By the Sword - By Sara Flower Page 0,11

and then continued to work on different maneuvers.

“I’m sorry for the loss of Cardamon. I know how you loved it there.”

“We’re going to get it back,” said Talya.

Talya took a run and kicked her right foot high in the air.

“I saw you fighting that Malinorian commander before you disappeared into the woods. I was very impressed with your skill, Talya. You were fighting against Ittonifer’s nephew, Jalarn. You have become an excellent knight.”

Talya’s eyes widened. Her father had actually just complimented her.

“That would explain why the brute had been impossible to beat then,” said Talya.

Ittonifer was an expert swordsman. Jalarn had no doubt received his training from him.

“I’ve decided on who I’m going to take with me to Malinor,” he said.

“And?”

“You’ll find out shortly.”

Thousands of knights and soldiers swarmed onto the training field like hungry flies. Talya was almost afraid to hope that her father would take her on the mission. It was the very adventure that she needed to occupy her mind.

“Attention, soldiers!” shouted General Edandir.

The soldiers lined up according to rank. Talya lined up with the knights.

“Tomorrow, six exceptional knights will travel to Malinor with me. When I call your name, please stand beside me.”

“The first knight that I am going to call out is Sir Tanel.”

Tanel stepped out of his line and walked over to his new general.

Talya smiled. He was the perfect choice.

“Next, Sirs Timlin and Pori.”

Two muscular, dark-haired swordsmen, twins, emerged from the crowd. Talya recognized them right away. They were about ten years older than she. She had learned how to hold a sword properly from Timlin. She smiled as they bickered quietly with one another on their way over to Edandir.

“Sir Endil, please step forward.”

A formidable man in his mid-thirties, with the largest arms that Talya had ever seen, walked over and stood in between the twin brothers.

“Next, Sir Wenyn.”

Another young archer stepped forward. Talya was sure that he could not possibly be as good as Tanel.

There was only one more knight left to be called.

Talya bit her lip in anticipation. The suspense was driving her crazy.

“My final knight is Lady Talya.”

Talya exhaled and ran over to stand with the chosen group.

Tanel grinned at her and they hugged.

“We’re going to Malinor!” cried Talya.

She pushed away the irritation of being called last and relished in the fact that her father had finally recognized her for something.

*****

In the dimly lit library, Chrissa’s mind swam so much that she could barely focus on the old manuscript that she was reading. The words started to blur together on the page.

Annoyed, she set it down and stretched. She knew that her father was scheming to find her a husband, and the very idea provoked her to wrath.

Jalarn poured over a spell book at a desk next to hers. He was eating up everything that he could about witchcraft. It was no wonder. Chrissa figured that he would soon be deemed as her father’s left-hand man – the general of Malinor’s army.

Jalarn’s eyes traveled from the pages to her.

“What were you reading so intently over there?” asked Jalarn.

“Some theories behind spells that affect the mind,” said Chrissa.

“Interesting. I would like to see that when you are finished.”

“You can have it now. I can’t read anymore tonight.”

She walked over and handed him the thick book, which he eagerly took. He had so much to live for. Jalarn was highly favored by Ittonifer, which was something that Chrissa would never be.

“Jalarn, is it true that Cardamon and Sanctus have female knights?”

“Yes.”

“Did you fight against any of them?”

Jalarn cleared his throat and shrugged, keeping his eyes on the book.

Well, that is strange. Why didn’t he just answer me?

The heavy library door opened with a creak.

Naeshi walked in. His grey eyes rested upon Chrissa.

Not again.

Chrissa’s heart fluttered nervously at his intense gaze. There was no way to avoid him this time. The ruggedly handsome guard had started to notice her about a year ago, but, up until that moment, she had always been able to retreat from him. She had not expected to see him in the library of all places.

He looked over to where Jalarn sat.

“Commander Jalarn, you wouldn’t mind if I took your lovely cousin off your hands, would you?”

Jalarn’s deep green eyes studied the guard for a moment, but then he nodded.

Chrissa swallowed as she followed Naeshi out of the library. They walked in silence down the dimly lit hallway that led to the courtyard. His strong, deliberate gait was unnerving. She felt like a wisp next to him.

Outside, the