Major Wilcox stared. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
I strolled to the middle of the room and waited, the recruits still inside sitting against the walls, leaving plenty of room to fight in the middle. Now they just needed to pick who I was fighting against. I stretched my back while I watched them talk amongst themselves.
Major Wilcox wasn’t pleased with the outcome.
Her brow furrowed and her cheeks flushed.
I saw why soon enough.
It was Finn. And herself.
She obviously thought Finn would let me win.
And he had better not.
If I lost, I wanted it to be an honest fight.
I watched the weapons they chose.
The major picked a short sword.
Finn decided on a smaller blade.
Her choice wasn’t smart. His was.
I now knew where the real battle would be. It looked like I was getting that honest fight from him. I sat the pocketknife down and walked to the side of the room, removing Godric’s baggy sweater and my slippers. Both would hinder my movements.
I yanked my hair up into a ponytail as I walked back to the center of the room. They were just arriving there. I jumped in place a few times before bending to pick up the pocketknife.
I closed it, the blade hidden from view.
Major Wilcox yanked her eyes from the savage bite on my shoulder to stare at the weapon I held. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to take you down first. I don’t need the blade for that.” An evil grin lifted the corners of my lips as I let her see just how pissed I was for her actions today. “That sandwich was really good that you threw away and wasted.”
The major shook her head in exasperation, not affected by my anger. “Just get ready, Ms. Carvene. It’s time to begin.”
I stood in place with my hands down at my sides.
The major stood on my right, and Finn took a position on my left. I didn’t move, relaxed in my normal stance. They both judged my posture with a cynical eye.
The major growled, “I said get ready, recruit.”
“I am. Start the damn fight already.”
From the sideline, a male instructor barked, “Begin.”
They charged at the same time.
I waited in place until they were closer.
Then I raced right at the major.
She pivoted and brought her sword down.
But I was already in her face, too close. I slammed the end of the closed pocketknife right against her nose. Blood instantly splattered with a sickening crack of bone. Still in motion, I flipped the blade out as I slid behind her right when Finn arrived, his blade flashing.
