Page 2 of Journey to the Elderoak (Daughter of the Earth #2)

R aucous laughter echoed through the small dining quarters below deck as Casimir sat on the long wooden bench for dinner. Surrounded by dark wood, the space was lit with oil lamps along the walls, no windows to allow in natural light.

They had to eat in shifts since the space only fit a dozen crew members, give or take.

The two guards stationed outside the castle suite he shared with Ava, Pax and Zeph, had come along and now sat at the end of the table.

Half a dozen crew members took up the rest of the space, drinking and singing songs.

They’d been at sea five days now, with another five to go if all went according to plan. Each morning, Casimir supervised Ava’s training. Being at sea didn’t mean they could stop their regimen and he’d gotten creative with her workout routine to ensure she continued to gain back her strength.

Raine hadn’t stayed the night in their room once, rekindling his past fling with Gisela, and Casimir slept on the floor without a word. He could tell Ava felt guilty about it but when she volunteered to trade places last night, he had refused. He would never let her sleep on the floor.

“So, how do you like being at sea?” Zeph asked Ava from across the table, her blue hair bright against her pale complexion.

“I love it,” Ava said from beside him. “The ocean is peaceful.”

“No issues with seasickness?”

Ava shook her head. “Not like this wimp.” She nudged Casimir with her elbow. He tried not to show how affected he was by just that little touch, clearing his throat.

“You get seasick, general?” Zeph asked.

“I have to take a daily tonic,” he grumbled, sipping his ale.

“Cas hates being at sea,” Raine blurted as he set his fork down. “We offered to send someone in his place, but he said, ‘wherever Ava goes, I go,’ or some bullshit,” he finished in his gruffest voice.

“What does that mean?” Pax said, looking in between Ava and Casimir, the orc’s dark eyes full of curiosity.

Casimir tensed. “It means I’m responsible for keeping up with her training.”

“Sure, it does,” said Raine.

He stood from his seat, shaking his head and mumbling under his breath, as he left the dining quarters and ascended the stairs to the deck. He stepped into the night and made his way to the railing, leaning on his elbows and staring at the vast black ocean reflecting the innumerable stars overhead.

Why did he insist on going everywhere Ava went? Was it truly because of his role as her mentor? That was part of it. But the truth was he wanted to be near her. Needed to.

Someone approached from behind, but he didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. He’d recognize the smell of Ava’s lavender soap anywhere. She always smelled so fucking good .

Ava stopped beside him, staring out at the view. “The ocean is beautiful.”

“It is.”

They remained silent, listening to the soothing sound of the waves.

Sporadic laughter erupted from below as the sailors drank the night away, trading stories and singing more of their seafaring songs.

Ava was standing so close to him, their arms were almost touching, but neither of them moved or acknowledged the fact.

“Too bad you get seasick,” she continued.

“I’ll be fine.”

She shot him an annoyed look. “You know, you’ve been really irritable the last couple of days. Like extra Casimir-y.”

He turned toward her. “Extra Casimir-y? That’s a new one.”

“It seemed to fit. Why have you been so grouchy since we boarded the ship?”

He cleared his throat and searched her face. Her stunning green eyes were lit by the moonlight, framed by full lashes matching her strawberry blonde hair.

“Just a little back pain from sleeping on the floor,” he said. “I’m old, remember?”

She crossed her arms and looked up at him. “Right…”

A strand of hair came loose from her braid in the breeze, and it took every bit of strength not to reach for it and tuck it behind her ear.

He was grouchy because he had to sleep alone in a room with her, his asshole best friend leaving them behind.

With the woman who’d been driving him mad since the day they met.

Who he wanted so fiercely it was as if he couldn’t breathe when she was near.

Ava shifted on her feet. “You can—I mean, if you want…sleep in the bed with me,” she blurted.

His eyes widened as he went still. Dammit, he wanted to.

Of course he did. But when he’d been assigned to train her, he set boundaries for himself.

While he flirted with her on occasion, he wasn’t going to make a move.

Not yet. It was too soon and there was too much going on with the impending war.

It would be a distraction for both of them.

But there was that fucking voice again in the back of his mind. The one that always seemed to laugh at his efforts to resist her. Reminding him it would be futile. That fate had other plans.

Ignoring it, he whispered hoarsely, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Right,” she said, fidgeting with her braid. “You’re right.”

Casimir studied her for a moment longer before clearing his throat. “Well…goodnight,” he said as he turned and headed to the cabin, cursing himself the entire way.

Ava groaned as she leaned over, hands on her knees, after finishing her morning laps. She closed her eyes, welcoming the breeze as it brought a tinge of cool air to her sweat-soaked face.

Steps sounded as Casimir approached, stopping before her.

“I can’t…believe…you’re making me…run on the ship,” she panted as she opened her eyes.

“I had to ensure we took advantage of the stairs.”

