DAUGHTER OF ASH AND NIGHT

Aliana sat in silence, her back straight and rigid, as the heavy doors of Kaelith's chamber shut behind the guards. The air in the room was thick with tension, the dim glow of lanterns casting flickering shadows along the stone walls. She clenched her fists in her lap, willing herself to remain composed despite the turmoil twisting inside her.

The court had been a spectacle of power and cruelty, a stage upon which she had been nothing more than an unwilling player. King Regnar's cold, assessing gaze, the barely concealed disdain in Queen Elira's voice, and Vael's amused smirk still lingered in her mind. And then there was Kaelith, standing apart, his face unreadable, his golden eyes burning with something she couldn't decipher.

She was alive, but she did not feel safe.

A rustle of fabric broke the silence. She turned to see Kaelith removing his cloak, his movements measured and devoid of urgency. He did not speak, did not acknowledge her presence as he unfastened the silver clasps at his shoulders and draped the garment over a chair.

Aliana swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze when he finally turned to her. His expression was impassive, but there was a sharpness to his eyes that made her stomach tighten.

"You held your tongue," he said at last, his voice as cold as the marble floors beneath her feet. "That was wise."

Aliana bristled at his words. "As if I had a choice."

Kaelith tilted his head slightly, regarding her with mild amusement. "There is always a choice. You could have begged. Cried. Thrown yourself at the Queen's feet and pleaded for mercy."

"I doubt it would have mattered," she replied, keeping her voice even. "You knew that, didn't you? That nothing I said or did would change their minds."

His lips curved slightly, though it was not a smile. "You're learning."

She let out a slow breath, her hands tightening into fists. "And what happens now?"

Kaelith stepped closer, his presence overwhelming despite the deliberate space between them. "Now, you survive. If you're clever."

Aliana's heart pounded in her chest. "And if I'm not?"

His gaze darkened. "Then you will wish you had died in that courtroom."

The room felt suffocating, the weight of his words pressing down on her like a heavy shroud. She did not doubt him. He had shown her already that kindness was not in his nature, that whatever reason he had for binding her to him, it was not born of mercy.

She straightened her spine, lifting her chin in quiet defiance. "I won't break," she said, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her insides.

Kaelith's expression remained unreadable, but something flickered in his eyes—something sharp, almost dangerous. "We'll see."

Without another word, he turned and strode toward the adjoining chamber, leaving Aliana alone in the dim light. The door clicked shut behind him, and she let out a shaky breath, her body trembling with the weight of everything that had transpired.

She had survived the court. She had survived Kaelith's cold indifference and the cruel scrutiny of the royal family. But survival was not enough.

She needed to find a way to live.

---

Later in the day, a soft knock at the door startled Aliana from her thoughts. A young maid stepped inside, bowing slightly before speaking. "My lady, Lord Kaelith demands your presence at the training grounds."

Aliana blinked. The training grounds? Why would he summon her there?

She hesitated before responding, glancing toward the door. "I'm not yet familiar with the palace. Can you escort me there?"

The maid nodded. "Of course, my lady. Please, follow me."

As they walked through the winding corridors of the palace, Aliana seized the opportunity to learn more. "What do you know about Lord Kaelith?" she asked cautiously.

The maid hesitated, her eyes darting around as if making sure no one else was listening. "He is not a man to be trifled with," she said quietly. "Most fear him… and for good reason."

Aliana frowned. "And you? Do you fear him?"

The maid swallowed. "I fear what he is capable of. He is powerful, ruthless. But he is also… fair, in his own way."

"Fair?" Aliana echoed skeptically.

The maid nodded. "He does not tolerate incompetence, nor does he waste time with unnecessary cruelty. But when he gives an order, it is absolute. Disobedience is not an option."

Aliana processed this, filing the information away. "And the Queen? What is she like?"

The maid's expression darkened. "She is… different. Colder. Her kindness is a mask, and those who fail to see beneath it do not last long."

A chill ran down Aliana's spine. "And Vael?"

The maid's lips pressed into a thin line. "He enjoys playing games, and he enjoys watching others suffer. Do not trust him."

They turned a corner, and the training grounds came into view.

"Thank you," Aliana said.

The maid nodded once, a small smile playing at her lips. "Be careful, my lady."

