POV: ASHER

  The collar of my shirt tightened around my neck as my opponent slammed me against the wall, knocking the air from my lungs. One of his fists clenched my undershirt just below my throat, the other winding back for a second blow. Not again. Sweat dripped from my brow, and my body lit up with pain from every movement.

  Just before his fist connected with the soft skin beneath my eye, I twisted to the right, reared back both legs, and kicked as hard as I could into his chest.

  He flew backward and hit the floor with a heavy crash, and I fell with him, my bruised, and battered body, smashing into the wooden

  floor. I gritted my teeth from the pain, and I tried to push myself up, but my arms gave out from under me.

  That was all I could handle today. I raised my hand up signaling the end of the lesson, then, I half hobbled, half limped to the nearest table.

  "Congratulations, your majesty. You have fought well." The guard who I had practiced with for the day stood, and bowed.

  If well, meant getting thrown like a doll around a room, and then punched in the face several times, then, I guess, I nailed it.

  "Thank you, Sir Caer." I turned and bowed my head, flinching as I realized I just thanked a man who, I think, had broken half my ribs.

  I picked up a wet rag that a maid must have laid out for me, and rubbed it against my forehead. Then, I lifted a glass of fresh cold water, and downed it in one gulp, savoring the chill as it washed the blood from my split lip.

  "Well, that was interesting." My older brother, Ry, stood a couple feet away, grinning. He leaned on a staircase that led towards the West wing of the castle, and his black bangs hung in his face.

  Usually, I practiced with him, a sword, but today, he had been at stupid language lessons, or whatever he needed to prepare for his future reign.

  Language lessons. It was a bunch of bull, if you asked me. Though, of course, no one ever does.

  I snorted as I dragged my fingers through my drenched hair. "Yea. No shit," Just the little motion made my whole arm ache.

  "Why don't you grab a sword so we can do some, actual training?" There was a challenging glint in his eyes. One that I would have loved to wipe from his face, if not for my condition.

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  "Are you joking? I'm going straight to a nurse." I picked up the wet rag and began to walk up the stairs, until my idiotic brother stuck out his foot.

  "C'mon, you need all the practice you can get. People won't let you off just because you broke a couple ribs." I glared at him and scoffed.

  "You're really gonna try and turn this into a lesson?" I said, through clenched teeth. I was still in pain, but the action was more from annoyance, and trying my hardest not to break my brother's jaw.

  I took another step but regretted it immediately as my brother raised his foot, and made me lose my balance. Because of my soar and jelly like legs, I toppled over face first into the edge of a cold, sharp step.

  My nose hit the jagged tile first, and I heard a deep crack followed by flaming pain.

  Great.

  I pushed myself off the step, grabbed my nose, and turned towards the stair where my brother had stood moments before.

  Blood gushed over my hand.

  That little son of a-

  I heard a cluttering sound behind me, and when I turned, I saw my sword on the ground at the feet of one of my guards.

  Well, I saw my sword, the guard, and splats of blood as they dropped down my lips and dribbled off my chin.

  Looks like the guards wanted to see my face bashed in too.

  "You can go to the medic as soon as we finish this." My brother picked up a silver sword and grinned up at me from the training mat.

  "And, don't worry, Ash, I'll go easy on you."

  ***

  

  "I hate you." I sat shirtless on a medic bed, and watched as the healer mended my wounds. I suffered from bruises, crushed ribs, a split lip, a broken nose, and multiple long gashes. Ry sat across from me with his arms crossed, leaning with his cheek on his fist.

  "I know."

  My cuts and bruises vanished in seconds as the healer's hands grazed my skin, and I felt relieved once my injuries were gone, and nothing but faded scars. It was awfully 0painful, but one must endure pain to live.

  After I had been patched up, it was the future king's turn. He hadn't gotten away without a scratch, and I was rather pleased when I saw him limp towards the healer.

  "You boys need to take better care of yourselves." The nurse, otherwise known as Mrs. Legha, knitted her eyebrows at Ry's ankle. She had mended every injury we had ever received, usually with no complaint.

  "Mrs. Legha," Ry said, flashing his most dazzling smile, "why else would we injure ourselves if not to see you? Would you really push us away?"

  She rolled her eyes, but I saw her lips twitch into a reluctant smile. Ry could literally make anyone smile.

  Our attention shifted as there was a knock at the door. "Come in!" Yelled Mrs. Legha, and a guard pushed open the door.

  "Your majesties." He said bowing as he made his entrance. Ry and I signalled for him to stop, and he stood almost as tall as the seven foot ceiling. He wore the patch of a royal guard, a black crow on his shoulder, and his brown eyes immediately searched the room for Ry.

  "Your majesty, Ryak Valletta Trulias, Madam Reese, requires your presence." I almost laughed.

  How formal.

  "Madam Reese", was Ry's courted, other wise known as Lily. She was probably the most snotty, self absorbed royal on this planet. I never understood how Ry could stomach her, much less actually like her.

  Why couldn't she just walk down here and talk to him herself? Did her ego not fit through the door? I laughed to myself again as I watched Ry's smile fall. I guess he didn't want to go.

  Don't blame him.

  As he stood and began to walk away, he raised his arm towards his brow, mimicking a salute.

  "Wish me luck." He said, vanishing into the corridor.