Page 22 of Red Demon (Oria #1)

Warning

I was a much better swordsman than a staff fighter, which is why I practiced with a staff that morning. The engraved wood and steel met Asher’s training blade with a satisfying crack. Sweat slicked my palms, the cool morning air sweet in my lungs.

On the edge of the clearing, a flicker of blue dress and brown skin caught my eye. Mira. My focus wavered for a split second, a fatal mistake. Asher’s sword found its mark with a solid whack on my shoulder.

Pain hitched my breath. “Ow!” I rubbed the sore spot.

Asher, his chest heaving, grinned at me. “Point.”

Mira waved, taking a seat at the bottom of a tree.

Asher turned and waved back. “You’re late, and you aren’t even dressed!” he called out, his voice echoing through the clearing. We both walked closer.

Mira crossed her arms under a navy blue shawl, amusement dancing in her eyes. “I said I’d come. I didn’t say I’d get bruised up! Show off a little more, will you?”

“Of course,” Asher said.

A flicker of intensity ignited in Asher’s gold-ringed eyes. He unsheathed his sword again, the polished metal gleaming in the dawn. “Ready, Brother?”

I welcomed every bit of his confidence as I took my stance. With a nod, he swung into an attack.

Asher tended to fight with measured tactics, defensive until he saw a wide opening and room for a strong finish. Today, his movements were a tornado of controlled severity, his blade curling with fierce precision. Strands of his brown and highlighted hair clung to the sweat on his forehead.

But he was just one man. Instinct kicked in as I felt my way around my least favorite weapon, and I meandered my way from defense to offense.

The engraved and reinforced staff met Asher’s blade, faster each time.

Every move I made, Asher countered with calculated fury.

I kept him at bay with the extended reach of my weapon, prodding him to overextend and falter.

A strange thrill shot through me as I deflected a vicious thrust. He evaded mine.

Adrenaline surged when his blade struck my armor—hard enough to bruise.

I flicked my eyes to Mira, who stood open-mouthed, captivated by the display.

Her eyes darted between us, following the dance.

I couldn’t help but feel a spark of appreciation for Asher’s renewed focus that day: my best match with him yet.

Sound joined motion. My muscles screamed in protest with each heavy blow, my breath coming in ragged gasps. But as usual, Asher’s movements slowed before I ran out of stamina.

Then he screwed up: I capitalized on his overextended lunge. With a swift flick of my wrist, I used the staff to disarm him, sending the sword clattering to the ground several feet away. Asher stumbled back, his face distorting. I lunged forward, thrusting my staff harmlessly at his chest.

“Point,” I announced, panting.

Asher lowered his hands, chest straining out his breaths. “Good fight, Brother.” A humorless grimace split his face.

Mira clapped, her face radiant. “That was incredible, both of you!” She rushed over to us. “Jesse, you were amazing! And Asher, well, you looked positively feral out there.”

A faint blush crept up Asher’s cheeks, but he schooled his expression. “I’ll strive for amazing over feral next time.”

I wasn’t sure what to do with that, or the frown I caught before he cleared it.

Galen yelled out the end of our practice. As we walked out of the clearing and down the road home, Mira sidled up next to me.

“Jesse, why did you approach the Chaeten-sa major? Do you know him?”

Asher looked between us, wiping his brow. “For the record, he gave my dahn the creeps yesterday.”

“Your dahn?” Mira said, wary.

“Not the magic that would demand a pledge to a temple,” I said. Even though no Attiq-ka were reincarnating anymore, the empire kept a strict eye on some of the power that ran in Asri families. The temple didn’t even bother to register Ash.

“I just know when someone means well, and when they don’t,” Asher said with a shrug.

“Ah,” Mira said, and I could see her sifting through questions as Asher wilted under her gaze. “That sounds like it could be a powerful advantage.”

Asher smiled and looked away.

After studying Asher in silence, Mira turned to me.

“Anyway, I suggest you listen to your brother. I know Mahakal is a war hero, so I will be careful with what I say here. He’s propositioned everyone I’ve brought with me from the capital.

Some more than once. Lila told me never to leave her alone with him ever again. ”

My stomach clenched at the memory of Mahakal’s grip on my shoulder, his unsettling gaze. I could find attraction for almost any soldier, but not him. After my first encounter with a Chaeten-sa, I guessed there was a primal gut repulsion there I’d never be able to talk myself out of.

I nodded, trying to keep my face blank. “Sounds about right. But he only asked me to join his unit.”

Mira shifted uncomfortably beside me. “I know it’s not my business, but you looked … troubled, darting away mid-dance like that. Lila was worried for you too.”

I couldn’t hold her gaze.

“What are you going to tell him?” Asher said, and the two of us shared a look.

“Nothing, yet. I’m still thinking it through.

” Even though I already thought of Mira as a friend, it didn’t mean I should burden her with things I’d gotten much better at hiding over the years.

I’d packed away so many memories from my old life that it didn’t always feel like mine.

Yet sometimes jagged bits of terror and confusion would float to the surface, flashing into my dreams each night.

“You approached him first,” Mira said. “Why?”

“I haven’t seen him in years now.”

But she saw through my light tone. “You lost someone in the Bend? Kin?”

I huffed. “Yep.”

Mira traced a hand on my arm, comforting. “It’s okay,” she said, her voice soft. “I won’t press more if this is difficult to talk about.” Her voice held a depth of empathy that I warmed to.

I looked into her eyes, her concern eroding my defenses. But I changed the subject as Ash started walking ahead. We caught up to him.

We reached the forge. Asher didn’t look back at us as he opened the door with a creak.

“I’ll go make breakfast while you talk,” he said, his voice devoid of its usual warmth. He glanced pointedly at Mira, then back at me. “Tell her everything, Jesse. She passed the dahn check with flying colors.” I watched him swallow.

“Nonsense Ash, we’ll help you with breakfast,” I followed him when he tried to outpace me up the stairs.

We talked about the dance lessons, which we’d committed to doing weekly.

I ladled out a grain porridge to which Ash scooped out nuts and berries, and Galen, seeing that we had a girl in the kitchen, took a bowl fast and made himself busy downstairs.

I knew he’d pry later, especially after Asher invited her to join us for breakfast anytime she wished.