“No,” Aren said firmly. “Change into sparring clothes.”
Anger flared in her chest. “I can’t.”
“Of course you can. The doctor said you can start moving around.”
“No, I mean there’s no point. I’ll never need to use a sword again. I’m just going to . . .” She trailed off. She had no idea what she was going to do.
“What? Stay in this room for the rest of your life?” He pointed to the clothes. “I think those will fit you. They’re what the guards wear, and a girl about your size helped me pick some out. So put them on.”
She crossed her arms over her chest.
“What? Do you want to see if I’ll strip you down and put the clothes on you myself? Don’t test me.”
She eyed him for a moment. He might have been serious.
She let out an annoyed breath. “Are you just going to stand there? Wait outside while I change.”
His lips twitched. “Fine, but if you’re not out in five minutes I’m coming in again.”
She let out an exaggerated sigh just for his benefit. He laughed as he left, closing the door behind him.
She changed her clothes first, and then sat down on the bed to put on the boots. They were plain and black, but inside the right one was padding that formed to the top of her foot. She stood and took a few steps forward. It felt a bit weird, but it was easier to stay balanced with something in the place where her toes used to be.
When she walked out of the bedroom, she found Aren leaning against the back of the chair in the sitting room.
“Do you even use a sword?” she asked.
“Not well, which is why I’m a good person to start with.”
“That makes me feel great.”
“Do you want me to go get Em? Because I’m sure she’d be happy to spar with you.”
Iria made a face at him, because they both knew she didn’t want to spar with Em. With the exception of Cas, Em was probably better than anyone in the castle with a sword. That sounded like a good way to humiliate herself.
Aren opened the door, and Iria hesitated for a moment. “You have to leave this room eventually,” he said. “No one is going to bite you.”
“You sure about that?”
“I’ve been playing cards with the guards. Trust me, if they’ve forgiven me, they don’t care about you.”
She was still skeptical, but she stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her. If Em and Aren and the rest of the Ruined roamed the castle freely, then she could too.
They walked down the hallway and turned a corner to the sparring rooms. Aren let Iria step into the room first, then he walked in and grabbed two dull sparring swords from the rack.
“No using your powers,” she said as he handed her one of the swords.
“Of course not.” He paused. “Even if you start to fall? I can stop you before you hit the ground.”
“No.”
“No powers, then.”
She shifted her weight from foot to foot, trying to get a feel for the boots. They were rubbing against her heels, but that would be the case with all new boots.
“We’ll start slow.” He shrugged. “I’m always slow, compared to you.”
She raised her sword. He raised his as well and stepped forward.
It only took two blows for Iria to lose her balance. She stumbled backward and landed on her butt, her sword skittering across the floor.
“Well that was pathetic,” she said.
“Then get up and try again.”
He said it kindly, and she was reminded of warrior training, four years ago. A trainer had screamed in her face to get up when she’d fallen once after hours of training. They would have immediately dismissed her for her current attitude.
She used her hands to push off the floor.
They went again, Iria almost poking him in the chest with the sword once, just before she stumbled forward. Aren shot his arm out, grabbing her around the waist before she fell. Her head hit his chest.
“You almost got me that time,” he said.
She looked up to see he was grinning. She extracted herself from his arms, her face warm. “You really are terrible with a sword.”
“I told you.
“Again,” he said, getting back into position.
She steadied herself for a moment, then swung her sword. She was a little slow as she tried to find her balance. The boot was better than she thought, the inserts at the toe of the right foot helping to steady her. It was a little painful, but she found herself steady on her feet much faster than expected.
She took a step back after she pointed her sword straight at Aren’s chest for a third time. “You want to start trying? You don’t have to go so slow.”
“Hey! This is me actually trying.”
She threw her head back with a genuine laugh. “Really?”
“Yes.”
She laughed again.
“I have no use for a sword,” he said with a hint of annoyance, but his lips twitched like he was trying not to smile.
“Sorry.”
“Sure you are. Do you want me to go get Em? She’s not slow.”
“Yes, actually.” She wasn’t going to get anywhere sparring with someone so slow, and the prospect of practicing with Em suddenly didn’t seem so scary.
“Really?”
He looked so happy that she couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “Yes. I need someone who actually challenges me.”
He darted out of the room like he was afraid she’d change her mind, and returned with Em a few minutes later.
“I heard that Aren’s so terrible even you can beat him,” Em said with a grin.
“Hey! Maybe she’s just really good,” Aren protested.
Em picked up Aren’s discarded sword. “She’s not bad, from what I remember.” Her eyes darted to Iria’s feet. “Should I take it a bit easy on you at first?”
Iria sighed. “Yes, unfortunately.”
She thought Em might make fun of her, but she just nodded. “Is he staying?” she asked, gesturing to Aren.
Iria glanced at him, and he shook his head before she had to ask. “No, I’m going. I’ll come get you later for dinner?” He said it as a question, and she smiled and nodded.
He left, closing the door behind him, and Iria turned to Em. She had an amused expression on her face.
“What?” Iria asked.
“He’s so awkward around you,” Em said, swinging her sword in a circle to warm up her arm. “It’s cute. Aren’s rarely awkward with anyone.”
Iria felt herself blush, and she didn’t step forward when Em did. Em lowered her sword, looking at her expectantly.
“I was wondering about something,” Iria said. “About me and Aren. Ruined only date and marry each other, until you, but you’re . . .” She trailed off, wondering if it was rude to say the word.
“Useless,” Em finished.
“Right. But Aren’s not. He’s the most powerful of all of you. I imagine he’ll be one of the Ruined representatives?”
Em nodded.
“Will it be a problem, if we . . . if we’re together?” Iria asked slowly. “Will they be angry? Will it cause problems for him?”
“No,” Em said immediately. “My mother thought that the Ruined should only marry each other, like all the Ruined before her, and all it did was weaken our power and reduce our numbers. I think it’s actually preferable that Aren’s chosen you. And I know I’m not the only one who will feel that way.”