Wizard of the Grove Read Online Free Page A

could order him to remain here,” suggested the duke, not at all pleased to have both the king and his only heir in such danger.
    â€œI could, but I’ll be damned if I’ll chain my son to the walls.” Raen smiled ruefully. “And that’s what I’d have to do to keep him here.”
    *   *   *
    By the time Rael arrived at the Elite’s training yard, the euphoria was beginning to fade. Though the news of his appointment had obviously preceded him, the Elite weren’t yet ready to change their allegiance from captain and king/commander to captain, king, and prince/commander. Every one of them, soldier and servant, politely ignored him as he made his way to the practice ring.
    Doan, the captain, perched on the top rail of the fence surrounding the ring, looking like a well-armed gargoyle. He welcomed the prince with a grunt and slapped the rail in invitation, never once taking his eyes off the men training.
    Rael climbed up and sat down, a little farther from Doan than was strictly polite. He couldn’t help himself; something about the captain put him on edge. It wasn’t the man’s appearance—although the barrel chest, bandy legs, and habitual scowl made him far from appealing—it was more the feeling of tremendous power just barely under control that he seemed to project. Palace rumor whispered Doan had dwarf blood and Rael believed it. When he looked at the captain through his mother’s eyes, he felt the same strong belonging to the land that he felt in the Grove but none of the peace or serenity.
    Wood cracked on wood and then wood on bone and then one of the men in the ring was down, blood streaming from a cut on his forehead, his quarterstaff lying useless on the sand beside him.
    â€œGet him out of there,” grunted Doan. He turned to the prince and pointed at his sword with a gnarled finger. “The swordmaster says you know how to use that thing.”
    Rael’s back stiffened. He’d never trained with the Elite, for theirs was a very close fraternity, but Doan had seen him work with the Palace Guard often enough to know he could use his sword. And his strength and speed were common knowledge.
    â€œShow me.”
    As regally as he was able, Rael shrugged and slid off the fence. He drew his sword and tossed his scabbard to one side.
    Suddenly, every Elite not on duty surrounded the ring.
    Rael looked around at the grinning faces, swallowed nervously, andmet the eyes of the captain. They reflected the early morning light in such a way they appeared to glow deeply red. Rael swallowed again and his chin went up. So the new commander had to prove he was worthy, did he? Well, he’d show them.
    â€œWho do I fight?”
    A slow smile spread over the guard captain’s face. “Me,” he said. “Your Highness.” And he dropped into the ring.
    Doan’s attack came so quickly, the fight almost ended before it truly began. To Rael’s astonishment, his strength and speed alone were not enough and he was forced to use every bit of skill the swordmaster had drilled into him over the years. The prince was a slender flame tipped with steel. Doan stood solid, each movement deliberate and so slow next to the Lady’s son that it seemed he must be cut to shreds. But Rael could not get past his guard, and when their swords met he had to use all of his unworldly strength to block the blow.
    Less than three minutes later it was finished.
    Doan bent and retrieved Rael’s sword. “You’ll do,” he said as he handed it over. “Commander.”
    A cheer went up from the surrounding Elite and Rael became aware that a great deal of coin was changing hands. Snatches of conversation drifted back from the dispersing men.
    â€œ. . . told you he’d get his own in . . .”
    â€œ. . . expected the captain to beat him to his