Wood banged in loud clashes, the cold air billowing with our frenetic breaths. Sweat trickled down my back as I tried to scuttle away from my opponent, my boots sinking deeper in the grimy snow.

“Can you take yourself out of the calculation?” The man stepped to the side, countering my steps. “Fight when you need to but always be looking to take yourself out of the equation.”

I glanced around, calculating ways I could escape, my foggy mind taking too long on how I could use the objects around me. He took advantage of my slowness. The blade sliced toward my neck, plucking panic up my chest in bubbles. Grunting, I twisted my body hard to the right, throwing up my weapon to block, barely stopping the chopping hit. The meeting of blades vibrated through my bones, a rush of adrenaline from the close call burning through my layers of clothes.

A triumphant smile quirked my lips, my gaze meeting my adversary for his reaction.

“Good.” The man across from me nodded in approval, his expression firm.

I tried to hide the joy at getting the praise. With him, good was the equivalent to “You did outstanding, Wren! I see you as an equal in battle.”

“Don’t be too pleased. I was able to get close enough to strike.” He circled back around, giving me no time to bathe in my pride, lurching at me with more determination.

“My lady?” a woman’s voice called out from the edge of our makeshift battle ring. “The king is waiting for you.”

My gaze dropped away for a second to see my handmaiden dropping into a curtsy several yards away. Her fair hair was tied back in a simple braid, her long, stately nose wrinkling with disgust at my dirty clothes and knotted tresses.

A blunt stab hit my chest, drawing my attention down to the dull blade grazing my stained, white, long-sleeved training shirt. Whether it was a fancy dress or my training clothes, it was always the color of snow.

“Fuck,” I muttered.

“Never take your eyes off your opponent, Wrennlyn.” Yanric leaned in, his light blue eyes and white hair bright against his black skin. “Your focus needs to be one hundred percent on them until they are defeated, or you could lose your life in a moment.” He stressed his words, hinting at the severity of what would happen if I let myself get killed by such a careless mistake. He never had to remind me; it was ingrained in my bones since a child.