Lorkana by Emily Zimmerman. (free e books to read TXT) 📕

a roll of her eyes.
I nodded and thanked Julian one more time, and then followed her to get suited up.
I stood with my back to Vivia as she tightened the straps on my sides, I was in full leather mixed with steel armor, it was easy to maneuver in, and I could easily twist around if there was an enemy behind me. The steel sheath for my sword was designed with a wolves head carved into the top, and swirling patterns down the front all the way to the bottom. I felt like a formidable threat. The woman that I had witnessed testing out the dagger on the parchment gave me the dagger she was testing. And a scabbard to clip into my boot, it was in case I lose my sword. I walked into the “fun yard” as Vivia had said they called it, it was empty
“They will be here in a few minutes, how about you and me have a go while we’re waiting?” Vivia asked excitedly.
I shrugged and nodded “sounds fine with me” I said.
She walked over a grabbed a long sword from the wall, holding it in both of her hands “no, no, you have got a firm hand, hold it in your hand, like this” I pulled my sword, hefting it in one hand.
She rolled her eyes, but did as she was told “this way, your other hand will be free, in case you make your opponent drop their sword, it gives you a chance to grab it” I explained.
She smiled, cocking her head to the side, she made the first move, a simple dueling move, she moved quickly, and I blocked her advance by hitting the side of her sword with my own, we teased each other for a while, moving back and forth, hitting the sides of each other’s swords.
Then it got a little more serious. She caught my sword with hers, and twisted it around the blade, knocking my hand off balance and throwing sparks everywhere, my arms went out to my sides and instinct took over, my foot shot out and I kicked her in the stomach, not hurting her, but making her stumble back as she made an advance toward me, giving me enough time to twist around, my sword caught hers as she defended herself.
Our swords clashed together in a spray of sparks, over and over again, back and forth we moved.
It was too fast to see, but she suddenly twisted around and hit my sword with hers hard enough to knock it out of my hands, we stared at each other for no more than a second, before I sprang into action, I leaned down in a split second movement and grabbed my dagger, pulling it out with a “shing!” as it unsheathed, it shined in the light, glinting off the artificial sun.
We circled each other, her with a sword, me with a dagger; I planned what I was going to do, and I made the move, my sword was about five feet away, so I hit my dagger against her sword, making a medal against medal sound, and knocked her sword out of the way, kicking her in the stomach again and knocking her off balance, I ran for my sword, I was able to grab it before she got back up and put the tip to her chin.
She froze her actions and looked up at me, I grinned “I win” I murmured.
I lowered my sword and held out my hand for her to get up. She grinned back, but before she could answer, clapping erupted from the doorway “amazing! That was the most intense fight scene the Fun yard has ever had!” Ben laughed heartily.
We both looked over at his voice, and realized we had an audience, all six men stood in the doorway, watching us.
I looked back at Vivia and helped her up, putting my sword back in my sheath, and my dagger – which was in my other hand – back in my boot.
I turned to the others as they walked over, “how long have you all been standing there?” I asked.
“We came just as you started, when you were schooling Vivia” Demetrio laughed, punching his sister lightly in the arm.
Vivia laughed with her brother. “So, remember when you told us that you were skilled at the bow?” Salvator asked with his hands behind his back.
I nodded, cocking my head to the side “well I took the liberty of setting something up to test that” He pulled a bow from behind his back and I smiled brightly, the bow was magnificent, it had swirling patterns down both sides, and two wolves heads carved at the top and bottom of the bow, I gripped the handle and inspected the bow, stretching the string with a finger.
He handed me a Quiver full of steel tipped arrows, with feathers on the end. They all led me through a doorway that led into a bright room, set up with moving targets, small targets, targets up in trees, and large simple targets on the ground.
I looked at Salvator with a raised eyebrow “we thought of everything” he said.
I chuckled, shaking my head “well go on! Show us how skilled you are!” Demetrio nudged me forward.
I took a deep breath and knocked an arrow, holding the string with two fingers and pulling it back to my cheek, my eyes zeroed in automatically on the moving target, it was like time slowed, I watched the target, and then sent the arrow flying, without thinking I knocked another arrow and sent it flying towards the other targets, I knocked another and sent it towards the one in the tree.
All of these moves were quick and without hesitation, after I hit all of the targets at least once, I lowered my bow and looked at the targets; I hit the bulls’ eye on each one, I smiled in satisfaction and turned to the others, they gaped at me. I cocked my head to the side “what?” I asked.
Demetrio was the first to recover, but I could still see shock in his eyes as he laughed “I wouldn’t want to be in a battle against you” Demetrio pat me on the back.
“That was amazing!” Salvator recovered from his shock.
Ben was watching me thoughtfully, stroking his beard.
“What a talent” he murmured, I cocked my head to the side,
“What, Ben?” I asked.
He looked at me weirdly “I didn’t say anything” he said, studying me.
“Funny, I could have sworn…” I trailed off as Demetrio grabbed my arm, leading me to the fun yard; no one seemed to notice our exchange.
“Wonder what that was about” my head snapped up as I heard his voice again.
Ben was staring at me thoughtfully.
Strange things were happening to me, first Vivia, and now Ben? What is going on?
Chapter eight:

