She turned and opened the door. The hallway was dark and silent. Her mind churned. Perhaps she could have new swords forged. And in the meantime, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to learn a new skill, like how to use a single sword. It might save her in the future, should she find herself in another fight without her own weapons.

She closed the door behind her. Dark feelings still simmered inside of her, but she had a mission now, and it allowed her to suppress her feelings. She headed for the training room she had spotted the other day. Hopefully she would run into someone she knew, like Taegis. He might be willing to help her out.

A shadow fell into step behind her. Selene glanced back and found Karl a couple of feet away. She frowned. When had he returned?

At her look, he bowed, his face holding just a hint of contempt.

She turned around and continued along the hall. Her annoyance at the guard grew with each step. She could almost feel his disdainful stare as she moved across the castle. He still did not approve of her marriage to Lord Maris. Then again, perhaps he was right.

Selene gritted her teeth. Well, no changing that now.

She politely nodded to those she passed, barely aware of the servants’ stares and bows. She stopped at a familiar door. This looked like the right place. She opened it and found a handful of guards across the room, practicing with wooden swords or engaging in hand-to-hand combat.

“My lady?” said a voice to her left.

Selene spotted Taegis standing near a long table covered with a variety of training weapons. He wiped his hands on a rag and left it on the table as he made his way over to her. “Do you need something?”

“Yes. That is . . .” Why was her face heating up? She straightened her shoulders and pushed on. “Where would I inquire about having a special sword forged?”

Taegis frowned. “I don’t understand. . . .”

“I don’t want to lose the skills I’ve acquired over the years. And—” she swallowed—“it would help me to have something to do. I am unfamiliar with other ladylike habits such as painting or weaving.” It was hard to admit that she was a failure when it came to being a proper lady. None of that would have mattered if she had taken her place as Grand Lady Ravenwood, married a lesser lord, and remained as head of her house. There, she would have had the luxury and freedom to train below Rook Castle and rule her castle as she saw fit.

“Hmm. Lord Damien left not too long ago to talk to you about possibly sparring.”

It was her turn to frown. “What?”

“Did he not find you?”

Selene pressed two fingers to her forehead and turned away. Was that why he had sought her out in the library? But then why had he asked her about her book and subsequently her gift?