CHAPTER NINETEEN

ANYWHERE

Finn ran toward the commotion with his sword drawn. When he got to the cobblestone road, he could see many ships in the harbor below. A few of the ships were burning, and he could see people by the docks scrambling. They were too far away to make out, but he assumed they were local fishmongers fleeing the approaching raiders. He started to head toward the shore when a strong hand took hold of his arm.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Ronin asked, calm as ever.

“There are raiders in the bay.” Finn pointed with his sword.

“I didn’t ask you what you saw. I asked what you were doing.”

“I’m going to help,” he said, breaking free of Ronin’s grip.

“No, you aren’t.”

Finn noticed that Ronin was wearing his sword down his back. He rarely ever saw his trainer with a real weapon unless it was made of bamboo. Finn sheathed his sword but made no move to leave.

“Are you going to fight?” he asked Ronin. His trainer nodded his head as he tied his hair back out of his face.

“But King Mashu has his Shadows for that. Why should you risk your life?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Ronin said with a faint smile. “Though I think I know the answer.” Finn looked down at his feet to spare himself Ronin’s gaze. Did everyone know of his feelings for Ivy? Everyone except for Kal, it would seem.

“Stay here,” Ronin ordered. “I don’t want to see you near this battle. The king has been informed that some raiders may have made it ashore already. His Shadows are hunting them down.”

Finn stood and watched Ronin walk off to battle, as calm as if he was going to pick up his tea.

Back at the barracks, Finn saw a Shadow standing guard at Ivy’s door. He went to move past him, but the Shadow blocked his path.

“May I enter?” Finn asked sarcastically.

“No,” he said, keeping his gaze on the wall across from him.

“Why not?”

“I have orders from Ser Osmund not to let anyone in or out of this door.”

Finn shook his head. “You can’t keep her locked up in there! She’s not a child!”

“No one in or out,” the Shadow repeated.

Finn growled and went down the hall, pounding on Ser Osmund’s door. The old knight answered immediately, then looked angry when he realized it was Finn who stood there. “Oh. What do you want?”

“Let Ivy out. We’re supposed to practice today.”

“I don’t care about your practice. There are raiders on the island!”

“She isn’t a child!” Finn yelled. “I’ll keep her safe, and we’ll only—”

Ser Osmund scoffed. “You’ll keep her safe? I wouldn’t place her life in your hands. I barely know you.”

“You know me well enough, it would seem,” Finn said, taking a step toward him.

“Feelings don’t protect people, Finn. Now go away. I have to meet with the king.” Ser Osmund closed the door on Finn.

He walked past the Shadow, shooting him a glare as he entered his room, then went outside and jumped over to Ivy’s side to see her leaning against her door. Finn cleared his throat, and she twirled around. “Were you listening?” he asked. She nodded her head. Finn suddenly felt embarrassed, knowing she heard him talking with Ser Osmund.

Feelings don’t protect people.

Finn blushed and looked away from her. “Ronin has gone to fight,” he told her.

Ivy tied on her boots and strapped her sword belt around her waist, keeping her gold scarf tied around the belt.

“What are you doing?” Finn asked.

“Didn’t you come to get me?”

“I was just…I just wanted to—”

“See if I was alright? I’m fine, so let’s go.”

“Go where?”

“Don’t you want to see Ronin fighting?”

“Ivy.” Finn lowered his voice. “If the Shadow knows you’re gone—”

“They’ll what? Lock me in my room?” She smiled up at him, and Finn couldn’t resist her spirit. He grinned and relented, telling her to hurry.

They climbed down the flower wall to the first-floor balcony and ran through the practice yard, staying hidden behind the trees off the main road. Ivy hadn’t been down this road since she arrived here on Kame Island over two months ago.

Ivy and Finn raced through the trees down the hill, stopping to duck as Shadows rode by on horses as black as night. They could hear the commotion and the sounds of battle as they drew near. Finn grabbed her hand and pulled her into a bamboo forest, and Ivy allowed him to lead her deeper into the woods, savoring the warmth of his hand wrapped around hers.

They found a spot to crouch down just above the harbor. The civilians had all cleared out, and King Mashu’s warships could be seen in the distance, shooting flaming arrows at the raiders’ ships. A few caught fire and men could be seen jumping overboard, but a clash of steel drew their attention to the dirt street where fishmongers had set up their tables. Shadows were fighting against a small boat that was unloading raiders. They spotted Ronin off by himself, fighting three raiders at once. Ivy watched with excitement in her eyes; it was true that the man moved like water.

He was too far away for Ivy to see his face, but she knew Ronin gave away nothing. The raiders wouldn’t know where he was moving until he was already there. Ronin guided his thin sword to meet the first raider, easily slashing through the raider’s arm, flowing around him, and then stabbed his sword through the back of his neck. The other two came at him at once. Ronin ducked as the first blade sailed over his head, almost hitting his fellow raider. He moved about them on feet lighter than feathers. Ivy would bet he made no noise when he moved like that.

