"Daggers?" Wilder suggested.
"No," Ms. Rhodes said. "I want all of you to be comfortable with all weapons. Magical, physical, and anything else you come across." She glanced at Jack to prove what she meant.
"I actually agree," Bracken said as he moved toward Torian. "The Huntsman isn't the only threat either of you will face, Torian. If your latest enemies include a human? What then? Will the mere presence of iron render you useless?"
"I'm not fucking useless!" Torian growled, stepping menacingly toward Bracken.
"You can't think past your anger," Bracken taunted. "You're reactive, blinded by your conviction that Aspen's too weak to handle herself, and - "
Torian shoved out with one hand, but my zez was faster. Stepping sideways, Bracken caught Torian's arm, used the boy's motion against him, and twisted his wrist enough to pin Torian's back to Bracken's chest. It was all over in a split second except the swirling of blonde and black hair.
"If I can best you that easily," Bracken hissed against Torian's ear, "then Keir and Hawke can too. Rain will before the month's out. And you? You'll just be a royal little shit stain."
"Then where would Aspen be?" Keir asked, adding to Bracken's point.
But Bracken had already let go of Torian and stepped back. "So learn. Be a dick about it. Throw around as much magic as you want. I don't care if it's enchantments, glamours, or conjurations. The six of you need to learn from each other. Stop trying to be individuals and become part of a whole."
"And then?" I asked.
My zez sighed heavily. "I don't actually know, Rain. I heard about the graffiti in the main building this morning. I know Aspen has been targeted over and over. It's clear someone is trying it again, and the truth is, we're worried. Your dad and me, I mean."
"I am too," Ms. Rhodes admitted. "Look, something is brewing. We can guess what, but we can't be sure. I'd much rather all of you were too well prepared instead of not prepared enough."
"I can teach them," Keir offered.
"No," Ms. Rhodes said. "This isn't a chance for everyone here to learn physical combat. What I'm hoping the group of you willfigure out is how tofight.How to mix every skill you all have into one single, terrifying force."
"How to be ready for anything," I said softly.
"Exactly," Bracken agreed. "If it's not one thing, it'll be another - and likely one after the other. That's the bane of royalty, kids. I'm sorry, but it is."
"I never wanted to be royal," Aspen mumbled.
"But we need you to be," Bracken told her. "Aspen, you're a good queen. You'll only get better from here, but don't you dare try to be your father."
"I never really knew him," she admitted.
"He was a good man," Ms. Rhodes told her. "Fair, if hard at times. An excellent fighter, precise with his magic, and he should have reigned a lot longer than he did."
"Yeah," Aspen mumbled.
I shifted closer to rub her shoulder. "But you aren't him," I said. "Don't try to be. Just do what you think is right, because that's the best we've got. I mean, I figure being a queen can't be that much different from finding out I'm the Morrigan."
"She got more warning," Torian said.
Wilder chuckled under his breath. "But I think Rain has a point. So does Ms. Rhodes."
"And you," Ms. Rhodes said, looking at Hawke. "You also killed a hunter. That isn't an ability we knew about. I'd prefer you don't kill any students, but if it's between your life - all of the courts' - or theirs? I will stand with you. You have my word."
"I'd prefer to keep my heritage secret," Hawke said. "I mean, I didn't really want to tell anyone else..."
"I'm glad you did," Keir told him. "Kinda saved my life."
"Totally saved your life," Hawke countered.
"So figure it out," Bracken said before gesturing towards the doorway and tipping his head at Ms. Rhodes. "We'll leave you to it. Figure out what you need, and tomorrow we'll start workingwith various weapons. If you need assistance, I am here, but I will stay out of your way."
Which made Torian flip his hand, casting a shimmer of green across the walls. "And we'd like our privacy. You may think you know everything, but we still have secrets, Bracken."