It has been a week since Logan has been kidnapped, and I missed him dearly. I haven’t been able to make that connection with him again, to be with him. It scares me, what if they have done something to him?
We have been planning our rescue, and finally, we are going in. We are going into the tunnels to try and just get him and get out of there, but with Logan there, and the guards on high alert, we may not have any choice but to fight.
Tomorrow night, was the night that we rescued him. But tonight, we prepared. I had pauldrons made because my shoulders were vulnerable, and, if we were to be attacked, I wanted to be fully protected. Vivia was being suited up, making sure her armor was suitable for battle, she had told me earlier today that she’d had this armor for years, and it had held up for all that time.
They were also having me practice with daggers, because Rain, whom never spoke to me, thought that I had some talent with.
“Okay, we need to rest, for we have a long day tomorrow” Ben announced, coming back from practicing with his sword.
Just as he said that, I yawned, covering my mouth. “Come, Johanna, I’d like to speak with you” Ben murmured, holding out his arm for me to take.
I nodded and hooked my arm through his. He led me through the corridors to the castle, staying silent. I wondered if he had forgotten that he wanted to speak with me, but as we entered the city, he spoke,
“Johanna, have you been…hearing things?”
I cocked my head to the side “what do you mean?”
“I mean…have you heard people speaking? When they really didn’t?” he asked, struggling to find the words to explain.
My eyes widened, did he know what was going on with me? “Yes, it happened three times this week, once with Vivia, six days ago with you, and yesterday with Demetrio” I explained in a rush.
He nodded, that seemed to confirm whatever it was that he was thinking “we can’t let you go with us” he said, wincing as my expression hardened.
“And why not?” I asked in anger.
“Because you are in danger of transforming any day now, it’s a miracle that you haven’t transformed already, and if you should transform on the way, or as we were in battle, you would be far too weak and we would all be in danger” he explained.
I sighed, reining in my anger “how long…?”
He shook his head “like I said, any day, and we just can’t take that risk”
I nodded, looking straight ahead as we walked up the stairs of the castle.
“So, I guess I’ll bid you good luck, please be safe, and try not to get hurt” I murmured as we stopped in front of my door.
He smiled and kissed my cheek “don’t worry, majesty, we’ll all be home safe” he assured.
I smiled back and nodded setting my hands on his shoulders “goodnight, Ben” I murmured.
He bowed his head and walked back down the hall, I smiled at the guards as they opened the double doors to my bedroom. I felt saddened that I wouldn’t be able to help rescue Logan, but confident that they would be home safe.
I changed into my nightclothes, a nice satin nightgown that fit my body snuggly, and climbed into bed, patting Aileen’s head “goodnight Aileen, sleep well” I murmured.
I closed my eyes and tried, once again, to imagine Logan’s arms around me. This time, I could finally relax, I could finally just feel his arms around my waist, and I could at least pretend that he was there.
And I fell asleep peacefully.

I lifted my head, realizing that I was slumped against a wall, this place was unfamiliar. I felt the ground beneath me, and all I felt was smooth, cold stone. It was pitch black, I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face, so I relied on my ears. I could hear even breathing, but it