Sometimes they’d have to tell one of us to dial back the skill a few notches.” He grinned at her, and it crinkled at the corners of those eyes in a very distracting way.

Because Cyprian wouldn’t be as battle-hardened and wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn swordplay in the same way.” “So if they take each character’s history into account, someone like Cyprian shouldn’t fight as capably as, say, Aeneas. Fascinating and disorienting, all at once. It was like watching a ghost become corporeal once more. He was gesturing with his broad hands now, punctuating his points with little waves and slashes. His blue-gray eyes were bright and intent on hers, willing to her understand the greatness of the Gods of the Gates crew, the extent of their hard work. Always looking ahead, always striving to make each scene convincing and spectacular and memorable.” “Some of those big battle sequences, they’d start preparing us months ahead,” he added. Especially for a man whose vanity was legendary. He was very skilled at erasing his own efforts from the narrative, though. In other words: Yes, with their help and guidance, he’d practiced a lot. Then they’d run us through the sequences again and again, until we knew exactly what to do and when to do it.” “The fight coordinators and choreographers, the stunt coordinators, worked like hell to make sure each battle scene not only looked impressive, but fit each character’s personality and history and the specific goals and mindset they’d have for that particular fight. And if I look capable on screen while fighting, that’s due to them too.” “How to walk, how to sit, how to stand at attention. “From the moment I was cast, they started teaching me how to handle my sword and shield in a way that would look second-nature, as if I’d been doing it my whole life.” This time, she didn’t need to ask him to elaborate. Any skill with the sword I have, I owe to them.” “Okay.” Putting down his cutlery, he leaned forward. “Sure.” That might prove as revelatory as any other topic, she figured.

Spoiler alert olivia dade read online