“Good morning to you too, Sunshine,” Caldon returned, tweaking her nose.
She pulled a face and followed him outside, whinging all the way. As if to punish her sour attitude, he made her do double the amount of box steps and added an extra two running laps, leaving her in agony but also feeling proud of herself when she only vomited once.
“I think I’m getting better at this,” Kiva panted after they finished their final lap.
“We’re not done yet, Sweet Cheeks,” Caldon said, his breathing perfectly steady.
Kiva was about to object, partly because she was exhausted, and partly because she wanted to get to Blackwater Bog, find her grandmother, and return to the palace before anyone realized she’d been gone.
But then Caldon revealed two wooden swords, and her excitement at holding a weapon, childproof or not, made her swallow her complaint.
“You’re not ready for real steel,” the prince told her, “but we can start practicing some basic forms, getting you used to the feel of it in your hands and building on your core strength.”
Kiva tossed the blade from hand to hand. “It’s a bit light, isn’t it?”
Mirth filled Caldon’s expression. “Let’s see if you’re still saying that when we finish.”
Kiva was naively confident when he guided her through some introductory moves, reminding her to retain the correct posture he’d been drilling into her for days. He kept his own wooden blade sheathed, making her slice into the air, her abdominal muscles squeezing as she turned her hips at his command, thrusting and parrying with snail speed.
“It’s all about control, about balance,” Caldon told her. “With a heckuva lot of repetition.”
Within minutes, Kiva’s muscles were burning — all of them. At any one time, she had to be in complete control of her body, while still listening carefully to Caldon’s merciless corrections: “Look up!” “Back straight!” “Watch your feet!” “Slow down!” “Tighten your core!”
Toward the end, he ordered her to speed up, forcing her into a set of quick steps, lunges, and constant footwork that demanded perfect balance and concentration. When he finally said she could stop, she wasn’t only physically shattered, but mentally, too.
“That wasn’t terrible,” Caldon said, looking down at Kiva, who had collapsed spread-eagled on the ground. “But we have a lot of work to do.”
Kiva whimpered. “Would you care if I told you the only part of me that doesn’t hurt is my hair?”
“I’d care,” Caldon answered. He grinned and added, “Because as long as any part of you doesn’t hurt, that means I need to push you harder tomorrow.”
Kiva didn’t have the energy to reply. Or cry, which was what she really felt like doing. Never before had she been more grateful for Rhessinda’s quick-acting muscle relaxant powder that was waiting in her room — if only she could summon the strength to get there.
“All right, Sweet Cheeks, I’ll help you out, just this once,” Caldon said, hauling her up to her feet.
“You’re too kind,” Kiva groused — or she tried to, but her words ended in a pain-filled groan as she sought to keep her legs from crumpling beneath her.
“Usually, yes,” Caldon agreed. “But today it’s also for self-serving reasons.”
“With you, it usually is.”
“Be nice,” Caldon said, “or I won’t play tour guide.”
It took Kiva a second to realize what he’d said. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Your boyfriend felt bad about leaving you,” Caldon informed her, wiping a speck of dirt off his training shirt, “so he asked me to entertain you while he’s gone. Show you the city, introduce you to the best of Vallenia, that kind of thing.”
The pain fled Kiva as dread took hold. “That’s really not necessary.” Quickly, she added, “And he’s not my boyfriend.”
Caldon waved a hand. “Semantics.”
“Seriously,” Kiva said, “I’m fine keeping my own company.”
“Be that as it may, I made my cousin a promise,” Caldon said, collecting her wooden sword and nudging her toward the training yard exit. “Until Jaren returns, you and I will be spending some quality time together. Lots and lots of quality time.” With another easy grin and a quick wink, he finished, “Consider me your new best friend, Sunshine. Where you go, I go. Doesn’t that sound fun?”