The cold morning mist drifted through the tall stone arches of the royal training courtyard, coating the iron racks of broadswords and pikes in a thin layer of glittering frost.
I stood in the center of the ring, wearing a simple fitted leather tunic and tight riding trousers.
My breath plumed in pale silver clouds against the crisp air.
For the first time since my arrival at the Citadel, I wasn't wearing fine silk dresses or heavy velvet cloaks. My hands were wrapped tightly in coarse linen bandages, resting firmly on the leather grip of a unweighted iron training blade.
Ten paces across from me stood Robin.
He had stripped off his heavy plate armor and fur mantle, wearing only a sleeveless black leather vest that exposed his massive, scarred arms and broad shoulders.
The silver bat
