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It was Bram again, the guy getting a second chance to prove he could hold his own. He was matched with another guy - I was pretty sure he was a first-year - and they were fighting hard. Their feet weren't light enough, though. Both of them wanted to plant in place, which had been Bram's undoing. Still, when the match ended with Bram as the victor, they both received a good.
Then Ghale rolled again. Beside me, Anver groaned, which meant he'd just been selected. He headed off to get his weapon, a single rapier, which suited him. Then Ghale rolled again. I couldn't see the numbers, but one of the students beside him was holding up fingers to show the results.
"Fuck," Wraythe breathed.
Because he had to go against Anver. He'd also been assigned a pair of daggers. Oh, this was going to be good.
"Anver?" Wraythe said as he claimed his weapons, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "We going full out with this?"
"No holds barred," Anver agreed, waving his weapon to loosen his arm. "I have a friend who'll make sure I don't pay for it. Figure you do too."
"I'm gonna hit you," Wraythe said.
"And I'm gonna hit back," Anver promised as he set up.
Ghale murmured, almost sounding like he was amused, and then called out, "Engage!"
Anver pressed in, aiming for Wraythe's leg, but the giant of a man didn't fight like most people. Wraythe dropped one of the daggers, and grabbed Anver's arm. With just that grip, he slung the smaller man against the railing, but Anver seemed to expect that. He absorbed the impact and used the side to push off, coming in at Wraythe fast.
Wraythe ducked, he dodged, and his feet were moving him all across the sand. His guard was up, and that was pretty much all he used the dagger for, but that didn't mean he was on the defensive. The next time Anver tried to connect, he found Wraythe's fist in his face. They skittered again, and then Wraythe used his last dagger to hit the hilt of Anver's sword, knocking the weapon free. Anver didn't even hesitate.
He kicked out, Wraythe moved to grapple, and the pair hit the ground. Anver found a dagger, but Wraythe had the sword. Like they were sharing a mind, both spun to attack the other, and they both connected. Wraythe stopped the blade of the wooden rapier an inch from Anver's head. Anver paused, the tip of the dagger a hair from Wraythe's chest. Immediately the pair both smiled.
"A tie," Ghale said. "I think both of you deserve excellents for that. Well fought, both of you. And that is what practical weapons is about. They used what they could reach, discarding it when it no longer was useful, and refused to give up. Next!"
I didn't even care what came after that. We'd all passed. Three exams down. Two more to go, and so far things were going our way. I only had one more exam that would be challenging, and that wasn't until the end of the week. In other words, so long as Nari and Ela had things worked out for their Eroticism final, we were all going to pass for the year!
Chapter 64
Wraythe
After our class was released, Talin and I dragged Anver back to our room for a little celebratory relaxation. Nari had two exams today, but Ela said his would take longer, so he'd wait for her to get out. It took a while. Lunch came and went. The three of us grabbed a meal together. Then a few more hours went by.
Eventually, the pair returned home. Nari looked exhausted, but the smile on her face proved that she had once again passed. Ela said that he'd done well, making an overall excellent for his course, and yet he didn't look pleased. I didn't think anything about it at first, yet as the day went on, he continued to become a little more surly, going so far as to snap at Anver for laughing about something Talin said.
"That's it," I told him. "Time for a walk, Ela."
He huffed at me but stood, heading for the door. I couldn't even imagine what his problem was, but clearly it was a big one. Turning back, I caught Talin's eye, intending to tell him to watch Nari, but he pushed to his feet as well.
"Anver?" he asked, gesturing to her.
"Yep, got it," Anver promised, needing nothing else.
But Ela was already in the hall. I waited for Talin, worried that I'd snap at my own ward. What was eating at him? We'd passed how many classes now? All of us had just crested the hump, and it was supposed to be downhill from here, and yet my best friend looked like he was ready to break something.
"Least he's headed to the dining hall," Talin said as we reached the hall. "Did he skip lunch or something?"
Which meant I wasn't the only one who noticed his attitude. "No idea," I said, stretching my legs to catch up.
Talin kept pace, and we reached our regular table just as Ela sat down with a large glass and a bottle of something strong. Whiskey, port, I honestly didn't know, but he didn't need it. Without asking, I snatched the bottle out of his hands and set it on my other side, claiming the chair across from him.
"What's going on?" I asked.
Talin clasped my shoulder. "I'll get food for us and have something sent back for the other two."
"Thanks." But I refused to look away from Ela. "You're being an ass. Did you fail something?"
"No," he insisted. "I'm getting top grades. Even when I fuck up, they're passing me. Nari? She's busting her ass and thrilled to get a good. She deserves an excellent, but she's excited to get a good! This whole thing!" He slapped his hand down on the table.