“I hate those stairs,” she said, rising.

“Wait until we get to Saxumdale. Everything is carved into the mountain. Stairs everywhere.”

“That means you’ll carry me, right?” She grinned.

“No,” he said, chuckling.

She scoffed and tried to shove him playfully, but he was so strong he didn’t even move an inch with her effort. Instead, he snatched her wrist and tugged her closer.

“Nice try,” he said, eyes roving over her face. “You must do better than that if you mean to push me over.”

“We haven’t started hand to hand combat yet,” she whispered. “Maybe you should teach me.”

He leaned closer, lips hovering near her ear. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

A shiver went down her spine as he leaned back and looked down at her, a challenge in his eyes. She swallowed, unable to break his stare, as he watched her a moment longer before letting go and turning away.

“Alright, let’s learn,” he called over his shoulder as he strode to the straw mats laid out on the deck.

“Wait…now?” She hurried to catch up.

Casimir stood in the center of the makeshift ring and turned to face her, tying his hair back with a leather strip. “Yes, now.”

Ava joined him in the ring, shifting on her feet.

Why was she so nervous? Probably because the very large, very attractive and sometimes flirty general of her kingdom’s armies was about to get more hands on than they had so far in the last six weeks of her training.

Sure, he coached her on the sidelines through the obstacle course and taught her how to wield a sword, but this was different.

Shaking out her arms, she rolled her neck back and forth. “Okay, what do I do?”

“Try to punch me.”

“I don’t really know how to throw a decent punch.”

“I figured, but I need to see how you do it so I can fix your technique.”

She steadied herself. Pulling her arm back, she shot her fist forward, aimed at Casimir’s chest. He caught her hand, freezing her punch in the air.

“That was worse than I expected it to be.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Now, let’s fix your arm position.

You need to keep your wrist straight or you’ll break it.

” He lifted her arm and adjusted it, holding her elbow at a ninety-degree angle with her forearm parallel to the ground.

“Punch like this.” He moved her arm forward, keeping everything aligned. “Try it,” he said as he stepped back.

She punched the air several times, practicing the move. Despite the muscle she’d gained the last couple months, it felt awkward and weak.

“Better, but it still needs work. Now, you need to adjust your stance.” He walked around and came up behind her, placing his hands on her hips, and she tried to ignore the way her body heated at his touch.

And the way his fingers dug into her hip bones with the subtlest pressure. And the way he smelled. And…

“Ava, are you listening?”

“Yep!” Her voice came out higher pitched than she’d intended. “I’m an excellent listener. Your best student.”

“Mmm hmm,” he said, giving her the tiniest squeeze as if he could read her mind.

“Pay attention. Place your feet shoulder width apart, like when you’re wielding your sword.

Put your foot slightly forward, the one on the same side as the arm you’ll punch with.

” She did as he instructed. “You’ll face your opponent at a slight angle.

Keep your fists at chin height and your elbows close to your body. ”

“Okay,” Ava said, her voice coming out hoarse.

“Now throw a punch when I tell you to. Keep your core tight and rotate your hips. Ready?”

She prepared herself.

“Now.” Ava punched the air again, Casimir turning her hips in time with her strike. “Again.”

She repeated the motion several times, Casimir not releasing her as he coached her through the moves. Once she had the movement down, he let go and walked back to face her again.

“Punch me as hard as you can,” he instructed .

Ava balked. “Where?”

“Here,” he pointed to his stomach.

“Uhh…”

“You can’t hurt me,” he said with a smirk.

“Rude.”

She frowned but he only shrugged. “Just being honest. Punch me.”

“Alright.” She shook out her arms and resumed the stance.

“Stop hesitating and punch me, princess.”

“Okay okay.” She launched her fist at Casimir’s abs.

He didn’t even flinch when her hit landed.

She looked at him, smiling broadly down at her, his eyes lit by the morning sun.

She always forgot how tall he was until they were close like this.

At a curvy five foot nine, she wasn’t short or small, but Casimir was a giant.

At least half a foot taller than her—likely more.

And he was large. Broad shoulders and his body made of muscle; he dwarfed her.

“That was weak. Punch me as hard as you can.”

She repeated the gesture, but he remained still as if nothing had even touched him.

“Oh, come on. I know you’re stronger than that.”

She let out a frustrated sigh and this time put all her weight into the punch. It landed in the center of Casimir’s stomach, and he released a small grunt.

“Better?” she asked, backing away.

“That might actually leave a tiny bruise,” he said.

“Oh, you poor baby.”

He chuckled. “Now try to punch me in the face. I’m going to show you how to dodge it and take someone down.”

Ava’s fist flew through the air, but faster than she could comprehend, Casimir ducked, swept her legs out from under her and had her on her back, straddling her. And he’d done it without knocking the breath from her lungs.

“How did you do that?” She gasped.

“I’ll show you.”