Free The Dragonprince's Heir by Aaron Pogue

paces away, Toman waited patiently with our four horses, ready to go. Halfway between us was a knot of soldiers in the uniform of the King's Guard. Their eyes widened at the sight of Caleb, then narrowed when they saw me in his ungentle grip.
    He propelled me another two paces forward with a shove and followed close on my heels. I stumbled, caught myself, and faked a resentful glare back at him. Mostly faked. I turned back to the guards and showed them some wide-eyed fear, then hung my head and stomped toward the horses.
    Caleb nodded once to the guards as we passed them. I heard their footsteps clatter away behind us. Caleb threw one glance back to check on them just as we arrived at the horses. Then he caught my eyes.
    I tried to ask, "But why—"
    But he cut me off with a tight shake of his head. The knights were already mounted. Caleb finished checking his horse's packs and swung himself up into the saddle. "Come!" he barked down at me. "We must ride."
    Caleb set off while I was still scrambling for my own saddle. I chased after him, but every time I drew close he spurred his horse on. We were a mile outside the gate before I was able to settle into a pace beside him. Then I shouted, "Why?" over the thundering of the horses' hooves.
    He glanced my way, then back to the road. The king's train had made better time than Caleb expected. There was not yet any sign of them ahead.
    He shrugged one shoulder. "I told you. You may need to protect yourself on the way—"
    "No," I said, "why did we hide this from Mother?"
    He didn't turn, but I saw the muscles of his jaw clench while he considered his answer. Then he raised his chin. "She had no wish for you to learn the sword."
    "No. You're lying." I looked down at the weapon on my belt. I slipped it three inches free with one thumb and considered the strange blade. It was almost white. Perfect, spine to edge. I looked closer and saw no seam between the blade and the hilt. Even the wire wrap seemed to fold itself unbroken into the smooth edge of the guard.
    I had to blink away tears again. "No," I repeated. "Mother would not have kept this from me."
    Caleb shrugged one shoulder.
    I sent my horse closer and grabbed his shoulder. "You're lying! This was your doing. You wouldn't teach me the sword. You—"
    He didn't deny it. He didn't even shake his head. He only looked at me. But that was enough.
    I held his gaze for four galloping paces, then dropped my eyes. "You wouldn't teach me the sword," I said again.
    "Your mother's orders."
    My fingertips traced the fine threading on the hilt. "But...it's my father's sword."
    "It's yours," Caleb said. "He made it for you. Before he left."
    My breath escaped me in a long, quiet sigh. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to remember what he'd looked like. I couldn't. I never could. "Why?" I asked again.
    Another four paces passed before he answered. "I don't know."
    I opened my eyes to glare at him, but he was already looking my way.
    He shook his head. "I don't know. I've asked her. She would not explain. Perhaps she can't."
    I dropped my eyes back to the sword. I drew it out, felt the weight of it in my hand. I stared at the strange blade, and Caleb watched me. After a time I said, "What is it?"
    He said, "Perfect."
    I frowned. "No, I mean—"
    "I know," he said. "It is nothing. It is magic. It is the essence of metal, not any real thing. Except...he would have called it real. He would have called it more real than anything we can dig from the dirt." He gave a little grunt and a little shrug. "It's perfect. Wear it well."
    "I will." I slid the marvelous blade into the plain, sturdy scabbard, then turned my eyes north again. I squared my shoulders. "I will."
    "Good," he said. "Now let us ride."

     
    We caught up with the king's train just before midday. The king's army overflowed the wide, dirt road, spilling out into the barren countryside for half a mile to either side. There were carts and wagons, walkers and riders, armored soldiers and