The Treason Blade (Battle for Alsaar Book 1) by Jenny Rebecca Keech

memories are not what they used to be. Would you care to
remind me, Ishar?” he said, his voice deceptively soft.
    Ishar felt
her heartbeat start to race in excitement. She walked over to him and lightly
ran her fingers over the wood he leaned against. She watched the movement of
her fingers as she answered nonchalantly, “The Haaldyn you fought must have
been showing kind consideration.” Ishar’s eyes flashed as she turned her head
and stared into his. “Trust me, Traevyn, match me, and I will ensure you never
forget your impression of a Haaldyn warrior. I will make certain it is
imprinted forever on your mind.”
    Traevyn’s
smile was feral. He leaned in close. “What shall we use?” He asked, his voice a
low rumble.
    Her nose
flared. Ishar could smell the scent of damp air and woodland from the hunt on
him. She narrowed her eyes at his close distance. “Swords or
perhaps fighting daggers?”
    Traevyn
raised an eyebrow. “Fighting daggers are best used when your opponent does not
outweigh you to such an extent. You would have to get in close.” His mouth
brushed her ear. “That could be dangerous.”
    Ishar laughed
softly and stepped away. She leaned back against the wood and crossed her arms.
“So, the choice is fighting daggers. I see you have a lesson coming the hard
way.”
    Traevyn
shrugged. “I think I will prove you wrong. However, fighting daggers it is. We
will have plenty of time later for me to instruct you in swordsmanship, after I
have instructed you in the proper use and time for daggers.”
    His tone held
an arrogance that was unlike Traevyn. She knew he was purposely baiting her but
Ishar could not help but feel her blood begin to pound hot within her. Her
Haaldyn training kept her calm. “Shall we see then?” She asked impassively.
    Traevyn
turned away. “Follow me.”
    He made his
way out of the horse shelter and to the area between the hay storage and the
fortress. It was the training area of the Raanan warriors. Ishar took deep
breaths to calm her breathing and prepare her for the match. Excitement flowed
through her. She wondered at Traevyn’s skill, the way he bore himself spoke of
the confidence of a seasoned warrior. Ishar wondered what it would be like to
face Traevyn as an opponent. She was about to find out.
    Traevyn faced
her once they were in the training area. “We are not wearing full gear. We must
be careful if we use true blades. If you wish, I can acquire dulled training
blades.”
    Ishar arched
an eyebrow at him as she slid off her sword and set it on the ground off to one
side. “I am not a fresh recruit. I understand the risks, Traevyn. True blades
are fine with me.” As she spoke, she drew the blades from their scabbards at
her calves. She bent her stance and knees ever so slightly and kept her weight
on the balls of her feet for quickness as she readied herself for Traevyn’s
attack. Her padded top and burda would prevent any deep cuts from occurring,
though she wished for a moment that she had wisely strapped on her forearm
guards.
    Traevyn
pulled his own blades out. He balanced his stance and faced her. Once more
Ishar sensed the calmness that flowed through Traevyn and marveled at his
control. When he moved she nearly missed it but met the arching blades squarely
before deflecting them down and away to her left. Traevyn spun and arched a
right hook toward the back of her right leg. She knew what he had planned. He
had hoped to pull her leg forward and knock her backwards and off balance. The
true art of fighting with daggers was having the knowledge that grappling was
necessary to winning. An opponent had to be willing to get in close to defeat
his enemy. Staying outside was playing it safe and there was no win in that.
    Ishar
recognized the move and went with it, letting her right leg flow forward as she
kept her full weight on the left. Once his right leg had passed, she brought
her right leg up, twisted slightly and kicked out, catching him in the