The slow movements continued for an hour, with A'Ran pausing between each new one to adjust her stance as needed. She recognized the same routine from the previous day, only this time they moved through it without swords. When she returned to the starting position, her arms were shaking and her legs burning. A'Ran adjusted her one last time before stepping back and nodding.
"This is the first weapons form warriors are taught," he said.
Kiera lowered her hands and wiped sweat from her forehead. A'Ran appeared none the worse for the session, but she was ready for a hot bath and a nap. He studied her, dark depths taking her in with quiet intensity she was not yet accustomed to. The training had been nothing but politely professional, as if she were another student. The ensuing silence, however, reminded her once more of their awkward status.
"You may use the command center this afternoon," he said.
"You and the Council will be somewhere else?"
A curt nod.
"I assume it's not a woman's place at the Council."
"It is not," he agreed. Before she could be irritated by his words, he continued, "We will discuss matters later."
"What matters?" Kiera asked. "Good matters? Bad matters?"
"Are there bad matters to be discussed?" he asked, an edge to his voice. He raised an eyebrow, his chin lifting in what she recognized as a look very close to commanding.
"I have nothing to discuss," she said. "But if there are issues, I'd like to discuss them now."
"We will discuss matters later," he said once again. "I find nothing alarming in what we will discuss. And I thought you had a matter you wished to tell me as well."
She frowned. She doubted anything would alarm this man if tricking a woman into wedding him and discovering the news of his sisters' impending children did not. There were a great many things she could think of that would be dramatic issues to her. She wasn't about to tell him what she'd overheard Ne'Rin say. No, telling him that she didn't like his most trusted friend seemed … petty.
"I go now to the Council," he said, and strode to the swords. "I will send for you when I am ready."
Kiera grimaced at the distasteful wording. She said nothing as he disappeared into the house, wondering what surprises he had in store for her.
* * *
A'Ran listened to the Council members, uneasy. The Council had been excessively cooperative the past two days, a sign he didn't like. Ne'Rin sat to his right at the largest table within the command center with the Council members arranged by rank to his left.