I shake my head. “Yeah, can I go? I’m cold.”
“Sure you can. As soon as you fight,” he replies with a smirk, making the other two snicker.
Irritation bubbles up. “I don’t know how to fight,” I grit out.
“No better place to learn,” Rip counters.
My eyes flick between the three of them, waiting for the punchline, but I realize that he’s entirely serious. Not only that, he looks excited at the idea. No wonder his soldiers are so damn bloodthirsty. They get it from him.
I cross my arms in front of me. “I’m not going to fight.”
“Well, then you’re going to be very uncomfortable staying out here in the circle all night,” Rip replies smoothly.
I feel the tic in my jaw twitch. I don’t doubt for a second that he really will leave me out here if I refuse. He’s that much of a prick.
“Yeah, her feet will probably go numb at some point, Commander,” Judd puts in unhelpfully.
“No nice fur pallet to sleep in,” Osrik adds with a nod.
My hands curl into fists. I suppose this is my punishment for interrupting their stupid fight circle, or maybe it’s for being loyal to Midas.
“I hate you,” I glare at them.
“Hate can be a very powerful emotion when fighting. Just make sure to use it to your advantage,” Rip tells me. Arrogant ass.
“Great Divine, I’m not fighting!” I shout, irritated, cold, and more than a little intimidated.
He looks down at me levelly, without remorse, without budging an inch. “Then you’ll stay here in this circle until you do.”
An honest-to-goddess growl comes out of my throat. “Why are you such an ass?”
“Ha! I’ve been asking him that for years.”
My attention snaps to Lu, who’s flitting toward us, steps barely making indentations in the snow. Her hand holds the hilt of her sword as she walks, eyes alight as she looks between us.
“What did I miss?” she asks, coming up to stop beside Rip and Judd with familiarity. Another piece of the little friendship circle snaps into place.
Judd tosses an arm over her shoulder, still bare chested and clearly not minding it even though the temperature is well below freezing. “She thought we were putting on some sort of show to beat Twig up for sport, so Gildy Locks here intervened.”
A puff of air passes through my lips as I look at Lu. “Did you telleveryonethat damn nickname?”
She beams, the piercing at her cupid’s bow gleaming red. “It caught on quick,” she says cheerfully. “But back to the point. You stepped into the fight circle?”
If they mention that stupid rule one more time…
“Who’s she gonna fight?” Lu asks, practically bouncing on her feet.
I answer, “No one,” at the same time that Rip answers, “Me.”
My eyes snap to him, my heart skipping a beat. Fighthim? Is he insane? Osrik was bad enough. I couldn’t possibly fight the damn commander and live to talk about it.
“Absolutely not,” I say, taking a step back like the distance will help.
A hint of fang shows through his smirk. “Scared?” he challenges, and there’s a croon in his voice that sets me on edge.
“Of course I’m scared. You’re the commander of Fourth’s army.” I retort. “Your damn nickname isRipbecause you rip your opponents’ heads off!”
The four of them go still at my words. And then, like a burst dam, they all lose it, laughter pouring out of them in rushing rivulets.
