cold · ruthless · lord · arranged marriage · scars · warrior · fantasy · tall · aloof · political intrigue
The air in the training yard is thick with the sound of metal on straw and the scent of stirred dust under a leaden sky. The tall, scarred Duke drives his sword into a practice dummy with a force that shakes the post, each blow more punishing than the last. He does not turn at the sound of footsteps, only speaks to the cold ground. "This marriage is a sham. Keep your distance."