“I’m . . . I’m used to standing the other way,” I stammered. I dropped my gaze.

“I know. And so is Rodric. Remember what I said about your sword functioning as your shield now too? You have to lead with that side. Try attacking me with your dagger,” Cion said, moving in front of me.

I tightened my grip on the dagger and mimicked the move Cion had demonstrated. He ducked out of the way easily.

Then he swung back around. I barely blocked his attack. He was faster than anyone I’d ever seen. By the time I remembered to bring up my dagger, he was already spiraling away, knocking my feet out from under me as he went.

I landed with a thud on my back. A haze of sand puffed up around me. Cion waved it away and offered me an arm.

“Try again.”

I accepted his hand and repositioned myself like he’d taught me.

It took me three or four tries before I even grazed his side with my dagger.

“Not bad for the famed Achran Flower,” Cion said, and I couldn’t help the blush that crept across my cheeks.

We spent the next hour practicing a variety of moves meant to test my skill with a dagger. Toward the end, Cion knocked my sword away. He tossed another wooden dagger toward me, and we resumed the fight. If fighting with one dagger had been hard, fighting with two was worse.

After stripping me of both daggers for the fifth time, we took a break. I collapsed next to Tania while Cion went to fetch us both a sip of water.

“You fight well,” she said. Hardesh had fallen asleep with his head on her shoulder. “I hope you will have the strength to do what so many others have failed to.”

I was pretty sure she was talking about Rodric, but it sounded like more. Like she was talking about everything. Rodric. The people. The water restrictions.

“That’s why I sought out Cion,” I said, unable to stop the image of Cion’s star-riddled eyes from popping into my mind.

“Is it?” she said, her eyebrows rising in question. “Are you sure it wasn’t to protect yourself?”

My eyes jumped to hers. She hid a quiet strength behind her tiny frame.

“I’m here to protect everyone from Rodric taking over Achra. I thought you of all people would understand why no one wants that to happen.” I couldn’t keep my eyes from going to her swelling belly.

“I do,” she said, crossing her arms over her stomach. “Just remember that Cion has as much at stake here as you. He’s putting his hope in you, and hope is a resource more valuable than water.”

“I won’t let them down.”

She eyed me. “Remember that when you’re playing tiger queen back in your palace.”

When Cion appeared with a ladle of water, I gulped it down quickly, eager to get back to training. But Tania’s words clung to me like sweat. Would I let them down? The water controls didn’t exist. I couldn’t change that. All I could do was deal with Rodric and better ration water after I was named queen—and rule as best I could.