Pirate Princess by Catherine Banks Read Free Book Online Page A

leg where he was open. He blocked it with a dagger in his left hand and we stood facing each other, his arms crossed over his body as he held me back. I moved my dagger back to make him think I was about to use it, but then kicked his right shin. He grunted from the impact and before I could move backwards from him, he knocked my legs out from under me and sat across my stomach with a sword headed towards my throat. I blocked his sword with my sword and dagger and tried to push him back, but I wasn’t anywhere near as strong as him.
    “Submit,” I said with a groan.
    He stood up, put his weapons away and held out his hand to help me stand up. If it had been anyone else I would have refused, but I took his hand and let him haul me up to my feet. “You’re quite impressive for only being sixteen,” he told me.
    “Thank you. I practice a lot.”
    “Who taught you to fight?” he asked me.
    “My dad and his…warriors,” I said, almost saying crew.
    “You came to us when you were ten,” he said as if I had forgotten.
    “Ten and a half. Yes, I know.”
    “Your father taught you all of this before you were ten?” he asked in shock.
    “The world is a dangerous place,” I told him, “And a noble girl should know how to protect herself in case she doesn’t have any guards present.”
    “When did you start learning to use the sword?” he asked softly.
    “I believe I was three when he gave me my first real sword, but I had a wooden one when I was two or that’s what I was told.”
    He frowned and looked at me as if seeing me for the first time. “I wish I could meet your father.”
    I smiled and said, “I’m sure you two would get along very well.” Until you tried to kill him for being your most wanted criminal.
    “Why didn’t you tell me before about your fighting abilities?” he asked as we headed out of the arena and towards the castle.
    I shrugged. “Esmeralda and I spar a lot, but she just likes to go at a fun, long pace to wear herself out. I never really had the chance to show her what I could really do. And, you have been busy,” I said instead of saying he didn’t pay much attention to me when it came to fighting.
    “Esmeralda never told me you were this excelled at swords.”
    “I held back, but don’t you dare tell her!” I said urgently.
    “Once she sees us practicing together she is going to know, but don’t worry, she won’t be mad at you for long,” he said with a laugh.
    “Has anyone ever had a rank in both the Queen’s Fire and King’s Steel at the same time?”
    “No, you pick one or the other. Esmeralda could have a rank in both as could Faxon, but we are only allowed to choose one.”
    “Why?” I asked curiously. If they could have a rank in both, why not?
    “Faxon is a great example for why not. He could be both Arch Mage and Chief or at least Commander. So what happens if Esmeralda is ill and he has to lead the Queen’s Fire, but we also need him to lead the King’s Steel? He can’t do both at the same time. It would divide his attention.”
    “True, but if he is in both and key people get taken out in one, he can cover the one most in need.”
    “Yes, but we would just move someone from within the faction to that missing spot. You know your faction better than someone outside it.”
    “Why divide them? Why not have them united?”
    “They’re united in battle, as you’ve seen.”
    “Not really, you order the King’s Steel and Esmeralda orders the Queen’s Fire and though you are side by side, the two are not one.”
    He stopped walking and looked at me in shock. “You’re just full of surprises.”
    “If you allowed those who could be in both to do so, you would allow for greater coverage. What if a mysterious plague takes out half the King’s Steel and someone attacks at that moment? If you allowed mages to be ranked in the King’s Steel you could move some over and we would be able to defend ourselves without a halt in process.”
    “As if we