The Guardian Duke: A Forgotten Castles Novel by Jamie Carie Read Free Book Online

been training here for years, with the only man in England left to teach him anything, Roberé Alfieri, an Italian of varied history and reputation. No one knew who he really was, but after seeing him wield every kind of blade from dagger to broadsword, no one cared. Gabriel had been intent on besting him with the small sword for the last year.
    A flash of movement from the corner of his eye had Gabriel turning toward the master swordsman as he entered from a side door. He was wearing all black, a closely fitting shirt and breeches, black stockings, and soft-soled shoes. His sword swung from one hand while he walked as if it weighed nothing and he wore the usual devil-may-care smile on his face. He said something but was too far away for Gabriel to try and make it out by reading his lips, something he still wasn't very good at.
    Shrugging off the comment, he ignored it and plunged on with the ruse that nothing had changed. "Good day, Monsieur Alfieri. I'm afraid I have rather a busy day planned." He lifted his sword in salute. "Shall we?"
    Roberé crooked one brow, a look of curiosity in his eyes sending a shaft of unease through Gabriel's spine. Roberé bowed his head in acquiescence though. A second later he lunged at Gabriel and the fight began.
    A succession of quick parries moving up and down the ballroom floor commenced. But Gabriel knew this was just exercise to prepare them for the more-advanced moves. He took deep breaths and concentrated on the feel of metal meeting metal instead of the fact he couldn't hear the usual clangs and bell-like ringing that accompanied the sport. Like music, swordplay had a tempo, each move a beat and then double beats when an incoming attack was parried. Double-time again when he responded with a riposte. He allowed a crack of a grin.
    He could still do this.
    Sweat dripped down the middle of his back and down one cheek. The vibration of his opponent's sword meeting with his became a new kind of sensory experience, replacing sound. His vision seemed sharper somehow—as if he could slow the movement of the incoming blade for a brief second and respond faster and with more accuracy. They both began to breathe heavy and deep as they moved about the room.
    A sudden thrust from Roberé caught his shoulder. Gabriel sank into a low squat, spun, and rose with a thrust of his own. Roberé deflected it and returned the riposte with quick thrusts, quicker than Gabriel remembered him ever doing. The man was unbelievably fast. Too fast.
    Fear threatened him, beckoning him to give in to the master's skill. Then something rose within him, a greater desire than he'd ever had to best this man and prove there was nothing wrong with him. With a growl from deep in his throat, he concentrated on the cadence of the move, putting the dance back into the powerful thrusts and focusing less on the incoming blade and more on perfect footwork. It started to work. He was backing Roberé across the room, almost to the wall.
    A sudden spark of yellow burst through the air with the clang of the swords meeting. It stretched into a line and then, as if exploding, turned into droplets of color in his peripheral vision. It faded before he was even sure he'd seen it, but with the next clash of steel there were more. Several quick parries and it was as if they were standing in yellow raindrops that disappeared before he could track their progress. He became distracted and clumsy.
    Roberé took advantage of the moment. He thrust . . . hard . . . brought the edge of his blade to Gabriel's throat, both of them panting, Gabriel wide-eyed with shock and confusion. The colors disappeared as fast as they had appeared. Roberé leaned into Gabriel's face and grinned, pressing his sword just hard enough to prick the skin as he had done to him countless times.
    Roberé cracked a smile. "Give up, Your Grace?" his lips said.
    Gabriel backed away and bowed. "Well done, Monsieur Alfieri."
    Roberé said something else, but Gabriel couldn't