Ivo didn’t tell Adrianne that he was without his shield. Maybe the Knight was right. Maybe he was hiding behind it. Ivo didn’t want his bonded to agree. He woke to her moving to get out of bed but pulled her back in. If he weren’t coming back for some time, he would spend every moment next to her he could. He promised to buy her breakfast between his kisses. Adrianne was more than happy not to have to prepare breakfast soon her morning to do so. He was happy not to have to pretend she was a good cook. He loved her for tenacity, not her ability to share the chores.

He waited until they had enjoyed themselves before telling her his failures and that he wouldn’t return for some time. She laughed at him; she didn’t believe it would be long before he proved worthy. Before they left their small home, she had taken the knife on the end of her chain, and with her heat-resistant greave on activated the fire rune her family commanded. Ivo shook his head, bewildered, as he watched her inscribe her family’s rune right below the one his mother carved into his sword. It was a precious gift to share your family’s power, hit was rare even among the bonded, an honor saved for progenies. Ivo tried to protest, but Adrianne smiled at him.

“You are my bonded, it is my secret to share if I desire.” The rune glowed orange after she put the last mark, and then slowly faded.

Returning his blade to his sheath, Ivo kissed his bonded one last time before they walked hand in hand in the market. Her faith in him kept Ivo’s posture strong as they wove through the morning crowd with bowls of savory oats. They found a seat next to Giulius, who smiled at them as warmly as circumstances could allow.

Adrianne quickly ate her oats, spooning the crispy bits of bacon into Ivo’s before kissing him goodbye and assuring him she’d see him soon. Giulius rose with Ivo and followed him to the water barrel to drop off their bowls to soak.

“Have you seen Darren?” His voice was soft, always had been, even when he wasn’t whispering Ivo barely heard him over the crowd.

The oats seized in Ivo’s stomach, and bile crept up his throat. He tried not to think about his friend and the way Darren had looked at him after the branding. Many Knights presented themselves to Darren, but if he couldn’t have his dream mentor then he vowed he would do it on his own. That inspired Aphnes to deny the last and only Knight to present themself, and the only one that came to her. Ivo believed Aphnes had her own reasons, not just glory, but to choose a path that didn’t force her to follow her sister’s shadow.

“I haven’t.” One tended to avoid someone if they took their dream right before them. Darren tried to be honorable and congratulated Ivo, but the tears pooling in his eyes and the curl of his lips left Ivo feeling looked down upon. He did not need Darren’s disapproval to add weight to the doubt that already sat on his shoulders.

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“I worry about him. All he wanted was to study under the highest of the Glorious, and he chose glory over everything.” Giulius looked up through his long dark lashes, his cheeks turning pink.

Ivo looked up to find Darren getting a bowl of oats, his pole arms strapped to his back. There was something ominous about the way he carried himself. Darren had always had pride, but this felt more like he meant to be intimidating as if he were trying to ward off predators. Ivo wondered what Darren would be the prey of.

None of the people in the village doubted Darren would make it to the summoning on his own. There were already artists and smiths vying for the chance to create his crest. Darren would be the next Glorious Knight that the children would dream of being trained under. Ivo imagined he would be called the Light Knight, for Darren was built of bronze and sunlight. His friend had always brought joy to the village with the ease of smile and words, but all Darren wanted was to bring victory and glory. Darren met Ivo’s eyed and dipped his head with a tight smile, but when he looked at Giulius the smile faltered.

The Dark Knight’s words came back to Ivo I chose you, because you are willing to ask what is the price for glory. Ivo thought Darren had paid the price for glory by not choosing the only man he had ever had affection for. Ivo wasn’t sure he knew the price for glory anymore. He was only certain that it wasn’t hard work and a few battle scars. He rubbed at the thick scar where he had been branded. They were always placed there, right above the heart.

“Perhaps, I can meet him in a summoning, or another battle somewhere, and this time I will make the offer instead of letting his pride break both of our hearts.” Giulius sighed, “Either way, I ask that you be careful. His pride is wounded and you know him just as well as I do; he has left himself desperate. I am worried he will throw himself into a rage in battle, and then we will not be able to speak of him any longer.”

Ivo’s mind drifted to the burn on his mentor’s wrist—the wrist without a bonding band. You should trust no one who will so easily forget you if you do not bring them honor. There was no choice. He had to draw blood on the Knight soon. Ivo hoped doing so would finally get him some answers.

When he met up with the Dark Knight was in a travel tunic. Ivo noted how his frame was more like his own than Darren’s or Giulius’s. Ivo looked around the Knight’s feet his shield was nowhere to be seen.

“You are going to learn to be your own shield and how to use both hands on that sword, young Novak.” The Knight offered Ivo a pack with a sleeping roll on it before throwing his own over his shoulder. “ Make sure your pack’s tight, we have a two days hike. I think to get you to find your full potential, we have to get you away from everything holding you back.”