The Tiger Within 448 Within The Maze

"I have hand to hand combat today, you need to go meet with the Caravan and find out who your new guards are and stick to them." Clovis told her with a easy smile. Kyera raised a brow and then followed it with a chuckle.

"Dear, once Talis has put together a guard he will come to me. Me going to them is a insult. I will be in archery practice." Kyera replied as she finished the meat on her plate and sipped the tea her favorite hand maid had prepared.  He sighed shaking his head.

"I still have a lot to learn about your culture, but why archery?" He asked curiously. He had yet to see a single archer among her clan. Well there were two or three but he didn't know them by name. Kyera sighed, her face darkening slightly, well aware of what he was thinking. There was sadness in her eyes.

"Our archers are our first defense. If one is to successfully lay siege to the Bazaar not one archer may survive." Kyera explained as she wiped her mouth and stared down at her plate. That off handed comment told him everything he needed to know, and likewise reminded him he was being cruel. He didn't mean to be, but his question ripped open old wounds that he didn't know how to handle.

"I am s…" a finger covered his lips before he could get the words out. Her golden eyes met his, still laced with sadness but also serious.

"You don't get to apologize for their sins. The Dark ones made those words cruel, not you. Don't you dare ask forgiveness from your wife and mate when none is required." Kyera spoke softly so the guards could not hear but each word burned with intensity. It was something that took his breath away, and he settled for a light kiss to her finger tip. She smiled and pulled her hand away.

"Alright, love. Shall I escort you to the training grounds before I go to my own teacher?" He asked and she nodded, setting her napkin onto the table before standing up. Clovis offered her his arm, which she took and walked with him toward the practice field.

"Are you planning to train with Lazren?" Kyera asked, glancing at him from the side. Clovis sensed something was odd about the way she said that. It was almost as though there was another meaning to her words, a light unease in his chest.

"Yes, he is the only hand to hand teacher I have on hand." Clovis replied carefully. Kyera smiled sneakily, trying to control her grin from getting too wide.

"I thought you might say that. However, I think he will be a bit busy since he's tailing me constantly." Kyera pointed out and Clovis stopped for a moment. She was right, there was no way Lazren was going to leave her unprotected, or with palace guards. He didn't trust their abilities or willingness to protect her should they find shes a s.h.i.+fter.

"That is true. Perhaps I can't train today. Oh well, I can brush up on lore and history." He offered with a bit of relief. In all honesty, he didn't look forward to their daily tussles. It didn't feel like he was learning much, all they did was fight over and over but there was hardly any learning being done. He just had to figure it out for himself, but he didn't understand the strategy to begin with.

"You might be able to. Come with me." Kyera altered their course and took him toward a hedge, it was the start of a maze. He wasn't quite sure where they were going within the maze. It seemed to twist and twirl around them, but Kyera knew the path. As they got closer to what he suspected to be the center he heard the obvious sounds of a fight. The primal growls and grunts of two men locked in combat.