Free The Twelve Kingdoms by Jeffe Kennedy

battle like any other. I had defended myself, parried his attack, and retreated. I simply needed to regroup. He’d been angry about the jewels—understandable—off-balance with worry over Amelia, and more than a little drunk. I should have realized he’d see my wearing of Salena’s jewels as aligning myself with her, which had come to mean with Andi, Rayfe, and the Tala also. The last year had tried us all. Uorsin had poured his life into creating and preserving the peace of the Twelve Kingdoms. Of course he could allow no threat to it.
    If he believed I’d done as he thought, then I’d deserved his censure.
    I needed only prove myself.
    I couldn’t let myself dwell on the more sinister implications, that my father’s behavior had gone from angry and erratic to something I hesitated to put words to. What would become of the Twelve Kingdoms if the High King was . . . No, I wouldn’t think of it. Taking the circlet might not mean I was no longer heir. He hadn’t stripped me of it publicly. And surely he’d only meant for me to stay close to Ordnung for the moment, not forever. Tomorrow would be better. We’d both be calmer, clear of thought, and we’d discuss. Even when he’d been most unhappy with me, we’d always managed to meet mind to mind, for the good of the Twelve. We’d do so again.
    Danu make it so.
    My blade whistled through the Whirlwind into Heron Strikes, and my back grabbed hard. I swallowed the cry of pain easily enough but had to pause, half hunched over like an old granny, catching my breath and waiting for the thrice-damned muscles to let go.
    â€œHere, now.” That baritone rumbled, and a warm hand settled on the small of my back.
    I started to spin and turn, hissing at the spike of agonized resistance. “Danu take it!”
    â€œYou’ll get nowhere forcing it.” The merc captain said. “Hold still a moment.”
    He worked a series of knuckles into a spot lower down on my hips.
    â€œThat’s not where it hurts.”
    â€œHush. I’m helping you.”
    â€œI didn’t ask for help.”
    He chuckled, warm and low. “Believe me, Your Highness, I’m fully aware of that. However, you need my help, lest you add yourself to the statues that decorate this courtyard.”
    I didn’t reply to that. The spasm would have let go eventually. They always did. But whatever magic he did with his hands—pressing into places that felt bruised and somehow extracting the soreness as he withdrew—worked far faster. If he declined to take advantage of my momentary injury and instead elected to put me back in fighting form, so be it. And, oh, Danu, the release from that spasm felt sweeter than a summer’s day.
    Straightening, I moved tentatively, rather astounded that my body responded so easily. I turned to face the Dasnarian, using the movement to step outside of weapon’s reach. He noted that, of course, eyes glinting colorlessly in the moonlight.
    â€œBetter?”
    I nodded. “Yes. My gratitude. What technique is that?”
    â€œWe call it lifdrengrr, giving health to the warrior. Excellent tools for quickly returning a comrade back into the fight.”
    Rolling my shoulders, I agreed. Only a few twinges. I could work through those.
    â€œIt is not, however, a long-term fix. You should have your healers tend to you.”
    â€œI’m fine. And why are you here? It’s the middle of the night.”
    â€œI could ask the same of you.”
    â€œYou have no business asking me anything. This is a private courtyard. You may have the run of the castle, but not the family wing.” I pretended to test my sword arm, which gained me another half step of distance. Danu, the man had a long reach on him. “Are you a spy, Captain?”
    â€œI didn’t get all of it.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYour back. There’s a catch between your shoulder blades still. I can