225 Return to the House of Swords

"My plans for you have changed," Brightblade began. "I won't have you travel to the estate every week, as I originally intended. Instead, you will spend three weeks of each month training with the Houses. The remaining week, I will instruct you at the estate."

Arran was not at all pleased with her words. He had not seen much of Brightblade's strength, but what little he had witnessed was already enough to convince him of her power.

Unless he was sorely mistaken, there would be only a handful of people in the Ninth Valley who could match her.

"But can't you teach me anything they can?" he asked. "And better than them, at that?"

"That's what I originally believed," Brightblade replied. "But I was wrong."

"Wrong? How?" Arran frowned, curious to hear just what power the Houses were hiding.