She rolled, pinning me beneath her weight.She tried to grab hold of my hands, which were busy attempting to scratch her eyes out, but I grunted and heaved her over.I couldn’t land on top of her fast enough, so we ended up wrestling face to face.
I blocked her attempts to smash my nose and managed to catch one of her wrists.She resisted, making the error I’d been waiting for.She twisted away from me, rather than toward me.
I knew the moment she realized her mistake, but by then I’d shoved her arm behind her back and scrambled to my knees.She fought and kicked, but I held on, pressing her down into the ground as I pushed upward on her arm.I knew I was hurting her, and I had to respect her for fighting back.Finally, I managed to dig a knee into her back.“One, two...”I had to pause to pant.
Finnrey counted for me.“Three, four, five.”
Broga fought, but I held her in place.She would have had to be far superior in strength to throw me off.She might weigh more, but I was no weakling.
“Six, seven, eight,” the other sisters chimed in.
“Nine and ten,” I finished.With a flourish, I released her hand and jumped off her.I stumbled back, trying to find my feet.My jaw felt as though it was on fire, and my belly and ass throbbed.“That’s enough for me,” I said, walking away.Just let a Zulenii prince try and defeat me.
I’d gone only a few steps before I heard a telltale thump.I swung around to counter Broga’s sneak attack, but I already knew I’d be too late.I tensed, knowing I’d feel the earth crush against my face and feel Broga’s fists pounding into me.
But the attack never came.I turned in time to see Finnrey tackle Broga and go down with her.
“You dusthead!”Broga yelled.“What’s wrong with you?”
Finnrey rolled to her knees.“The match was over.You lost.”
“That’s what you think.This isn’t over.”She tossed an angry look at me.
“Itisover,” Cameed said, stepping between Broga and me.“Mara isn’t your enemy, Broga.It was a fair fight.”
“We should all get some rest before tomorrow,” Morga added.
“What’s tomorrow?”Riah asked.
Everyone looked at her.“The Zulenii prince is supposed to arrive tomorrow,” Broga told her twin.
“Oh, right.”
Finnrey brushed her clothing off and came to stand by my side.“Let’s go get a drink, Mara.”She draped an arm around my shoulder, and I tried not to limp off the field.When we were far enough away, I let her take some of my weight.“You were supposed to practice,” she said.“Not get in a fight.You’ll have bruises tomorrow.”
“Yes, but so will she.”
Finnrey laughed.“Yes, she will.We can toast to that.”
We did toast to that, several times, and by the time I climbed into bed, well after dark, I was feeling no pain.
When I rolled over the next morning, I groaned.Every muscle in my body seemed to protest.The ache in my belly was minor, but my back throbbed from the jarring impact of landing on my ass.That probably hurt too.The worst pain was in my jaw.Broga’s punch there hadn’t been full on, but I was willing to bet I had a bruise.I opened my mouth and winced at the dull soreness.Closing my eyes again, I decided more sleep might help.I had no idea what time it was, but there was no way I could go to the training field in this condition.
A shout from outside forced my eyes open again.I realized I’d heard several shouts and those were what had most likely drawn me out of slumber.I forced myself to sit—yes, my ass did hurt—and listened to what sounded like a crowd of people running past our house.My sleeping room had no windows, so I stumbled out of bed, wrapped a blanket around me, and dragged myself into the main room.The wooden shutters were closed, so I went to the door, unbarred it, and opened it.
Gaping, I stared at what looked like all of Earsleh gathered in the streets.The mass of people moved in one direction—the center of the castle courtyard.Immediately, my heart stuttered.Were they fleeing Hollows?Had a pack broken through?I reached out and grabbed a boy of six or seven.He struggled, but I held tight.
“What’s wrong?”I demanded.“Is it an attack of Hollows?”Where was my skullcrusher?Why hadn’t I grabbed it before I’d opened the door?
“Not Hollows,” the boy answered, finally extricating himself from my grip.He ran away but called over his shoulder.“The Zulenii prince has arrived!”
I stared after him as he disappeared into the swarm of people making their way to gawk at the foreigners.I wished I could feel relief I wouldn’t have to face a horde of Hollows.
Somehow, I feared the prince might be worse.
