"This is the perfect place." Ash turned slightly to gaze around the clearing. "Quiet, hidden. We can catch our breath here. Its a good place to learn while youre waiting for your father to come out of it. When were done here, I have a feeling things will get much more chaotic." He gestured to the sword in her hand. "Your first lesson begins now. Draw your sword."


Ares grew more frantic

She nodded and pulled the sword out.

Unsheathing it sent a raspy shiver across the glen. The blade was thin and slightly curved, an elegant-looking weapon, razor sharp and deadly. There was something about the blade that was...different. The blade was made of steel. Not faery steel. Not a fey sword covered in glamour. Real, ordinary iron. The kind that would burn faery flesh and sear away glamour. The kind that left wounds impossible to heal.

" wait...you gave me an actual steel sword? "

He nodded. "An eighteenth-century Spanish saber. Leanansidhe nearly had a fit when I told her what I wanted, but she was able to track one down in exchange for a favor." He paused then, wincing slightly. "A very large favor."

" oh, wow. Thank you. "

Her nightmare is getting worse. Her claws have unsheathed in her sleep.

He nodded. "You have an advantage with that weapon that none of us can touch. Even the most violent redcap will think twice about facing a real, mortal blade. It wont scare the Iron fey, of course, but thats where training will come in."


That wasn't reassuring, and Ares wasn't going to bite her awake.

" ah, okay. "

A snort. "Youre not going to hit me."