The second man charged, and Ronin didn’t even turn around as he slid his sword back, skewering the man through the chest. He pulled his sword out and stood still, waiting for the raider to come to him. Ronin didn’t lead his enemy, nor back away from them. He only killed when he was approached. The lone raider stood hesitating, waiting for Ronin to make a move.

Instead, Ronin held his sword behind his back and stood completely still. The raider thought he had a chance and squared up with Ronin, who still didn’t move. The raider swung his sword down, and Ronin slid from its path, letting the sword hit the dirt as if Ronin was never there. The raider swung his sword up, and Ronin sidestepped. As the raider aimed for Ronin’s head, he ducked and slid around the raider before he could do anything.

Ronin gripped his sword with both hands and swung at the man’s torso. Ivy couldn’t believe it. Had Ronin missed the man? The raider was still standing, seemingly untouched. He took a few steps toward Ronin before the top half of the man slid off, the legs buckling before going down. Finn and Ivy looked at each other, shock written on both of their faces. Neither one of them had ever seen Ronin truly fight, but they had heard the stories. Now they had witnessed for themselves how truly dangerous their trainer was.

Later that evening, Ivy walked out the door of her room and met Finn in the hallway for their nightly practice. The Shadow had been taken off her door soon after the fighting ended. The king told Ser Osmund that the immediate threat was gone for now, and Ivy would be safe.

King Mashu’s Shadows informed him that the raiders had all been killed or driven back to Xanheim. It was still early in the evening, and the sun wasn’t fully set, but Finn and Ivy were too excited for practice after watching Ronin fight earlier. They squared up immediately, both smiling at the other before Ivy attacked.

Ivy lunged and jabbed her sword into Finn’s thigh, twirling around him as she swung her sword overhead and stopped it at his neck.

“That was a lucky shot,” Finn said. “I was distracted.”

“By what?” she teased, shrugging her shoulder.

Finn shook his head, a blush creeping up his cheeks before they tapped swords to let each other know they were ready this time. They came together, blocking and landing hits each as frequently as the other. He was stronger than Ivy, but she knew he’d been holding back. Ivy landed another killing blow, slashing at the artery in his leg. She stopped and stood in front of him, crossing her arms.

“What?” he asked innocently.

“Stop holding back. How will I learn if you don’t use your full strength? Do you think every man I fight will be of equal strength to my own?”

“Fine,” he relented. “I won’t hold back.”

“Promise?” She held her hand out for him to shake. He took it and repeated the word.

This time when they came together, Finn almost knocked Ivy off her feet. He swung his sword down, and she dodged it just in time, sliding in the sand to get behind him. He turned around and brought his sword down to meet Ivy’s. With their swords crossing, Ivy was struggling to keep his weight off her. His russet eyes smiled at her as Ivy struggled. Finn pushed harder, and Ivy felt her knees buckle, but she swept her leg to trip him just as she was falling.

They crashed to the sand, and Finn tried to get back up, but she kicked the back of his knee, and he came crashing down in the sand again. “What the—”

Ivy leaped on his back and flung her weight backward, bringing him down with her. The two struggled in the sand, out of breath and laughing so hard their lungs were on fire.

The two rolled in the sand for what seemed like a long time before Finn tried to crawl to his sword, but Ivy held his ankle. Finn launched himself back and pinned her to the sand, holding her wrists down so she couldn’t hit him. Ivy struggled against his strength, but the two were laughing so hard that Ivy could hardly fight back anymore.

“Why did you tackle me?” Finn asked between breaths, still smiling.

“Fighting isn’t only meant for swords,” Ivy breathed. “Besides, if I go down, you’re coming with me.”

“I’d follow you anywhere,” Finn blurted, half to himself.

Ivy stopped giggling and stared up at him for a long moment. He felt her shift under his weight and lift her head slightly. They were close enough that he could see shards of gray that cut through the purple in her eyes. Finn felt her breath brush across his lips and quickly released her wrists, moving off her to sit in the sand.

Ivy sat up and shook the sand from her hair, which was knotted from their fight. Finn lay back in the sand, trying to catch his breath, though it wasn’t the fight that stole it—it was Ivy. He battled with himself every day inside his head. Part of him wanted more with her, but he knew she would be leaving as soon as it was safe. Sometimes he felt it was a mistake getting to know her, for it could only bring pain. But Ivy was like a pool of cold water on a hot summer day, and he couldn’t stay away.

Finn buried his shaky hands under the sand, feeling the cold spots that hadn’t seen the sun all day. Ivy lay back as well, and they stared up at the darkening sky above them, neither one speaking.

A jolt of electricity shot through Finn when he felt Ivy’s hand grab hold of his underneath the sand. He laced their fingers together, running his thumb over her soft skin as his heart beat out of control. Ivy’s cheeks were rosy, and Finn felt drawn to her. He couldn’t take it anymore.

He gave in to his feelings and scooched closer to her, feeling the warmth of Ivy alongside his body. When his gaze drifted to her lips, Ivy smiled sweetly, and Finn gladly moved toward them. When she didn’t pull away, he thought his heart might burst and kill him before he could kiss her. They were only a few inches apart, a shared breath away. The electricity between them was palpable, all-consuming, but then Finn saw a figure out of the corner of his eye.