“Traitor,” I mumbled.
I heard Levent snort from his side of the room as Rio came over and opened the curtains by my head.
“Noo,” I said.
“Come on, we need to go see the Aenlileas and get you set up for your first self-defense lesson. Let’s go!” Rio said, galloping out of the room.
I pressed my face into my pillow for a long moment, debating whether it would be worth it to fall asleep or not with Rio so hyper. Deciding that sleeping was probably not going to get me much of anything, I rolled out of my blanket onto my back and stretched leisurely. When I opened my eyes, Levent Itzallion was looking down at me.
“Gah,” I said, clutching my blankets to my chest. “What?”
“’Defense-lessons’?” he said.
“Yes.” I rolled over so that I was looking at him right side up. “Rio has offered to teach me how to use a blade.”
“You mean a little knife like his?” Levent said, raising an eyebrow and giving a teasing sneer.
“Yes, that,” I said. “And we’re going to find someone to teach me some ways to use a staff.”
“I was thinking Aenlilea Junior,” Rio said, strutting back into the room. “She’s skilled with a pole arm, and it’s not that much different than poking people with a stick. Excuse me.”
Rio walked between Levent and I, and then continued.
“But first we need to get you some equipment.”
Twenty minutes later I found myself in front of a smithy. Levent stood beside me, his nose wrinkling at the smell. Rio charged ahead, diving into the fog of steam and smoke.
I glanced at Levent, who gestured for me to go first. I steeled myself and followed the half-blood inside.
“We need something small. Ah, there you are,” Rio said, turning to me and pulling me closer. The blacksmith that he was talking to was about as wide as I was tall and covered with black hair everywhere but the top of his head.
“Hi,” I said, a quiet mouse among the banging and hissing going on around me.
The blacksmith nodded, pulling out a bit of charcoal. He then began sketching