Page 98 of Veiled

“Nope. Stop Talking. I don’t want to know what it reminds you of,” Perry cuts her off, cheeks flaming.

Captain Korr prowls through us, judging pairs and correcting stances with taps of his boot. “Remember, hands up, feet light, and shoulder width apart.”

Perry wiggles his fingers at me like an absolute gremlin.

“Don’t hold back,” I warn him.

“Please. I’m banking on you not stabbing me.”

We lift our hands into position, “We’re tapping, not stabbing, remember?”

Korr raises his whistle. “Begin!”

The sound of feet shuffling across the floor is drowned out by the rush of adrenaline. Perry moves first, his blade comes in fast, aimed at my shoulder. It’s his classic move. Predictable.

I twist out of the way, barely beyond the reach of his strike. The air hums with the speed of it.

“Look at that, ladies and gentlemen, she’s wide awake this morning.”

Shaking my head, I watch for his eyes to tell me where he’s going, and sure enough, he goes with another predictable shoulder attack. This time, I duck low, feeling the scrape of air as his sword misses by several inches. In the same motion, I tap his hip.

He lets out a laugh. “See, you’re not totally slow.”

We move faster now, strike, dodge, pivot. I feel every shift of muscle, every breath in sync with my movements. We’re dancing, a blur of steel and sweat. My heart pounds in my chest, matching the pace.

Right when I think I’ve got control, Perry feints left and connects with my shoulder.

“Got you, slowpoke,” he sings.

“Oh, hell no,” I spin on the balls of my feet and do a quick tap to his right shoulder, then his left hip immediately after.

Ariel bursts out laughing. “She warned you.”

Korr’s voice slices through the air, “About time, Annalise.”

I’m ready to strike again when Korr continues, “Now, let’s really test you. Pair with…Ian.”

Where Perry’s moves are fast, Ian’s are even faster, faster than anyone else I’ve ever seen fight, actually. The moment we lock eyes, I know I’m going to leave here in pain.

We’re on each other instantly. My sword comes up to block, but Ian’s already there, tapping my shoulder before I even finish moving. My arms are trembling from the speed of his attacks, and sweat is slick on my skin.

“Don’t overthink it,” Ian calls out, voice steady and controlled. “React.”

I try to block, but his sword finds me again, right on the shoulder. “Shit.”

Ian doesn’t pause. “Don’t let it get in your head. It’s only a tap. Now attack.”

I don’t wait. This time, I feint high and drop low, striking for his hip. The move is instinctive and fluid.

“Yes!” Ian’s voice is more excited now, the edge of a smile tugging at his lips. “Great job! Your attacks are seriously perfect; you just hesitate before you defend yourself.”

“Thanks! I’m starting to feel the hesitation; I can’t seem to override it, though.”

“Practice will fix it,” he assures me. “Now keep going.”

We’re a blur of movement now: strike, dodge, tap, block. The noise of our swords meeting is a steady rhythm. I’m pushing past my limits. My feet are lighter, my breaths quicker but controlled.

Korr’s voice suddenly cuts through the intensity like a thunder crash. “Time!”