The Glowing Knight Read Free Page A

put a stop to the plague of shine. And that new variation.”
    â€œFirefly, I believe.” Lord Hensley released a long sigh. “Such a shame, what people are willing to put into themselves. It’s such a waste of life.”
    Finally, the meal came to a close and James and I excused ourselves, stopping by my rooms to grab our training gear. We had to go over every one of today’s bouts in detail, and work out how he might have disarmed his opponent more quickly or blocked a particularly tricky attack.
    By the time we started down the grand stairs in front of the palace, the storm had faded and the sun dipped toward the horizon, its honeyed light shining beneath the line of black clouds. The sky turned molten gold and every mirror in Hawksbill illuminated with reflected glow.
    The heat had broken, leaving the evening cool and damp.Rain-glazed paving stones gleamed.
    The training building loomed ahead, a big block of a structure. It wasn’t quite disguised into beauty with carved designs representing the four houses and stylized knots that had been all the fashion two hundred years ago. My guards entered first, checking for danger, as always. The room was safe, of course, but even practice needed to be supervised by the best men in the Indigo Order.
    Gaslights hissed overhead as we stomped the water from our boots and tossed our bags by the wall. On the far end with mirrors, our reflections moved with us, reminding me of the night I’d spotted Hensley by noticing him in the mirror.
    Maybe I could learn to use that to my advantage—if I could learn to keep out of the mirrors myself.
    I snorted a laugh as I stretched my arms across my chest.
    â€œWhat?” James frowned, echoing my movements.
    â€œNothing.” I glanced at the guards. “Why don’t you wait outside? Get some fresh air.”
    â€œWe’re not supposed to let you out of our sight.” Stewart didn’t move. None of them did.
    â€œThere’s only one door, and you’ve already cleared the room. Anyone who wants to come in and kill me will have to go through you.” I frowned. “Anyway, it’s not fair for you to watch James practice before tomorrow’s matches. You might be his opponents.”
    â€œWe’ve been watching you and Rayner practice for years. Nothing you do tonight will change anything tomorrow.” Thomas crossed his arms and smirked. He was definitely fighting James tomorrow.
    â€œFine.” I moved deeper into the room, away from the guards. James followed, and we drew our practice swords. “The mirrors made me think of last week, and trying to stay out of view.”
    James pulled his sword, too. “Do you think that’s a skill you’ll need to pick up?”
    â€œNeed or no, it’d be a handy skill to have.” I raised my voice to a normal volume and held my sword at guard. “Ready?”
    James mirrored my movements. “Born that way. Let’s start with the match against Cadet Harvey. You be him. I’ll be me. I want to figure out how he almost disarmed me.”
    â€œAll right, then I attack first.”
    We practiced that way for two hours, until both of us were satisfied James was prepared for tomorrow morning’s bouts.
    Exhausted, but pleased with the day’s progress, we returned to my apartments in the Dragon Wing. But just as we stepped into the parlor, the thud of footfalls in the hall made me look back.
    Thomas scowled into the hall. “What is it?”
    â€œI’d like to speak with Prince Tobiah.” Professor Knight had never come to see me in my quarters, but I’d know his voice anywhere. I signaled James to wait and sheathed my sword.
    â€œSend him in,” I called.
    I was ready for answers.

THREE
    PROFESSOR KNIGHT STRODE across the parlor, his boots clomping on the rugs. “You two smell like sweat.”
    â€œAnd here James and I thought we smelled rather pleasant today.” I