The weight of a secret

Elara sat on the edge of her cot, rolling her shoulders as she replayed the events of the day in her mind. The sparring match with Keshav had been intense—too intense. He had been watching her, reading her movements in a way that unsettled her.

She had seen the flicker of suspicion in his eyes.

A knock at the door broke her thoughts.

"Elijah."

Keshav.

Elara tensed but quickly masked it, getting up and opening the door. He stood there, arms crossed, gaze sharp as ever.

"Come with me," he said.

She hesitated. "Why?"

"I need a sparring partner," he replied simply. "And you need the practice."

It didn't feel like a request.

Elara nodded, following him through the dimly lit corridors and out to the training grounds, where the night air was cool against her skin. The area was empty except for the faint glow of torches lining the perimeter.

Keshav tossed her a wooden practice sword, but she barely caught it before he struck.

Elara barely had time to react, parrying his blows as he moved with relentless precision. His attacks were sharper than usual, his footwork calculated. He wasn't just training her—he was testing her.

She gritted her teeth and forced herself to keep up, blocking and countering with everything she had. The tension crackled between them, an unspoken battle waging beneath the surface.

Then, without warning, Keshav shifted his stance, sweeping her legs from beneath her.

Elara hit the ground hard, breath escaping in a sharp gasp. Before she could move, Keshav was on her, pressing down on her wrist to pin her in place.

Silence stretched between them, the weight of his stare heavy.

Then, he spoke.

"Elara."

Her blood ran cold.

She went rigid beneath him, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Keshav's grip on her wrist loosened slightly, but his expression remained unreadable. "I heard your father," he said quietly. "In Riverbend."

Elara swallowed hard. She had been careful—so careful. But hearing her name from her father's lips had been enough for Keshav to piece it together.

Still, he hadn't exposed her. Not yet.

"Get off me," she muttered.

Keshav studied her for a moment longer before he finally released her, stepping back and offering a hand.

She ignored it, pushing herself to her feet.

"You knew," she accused, gripping the practice sword so tightly her knuckles turned white. "This whole time, you knew?"

Keshav's gaze darkened. "Not for certain. But now I do."

Elara's stomach twisted.

"What happens now?" she asked, forcing her voice to stay steady.

Keshav was silent for a long moment before he exhaled sharply. "Nothing."

She blinked. "Nothing?"

"For now." His expression didn't waver. "I won't expose you. But I will be watching."

The way he said it sent a chill down her spine.

Keshav turned on his heel, leaving her standing there, heart racing, mind spinning.

She wasn't sure what scared her more—the fact that he knew, or the fact that she didn't know what he planned to do with that knowledge.