Page 95 of Hellbound

She punished her with precise, measured strikes, making it clear that Ksenia’s stance was too broad and open. Her weight leaned on her back foot, and soon, she found herself parrying Varka’s blade, backed into a corner.

Ksenia struck back with raw aggression, cutting savage lines with no form or finesse. Her sword crashed upon Varka’s with bone-jarring force that sent shockwaves through both their bodies.

Slowly, they circled one another. Varka read Ksenia’s tell, sidestepping her wild swing with a surgical counter.

But her parries had become less effective on Ksenia now. Every time Varka’s blade met Ksenia’s, it was as if she were trying to stop a sledgehammer. She stumbled backward, her perfect form momentarily shattered by sheer force.

Ksenia’s boot dusted chalk into Varka’s face, and she shielded her eyes from the cheap trick. Lunging forward, Ksenia drove her shoulder into the noblewoman’s gut, tackling her to the ground.

Varka rolled away, springing to her feet, her brow drawn tight.

Ksenia fought like a feral animal, trapped and snared.

“Your form is going. We’ll stop here for tonight—”

Ksenia locked their blades in a shaking embrace. Fierce yellow eyes leveled with disbelieving hazel ones. “No. I can keep going.”

“No, Senka. We are done for the evening until you can find your form again. What you’re doing is reckless and not what we practiced.” Varka shoved hard.

“Fuck the form. I need whatever is going to help me survive out there, and so far, they haven’t been sanctioned duels with referees!” Ksenia clipped, then regretted it.

Varka’s brow shot upward, her mouth agape. Color rose in her cheeks.

And when she finally spoke, her voice was frigid.

“Our sparring ends here then. You can find someone else to give you that brute survivalist technique you’re looking for.”

Ksenia wiped the chalk dust that stuck to her sweat from her face as Varka retired.

Ksenia loathed to admit she might be right. Something in her had obviously changed, and she wasn’t sure how much of her original self remained at the end of the day.

Monsters at least survive long enough to be criticized, Vornaya lilted.

But there was an irrefutable fact that kept Ksenia grounded. Regardless of whether she fought with technique, one challenge remained. And she would do anything and everything to succeed.

Her hands and feet were on pins and needles as she anxiously awaited Danika’s arrival that evening in the armory.

She paced up and down the racks of shining weapons and armor, ears straining for any deviation in the guard rotation.

Soon, the clinking of metal and skittering of light footfall broke the monotony of the guard rounds: Danika.

“Whoa!” Danika laughed as Ksenia popped her head around the corner, beaming at her sister. “I’m not sure what’s more frightening, you jumping out at me or you dressed like that.”

Ksenia huffed, dusting her hands on the tightly corseted black dress she had chosen for the evening. It was modest with a higher neck than usual but wouldn’t raise any eyebrows as she wandered through Hearth on her path to the armory.

“No need to remind me.”

Danika unhooked a sword from her hip, in a handsome leather scabbard. Ksenia ran her finger along the thick, even stitching that held the seams together. Danika always had superior craftsmanship compared to her.

A guard rotation passed by, earning her a cursory glance from the castle soldier as Ksenia pretended to admire herself in a shield hung upon the wall as Danika placed the weapon onto a rack.

“I only have a few minutes before the Envorsen come looking.” Danika’s eyes darted to the door.

Ksenia explained to her, as quickly as possible, what had happened: how she had been lured to the forest and murdered by Karsan, then given a second chance by a mysterious god. More importantly, how their grandfather’s kingsword was now the key to their freedom.

Danika’s grip tightened on Ksenia’s hands to the point of breaking and she felt her bones shifting around. Then, she burst, unable to hold her breath or her tears any longer.

Her trembling fingers gently caressed her baby sister’s face, brushing strands of hair behind Ksenia’s ears.