Eye of the Labyrinth Read Free Page A

let’s-make-certain-the-Lion-of-Senet’s-cub-knows-his-place ceremony. We’ve no room in the Queen’s Guard for cowards, boy. It’s time to see if you’re a better man than your father.”
    Kirsh’s grin faded. “I may be sworn to serve the Queen of Dhevyn, sir, but I’ll not allow you to insult my father.”
    “You’re not sworn to the queen, boy. That’s a privilege you’ve yet to earn. All you’re sworn to do is stand at stud for the crown princess.”
    The rest of the guard roared with laughter. Kirshov looked around him, hoping to see even the slightest hint that one of these men was on his side. It was an idle hope. Kirsh looked back at Dargin and then nodded and began to unbutton his coat. “Very well. Which one of you is it to be?”
    Dargin laughed harshly. “Either you really are as good as you think, or you’re a damn fool, boy.”
    Kirsh threw his jacket over the railing and shrugged his shoulders a few times to loosen them up, before smiling coldly at the master-at-arms. “Let’s find out, shall we?”
    Dargin’s fist was like a sledgehammer. It took Kirsh completely by surprise. He staggered backward, blinking back the white spots that danced before his eyes, derisive laughter ringing in his ears. His jaw felt as if it had been relocated on the other side of his head. Kirsh shook his head groggily, quashing the anger that threatened to make him lose his temper, and turned to face Dargin. The metallic tang of blood filled his mouth.
    “That wasn’t fair. I wasn’t ready.”
    The master-at-arms was standing with his arms crossed, grinning broadly. “It’s fair you want, is it? Is that how they fight in Senet?”
    Dargin moved again, faster than Kirsh would have believed possible for such a big man, although this time Kirsh was ready for him. He blocked the blow with his right arm and struck back with his left, scoring a hit in the older man’s gut, hard enough to make him grunt. That small sound was enough to satisfy Kirsh. Dargin could be hurt. It was just going to take an awful lot to do it.
    “So, the cub has teeth,” Dargin laughed, dodging away from Kirsh’s next blow.
    Kirsh did not rise to the bait. He was not that easily provoked. Anger led to foolish mistakes, and one mistake with Dargin could prove fatal. He stood his ground, consciously controlling his breathing, balanced on the balls of his feet, waiting for Dargin to move again.
    The master-at-arms came at him, this time a little more cautiously. The one hit that Kirsh had managed to land was apparently enough to convince Dargin that he would be in trouble if he let his guard down. But with that cautious respect came the knowledge that if he really meant to prove his point, he had to win, and that the young man he faced was unused to defeat. Not because he was arrogant or cocky, but because Antonov had made damn sure his son was more than capable of taking care of himself.
    Dargin feinted to the left and caught Kirsh with a glancing blow to the side of his head, which he dodged at the last moment. Kirsh struck back, landing a solid punch under Dargin’s jaw, then, with his right leg, he swept the bigger man’s feet out from under him. Dargin landed heavily on his back, but rolled clear before Kirsh could press home his advantage. He gained his feet quickly, slamming his fist into Kirsh’s chest so hard Kirsh could hear his ribs breaking. He staggered backward, but Dargin gave him no respite. He hammered the younger man mercilessly. Kirsh managed to land a few more blows, some of them even making an impression, but every time he breathed in a sharp pain stabbed at his left side. Relentlessly, Dargin pushed him back until he struck Kirsh’s broken ribs again. With a cry of sudden pain, Kirsh dropped to his knees. Dargin immediately stepped back, panting heavily. “You’re hurt.”
    Kirsh bit back the sarcastic urge to say: “No?
Really?
” He looked up at the master-at-arms through pain-filled eyes, breathing as