Page 36 of Legacy Ascended

I take a seat in the gallery, borrow a pen, and start making notes.

Torres is faster than anybody on that floor and sometimes gets careless once he's ahead.

Voss comes up the stairs and reads over my shoulder without asking.

"Torres coasting," he says. "What made you think that?"

"Third exchange with Declan. He's ahead, and then he stopped moving his feet."

"He stops moving his feet because Declan stopped coming forward," Voss says. "Watch him again. Torres isn't coasting, he's waiting, and he's right to. I think your instinct is correct, but I did not see that in the Declan match."

"Then where?"

"You tell me. That's the exercise." He hands the notebook back. "Write me the paired-drill brief — every pairing on that floor, what each of them does under pressure, what you'd do about it. Hand it in before you're cleared."

"Is that a punishment?"

"It's the half of fighting most of you never learn, because you're all too busy enjoying the other half. And frankly it'll keep you off my floor."

Torres comes off the mats while I'm still writing, jogs up the gallery steps two at a time, and arrives in front of me sweating through his shirt with his sleeves shoved past the elbow.

"Verdict."

"Your guard drops when you're ahead."

"It does not."

"You think Declan's slow. Declan's patient. There's a difference and it's going to cost you."

Torres plants his hands on his hips and looks at me like the criticism turned him on.

"God, I missed you," he says.

"It was only one day!"

"Yeah." He leans down and kisses me, quick and when he straightens, his hand trails across my waist. "Eat something. I'll be there in twenty."

Renzo sees the roast potatoes and grabs my arm.

“The universe loves me. It’s giving me potatoes.”

“It’s giving everyone potatoes.”

“Don’t ruin this.”

He takes four, then puts two on my plate.

I look at him.

“What?”

“You gave me potatoes. Are you feeling okay?”

“You were kidnapped. I can be generous for one meal.”

“Should we write down the date?” Declan asks.

“Absolutely not. This never happened.”