“What was this for?” he asked around his rage. He stayed half the ring away from me. Probably so he wouldn’t act upon his impulse to separate my head from my body—I sometimes have that effect upon people. “Why the lesson?”

“There’s not much wrong with your style or technique,” I said. “The list I gave you is very short for my aunt—who provided it to me when I asked. What you do not have is strength or endurance. The only way to gain either is time and hard work. Rosem was correct in holding you back last night. We didn’t know what it was or what it could do.”

“So I was to let an old man and a woman take it out?”

I raised an eyebrow and let my voice grow cold. “That old man is the toughest raider Shavig ever produced. He’s a veteran of the Oranstone Rebellion and has fought in a hundred lesser battles—would you have thought of grabbing a pike? A peasant’s weapon, when there were swords about? I didn’t think of it, either. And as far as Tisala goes, I’ve fought with her and she’s better than half the Blue Guard. Did you see her slice the man’s skull in half? That takes skill and strength.”

“So I’m supposed to stay in the background while you all fight my battles?” The rage was leaving him, I could see the emptiness of defeat in his eyes.

I shook my head and allowed my tone to sharpen. “No. You are supposed to be smart. Use that. Use the people around you. Rosem is not stupidly overprotective.” Not if Stala trained him. “He’ll not get in your way when you are ready to stand on your own. But when he tells you to stay back, listen to him. We, none of us, knew what that thing was capable of. If Tisala had died, it would have broken my heart, but not the kingdom’s soul. If I had died, my uncle would have served you as Hurogmeten as well as ever I could. Keep your goals in mind. There will be battles enough in front of us.”

“So you think I should forgive Rosem for holding me back?” There was no temper in his face or voice, but the tones were acidly polite.

I narrowed my eyes. “No. I don’t.”

He stared at me a moment and then the mask of royalty dropped from his face and he grinned sheepishly at me. “You think I need to apologize.”

I nodded slowly. “I think you owe him.”

“I think you’re right.” His smile fell away and left him looking tired. “Thank you.”