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Was this what love felt like? Something deep and almost painful at times inside his chest?

He’d had no one to show him what it should look like. If his parents had ever loved each other, that love had been long gone by the time he was old enough to remember. His mother had loved him. But had his father? His brother? Once, he’d thought they had. Now, he wasn’t sure.

He wanted his relationship with Melantha to be different than what he’d grown up witnessing. He wanted any children they might have to grow up with a better family. A loving family.

Could he manage it? Could she?

Rharreth tucked Melantha closer to his side, protecting her from the cold morning air. Last night gave him hope that she would fight for that future just as hard as he would.

FARRENDEL SPUN andblocked a strike from Iyrinder, then ducked behind the shield Julien held. Julien took Captain Merrick’s sword across his shield, striking out with his own sword.

Farrendel gripped the edge of Julien’s shield and used the leverage to launch himself up and over, pushing off from the shield as Julien gave it a shove upward.

Iyrinder twisted and propelled himself off the ground, but he was a second too slow. Farrendel kicked aside his sword, then caught his wrist on his way down. He hooked a foot behind Iyrinder’s knee and took him to the ground.

Iyrinder rolled before Farrendel could pin him, and Farrendel could not pursue him since Captain Merrick was swinging his sword at Farrendel’s head.

Farrendel raised a sword to block, then rolled to put himself behind Julien and his shield once again.

Julien grunted as he blocked Captain Merrick’s swing and Iyrinder’s leap. He stabbed toward Iyrinder but Iyrinder twisted out of the way, stumbling for just a moment.

But the moment was enough for Farrendel. He launched off the ground, using Julien’s shoulder for leverage. He planted a solid kick to Iyrinder’s chest, and Iyrinder fell heavily to the ground. Farrendel did not let him recover and this time placed a foot on his chest and a sword to his throat.

With his other sword, Farrendel stabbed toward Captain Merrick, sending him off balance as he tried to block both Farrendel and Julien.

Julien shoved Captain Merrick farther off balance with his shield and leveled his sword at Captain Merrick’s chest.

Captain Merrick shook his head and huffed something like a laugh between his panting breaths. “Now that Prince Farrendel has his strength back, the two of you are tough to beat, even when he doesn’t use his magic.”

“I am not yet entirely at full strength. And my flips were still off.” Farrendel released Iyrinder and sheathed his swords.

Captain Merrick snorted as he rolled to his feet. “Glad to know we’ll just get walloped even worse here in another week or two.”

Iyrinder stood and brushed himself off. “It is to be expected when fighting Laesornysh.”

Not so expected, after what Farrendel had been through. But with his strength and balance returning, he might eventually feel like Laesornysh again.