We moved away from Tania and Hardesh and took up battle positions.

“I’m used to fighting with a shield,” I said.

He nodded toward the daggers strapped in my laces. “You’d be better with one of those in your other hand. A shield will only protect you from one or two of Rodric’s blows. He’ll target it, and once he’s ripped it away from you, you’ll be left exposed. That’s why I was able to get your sword away from you so quickly when we met at the well. You were off balance without it. Besides, its bulk makes it harder for you to maneuver. Your strength is your nimbleness. You need to be able to move, not to stand there and take blows.”

He tossed me a small wooden dagger. It was smaller and lighter than the ones strapped to my calves. I felt exposed without my shield.

“From now on, think about your sword as both shield and sword. You’ve got the muscle to stand up to the force of Rodric’s attacks. Your dagger should go in for the killing blow. Like this.”

He grabbed a practice sword and charged toward me. I met his blow, but I didn’t see the wooden dagger he produced from behind his back until it was already ramming into my ribs.

“Ooof,” I cried out and stumbled backward.

“Effective, right?” Cion said.

The pain in my ribs proved his point.

“How much training have you done with your daggers?” he asked as I straightened.

“I use them only if I lose my shield or sword. They buy me time until I can get back whatever I lost.”

Cion appeared to mull this over. “As far as I know, Rodric doesn’t carry a dagger on him. He thinks his sword is enough. It takes patience to learn two weapons, patience he doesn’t have, which is why he probably never taught you to use them properly. That’ll be another advantage you’ll have over him. He won’t be expecting to face you with two weapons in your hands.”

As much as I missed having my shield to grip onto, Cion was right. I was going to need new skills, new surprises, if I was to win the throne.

“Here,” Cion said, “stand like this.” He moved behind me and tapped my right thigh until I brought it forward. Then his arms were on my shoulders, angling my right side forward as well. It felt all wrong. I was used to leading with my left side, letting my shield take a blow while I wielded my sword with my right.

There was no way I could learn an entirely new stance in less than a month.

I whipped my head around to see if there was another way. His face was so close to mine. His eyes lingered, the golden flecks gleaming even in the low light.

For a moment I forgot what I was going to say.

“Something wrong?” he asked, his eyebrows shooting up in puzzlement.