re the only one of us who has killed them. I’d be a fool to let my fear and pride get in the way of learning how to live. I have a mate and daughter to return home to and I’ll do whatever it takes to make it back. So, teach me, Val. Teach me how to be as strong as you are."

I blink, surprised. Never in my life would I have imagined those words being spoken to me.

"Ironfang!" A shout rings out from the yard’s entrance. Master Sebastian.

"Get into trouble again?" Bryn asks.

"Hell if I know," I grumble.

I jog over to the perpetually scowling man who doesn’t acknowledge my short bow before leading me across to the tower. "Is there a..." My voice trails off as I note the trove of men stomping out of the tower in full gear. Armour, shields, swords, staffs, helmets. Their faces are dark and their voices carry as they hum the war song. "What’s happening?"

Master Sebastian’s answer is an irritated grunt. "The Demon Alpha King is on the move once more. An entire village was slaughtered in Grimrose."

I stifle a gasp. Most of our food comes from Grimrose. If the enemy takes control of that area, our food supply will be cut off and Silvermoor might find herself under a siege.

"All those men will fight him?"

I am casted a rather grim look. "What have you heard of the Dark King?"

Recounting the prince’s words from training, I repeat, "Of all his people, his curse wears the strongest. They say for every one of them, there are ten of us, but multiply that by another ten, and you just might be lucky enough to bring down the King."

"Do you understand what that means?" he says, taking me up the familiar flight of stairs. The blood and bodies have been scrubbed off the stones and if I hadn’t witnessed any of it myself, I wouldn’t have guessed that an entire calvary was wiped out right here.

I shake my head. "I thought it merely a myth."

"Not nearly," is all the response the Quartermaster spares me before taking me up a higher level of the tower.

There are more guards up here--royal guards--around every corner, and their gazes follow our every move, hands resting on their swords like they await a threat.

We come to a stop in front of a chamber. A pair of guards man the door and the bigger of the two push it open.

The chamber beyond is warm with golden lamplight, books and scrolls scattered across a large desk, wolf pelt and weapons lining the walls beside the shelves and the air smells like herbs and...him.

The thought is hilarious enough to make me snort and both men turn their gazes to me immediately, one curious, the other disdainful. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

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