New and Old Meetings 3

Glade didn't bother to suppress his yawn and he watched the sparring figures of Kane and Pharon in the training court. The dust they kicked up from their rapid movements made clouds in the air and tickled his nose. Glade's sneezes made an odd counterpoint to the dull thwacks of the wooden practice swords. He was bored out of his mind, but Glade still knew one way to liven things up.

"Hey Kane, did you hear? My father ordered Kylara to let you claim her." Kane froze and turned to stare at Glade as he rested on the fence. Kane's face was a mix of hope and dread as an icy fist twisted in his gut. Glade smirked and continued, "yeah, she flat out refused."

Ishmael snorted in Kane's mind, 'you know, she said that 'cause you're bad in bed, right?'

'I'm not bad in bed.' Kane retorted irritably. He'd long gotten used to Ishmael's snarky comments. They barely even registered with him.

Kane glanced at Pharon who was also staring, frozen, at Glade.

"Why- why did she refuse?" Pharon asked.