---

The training grounds were vast, an open space of hard-packed earth bordered by stone walls. Soldiers sparred with wooden and steel weapons, the air ringing with the clash of metal against metal.

Aliana spotted Kaelith near the center, his stance relaxed but commanding. He turned as she approached, golden eyes assessing her with cold detachment.

"You summoned me," she said

"You expect me to fight?"

"I expect you to learn," he corrected. He stepped forward without preamble, gripping her hair and swiftly twisting it into a tight bun.

Aliana stiffened at the sudden touch. "What are you—?"

"You are here to train," Kaelith said coolly, securing the knot with a strip of cloth. "Leaving your hair down is a liability."

Aliana clenched her teeth, both at his audacity and at the realization that he was right. She exhaled sharply. "Fine."

Kaelith smirked, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Try to keep up."

His lip curled slightly, though whether in amusement or disdain, she couldn't tell. "You'll learn that in war, hesitation gets you killed. I won't tolerate it here."

She swallowed hard, her fingers tightening at her sides. "I didn't ask to be here."

Kaelith took a slow step toward her, the air between them crackling with unspoken tension. "No, you didn't. But you're here now, and you will either adapt or perish. There is no in-between."

A muscle in her jaw twitched, but she refused to look away. "So, what do you expect me to do? Pick up a sword and fight like your warriors? I have no training."

Kaelith gestured toward the weapons rack. "Then it's time you learn."

She hesitated before stepping closer, her gaze sweeping over the array of swords, daggers, and staffs. The weight of the moment pressed down on her—she had spent her life cleaning hearths and mending clothes, not wielding weapons. Her fingers brushed over the hilt of a sword, cool and unfamiliar beneath her touch.

"Too heavy," Kaelith observed. "You'll lose control of your swing before you even land a hit."

Aliana exhaled sharply, pulling her hand back. "Then what do you suggest?"

He studied her for a moment before reaching past her, plucking a wooden practice dagger from the rack. "Start with this."

She frowned, reluctant. "A dagger? That seems hardly useful if I'm expected to fight warriors twice my size."

Kaelith smirked, though there was no kindness in it. "Then you'll have to be twice as quick."

He tossed the dagger toward her, and she barely caught it before it clattered to the ground. Her fingers closed around the hilt, the wood rough and unfamiliar. Kaelith stepped back, motioning for her to follow him toward the open space of the training yard.

"We'll begin with footwork," he instructed, drawing his own blade. "You need to learn how to move before you learn how to strike."

She squared her shoulders. "Fine. Show me."

Kaelith didn't hesitate. He lunged forward in a blur, his blade slicing through the air, stopping just inches from her side. Aliana barely had time to react before he stepped back again, his expression impassive.

"Again," he said. "Move."

She gritted her teeth and tried to mimic his movements, but she was too slow, too unsure. Kaelith moved like a predator, each step calculated, while she felt like a child fumbling in the dark. Her frustration grew with every failed attempt.

"You're thinking too much," he muttered, circling her. "Your enemy won't wait for you to figure it out. You need to trust your instincts."

"What instincts?" she snapped. "I've never fought a day in my life!"

Kaelith's gaze darkened. "Then fight for your life now."

Without warning, he moved again, his blade flashing. Aliana barely managed to jump back, her pulse racing. She gripped the dagger tightly, shifting her stance. The next time he struck, she twisted, narrowly avoiding the blow.

A ghost of a smile flickered across Kaelith's lips. "Better. Again."

For what felt like hours, they moved in a deadly dance—her dodging, him pressing forward. Sweat slicked her skin, her muscles ached, but she didn't back down. Every time she faltered, he pushed her harder. Every time she hesitated, he made her pay for it.

Finally, Kaelith stepped back, lowering his blade. "Enough for today."

Aliana staggered slightly, breathing hard. "That's it?"

"For now," he confirmed, his tone unreadable. "You'll return tomorrow."

She wiped a hand across her forehead, nodding. As she turned to leave, Kaelith spoke again.

"You lasted longer than I expected."

Aliana paused, glancing back at him. Was that… a compliment?

Kaelith merely held her gaze for a moment before turning away, already calling for the next soldier to spar with him.

As she walked away, something settled deep in her chest. She had survived her first day in the training yard.

And tomorrow, she would prove she could survive even more.