Honor Found (The Spare Heir) Read Online Free

certain that he blocked four of her strikes before he r sword impacted against his arm.  The sound of her sword striking the blade in his armor made a high-pitched clang.  The force of the blow knocked him sideways a few steps.  Looking down at his arm, Jorem saw that his armor had performed just as Cob had said it would.  He’d still likely have a bruised arm come tomorrow, but at least he’d still have an arm.  Even with leather armor, if her blade had been sharpened he could have lost his arm from such a blow.  No wonder no one else would practice with her.  If it hadn’t been for the blade in his armor his arm would likely be broken.
    Neth didn’t even look apologetic about the blow to his arm.  Instead, she looked surprised.  She walked up to him and tapped his arm with her sword.  Even through the leather of its sheath, the blades clinked together.  Neth’s head cocked to one side as she tapped Jorem’s arm again.
    As Jorem stood there, Neth walked around him.  Once in a while she would reach out and tap him with her sword.  Whenever she found another blade, there would be a distinctive clank of metal striking leather-padded metal.  When she was done, she walked a few paces from him, turned and simply nodded.
    What followed was the worst beating of his life.  Jorem felt as though every finger length of his body was bruised.  He was soaked with perspiration and breathing so hard he thought his lungs might burst.  Neth, on the other hand, hadn’t even broken a sweat.  Jorem raised his sword in preparation for another onslaught.
    Neth shook her head.  “I think that is enough.”  She flipped her sword around and handed it to Jorem, hilt first.  “You were slow to begin with, now you’re beyond slow.”
    As she turned and began to leave, Jorem asked, “Same time tomorrow, then?
    She turned back toward him.  The look on her face showed a little surprise.  Apparently she had expected him to quit after being so thoroughly trounced.  Jorem wasn’t sure he would be able to move tomorrow, but he was sure of one thing.  He wanted to be as good as she was.  If it cost him a daily beating then so be it.
    “How many times did I ‘kill’ you this morning?” she asked.
    Jorem smiled.  Even that hurt.  “I lost count after the first dozen.”
    She stood silently for a while.  Jorem could tell she was arguing with herself.  Finally she looked at him and nodded.  She didn’t look happy about her decision.  She did, however, look determined.
    Neth turned and pointed off into the distance.  “You see that hill over there with the bald top?  I want you to the top and back before first meal.  After that, if you’re up to it, we’ll work on improving your speed.”
    She didn’t stay to talk. She just turned and left.  Jorem looked off to the hill Neth had pointed at.  The top was indeed treeless.  From the inn to the tree line looked to be dense forest.  If it were level ground Jorem figured it would take a mark or so to get there and the same to get back.  Fighting his way through underbrush and up the hillside could easily take twice that.  If he were lucky there might be a trail he could follow.

Chapter IV
     
    The next morning, and every morning after, found Jorem headed for the top of the hill.  The first sevenday had been the worst.  Between being thoroughly bruised and totally out of shape he didn’t get first meal until nearly midday.
    He had agreed to pay for Neth’s meals at the inn, so she was always there waiting for him.  She gave him just enough time to wolf down a quick meal and change into his armor before marching him out for another beating.  After the second sevenday of this routine, she told him to start wearing his armor on his daily trek up the hill.  She didn’t give him a reason, but he dared not disobey.
    Two days later he was extremely glad he had heeded her order.  He was about halfway up the hill when an armor-clad warrior jumped from behind a