The ground is unforgiving as my back makes contact, and my breath is ripped from my lungs. My head collides with the ground.
A muted thud rings out at the collision.
Lachlan is immediately at my side. “Lena, are ye ok?”
He pats my body for injuries, and I try to push his hands away. My ability to speak is gone, along with my breathing. But through my watery and spotted vision, his face radiates pure wrath as he glares at Julius.
“What the fuck was that? That’s not how we spar!” He roars with rage, the veins in his neck pulse against his tanned skin.
I shove away from Lachlan. Rolling onto my stomach, I brace myself on my hands and knees. Blessed air fills my lungs, and I groan as I force myself to stand.
Odessa’s voice rings out from her vigil at the fence. “Captain, are you interfering?” Her words sound bitter, and she stares at Lachlan with contempt.
His eyes lower in submission, but then he gathers himself, meeting her stare with his own.
“No, Your Majesty, merely questioning the tactics being used.” He gestures to where I’m still wiping the dirt from my eyes. “This is not how we do things.”
Blinking the dirt completely from my eyes, I can now see that he was positioned in front of me, placing himself squarely in front of Julius.
Odessa scans Julius before turning her gaze back to Lachlan. “You’re dismissed, Captain.”
Lachlan’s jaw clenches, and his eyes narrow with barely controlled rage before his nostrils flare with a sharp inhale.
He turns to me, worry shining in his eyes. But he’ll find no agreement here.
“Follow your orders, Captain,” I hiss.
Lachlan’s shoulders stiffen slightly, and he takes a step but pauses, leaning in close so no one else can hear. “He fights with the arrogance of someone who’s never seen true battle. Use his ego against him, and you can beat him. Ye have natural ability like I’ve never even seen before, Key. You are better than he is. Believe in yourself,” he whispers.
The use of my nickname and the support he displays dulls some of the anger I feel towards him. When he stalks off to the guard quarters, my eyes trail after him.
Taking a controlled breath, I reposition myself, readying for Julius to take the offensive approach that is common for him. Odessa claps once, signaling for us to begin. Julius attacks.
Big surprise, but this time I’m prepared. I thrust my knee up and into his gut as I feint a dodge around his unguarded attack. He grunts, shock written across his twisted features. I can barely contain my smile at the sound of his pain.
He has no idea what I’m capable of.
Evander nods, his copper hair bobbing with the movement, and pride blazes across his smile. But I quickly bring my attention back to Julius, who is now fuming that I played him. We circle each other. My steps are slow and calculated. But his movements are stilted as he vibrates with fury.
His next attack is sloppy, his rage corroding his movements, and I dodge, bringing my sword down on his. The resounding clash ripples around us. Whispers begin swelling, and there are even a few cheers.
Julius’ scowl deepens. His brow obscures his vision as he strikes out again. He expects it to overpower me, but his feet are not completely underneath him, and I push him back with minimal effort.
He’s too unsteady, and my push sends him careening onto his back. He curses, and a cloud of dust billows around him.
Before he can even push up onto his elbows, I level my sword at his throat.
My victory comes as a surprise to us all. Silence settles around us, and the only sound is the heaving of his breath through his bared teeth.
But the silence ruptures as cheers ensue. Evander claps, Boudicca nods, and Artemisia howls with laughter. Even Joan, in men’s training leathers over her usual black tunic, is giving an approving nod next to Satiah, whose smile is broad as she claps enthusiastically. I withdraw my sword, reaching out a hand to help Julius to his feet.
His face is twisted with disgust, and he glares at me from his sprawled position on the ground before roughly grasping my hand.
I tug hard to heave him up, but he pulls violently against me. The action jerks me forward and right within reach of the quick jab he flings at my face. My balance is off, and my hand is held firmly in his grasp, leaving me with no way or time to block.
His fist connects.
The crack of my bone echoes through the training ground. Blood sprays, and my eyes immediately begin to flood, tears flowing down my face. I’m so stunned it takes a moment for the pain to register. The tears and dirt from his fist begin mixing with the blood pouring from my nose.
