Lucille would need extra protection. And if Ni’s attack hadn’t proved that, this Damned sure did.
I summoned my wings and nodded at Alexei. “We’re training the hellion.”
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
LUCILLE
Oliver and I ran another nine miles straight with no breaks, but it still wasn’t good enough. We would still end up in the showers with water pelting our bodies tomorrow. We were their daily drug to curb their addiction to inflict pain. At least we no longer ran with wet hair. Moira had Ni dry us off before each run, but today she had to have Ichi pull the water out, since Ni wasn’t there.
We paired off, and Ichi led me to the archery station.
She handed me a bow with a shaky hand, keeping her eyes on the ground, saying nothing. Then she did the same with the arrow, stepping away and turning toward the target. I stared at her, taking in her oily hair and the bags beneath her flushed cheeks.
I opened my mouth, then shut it.
Sighing, I notched the arrow, pulled the drawstring back to the corner of my lip, and released. It flew over the target and clipped the stone wall.
“Shit,” I muttered, taking another arrow from Ichi without looking, accidentally touching her hand.
She jerked back and bowed low, the end of her long hair resting in the dirt. “I’m so sorry.”
My brows knitted together when she didn’t come up from her bow. “Ichi?” I touched her shoulder, and she flinched.
This wasn’t the place to bow and shake. I surveyed the arena—most of the warriors were busy training, but some were exchanging words and glances.
“It was dishonorable,” she whispered.
This wasn’t about accidentally touching my hand. But she couldn’t do this here.
I latched onto her shoulders and lifted her. She kept her chin down.
“I don’t blame you or your sister for what happened,” I murmured.
Still, she kept her gaze lowered. “I didn’t report the bite. I reported that Ni was attacked and asked for a day off to care for her. I told the general she was fine but needed rest, and he never questioned me.” She paused, taking a shuddering breath. “But I didn’t report the bite and lied. That is dishonorable.”
“You were protecting your sister. Is that not honorable?”
Ichi shook her head. “Not if it’s at the cost of your tamashii.”
“Tamashii?”
“Soul,” she said, finally meeting my gaze with her one good eye. “Tamashii is sacred in our culture. To let it be corrupted is more than shameful. It dishonors your whole bloodline.” Her lip wobbled, and her eye turned glossy.
I stepped toward her to pull her in for a hug, and a clattering sword reminded me where I was.
“Your sister didn’t corrupt me. And I would never associate either of you with the word dishonorable.” I stepped back and brought up my bow. “It was the infection. It wasn’t her fault.”
I released the arrow. It hit the outside ring of the target.
Ichi handed me another one, going through the motions. “It doesn’t matter what you think. The stain is on our souls. We can only hope laying our swords down at your feet will be enough to ease the stain so we can cycle to the great resting place when it’s our time.”
I jerked, my arrow flying wide and grazing the target next to mine. “What? No. That’s not necessary.”
She stayed silent and held out an arrow. After a moment, I notched it, drew back, and let go. But right as the drawstring twanged, Ichi luscelered and whipped her hand up directly in the path of the arrow, impaling herself.
“What the Heavenly Hell?” I shouted, dropping my bow and rushing over to her.
