“You don’t even remember your basic defensive magic.”
“I nevertookdefensive magic!”
The audience of masters fell silent.
Lunella spun me around. “You—what?”
“I never took defensive magic,” I repeated. “I was excused from it because my abilities were so weak. Do you think I’m kidding? Look at me!” I stepped back so she could really see me. “I’m bloody and bruised. My poor clothes are ripped and stained. I don’t know how to fight! I have been a teacher all my life.”
Master Argo folded his arms and cocked a hip. Sheer disgust took up residence on his face, twisting his lip. “Dorian, do you really think this…schoolmarmis the Breaker of the Spine?”
“This is a little ridiculous,” Master Bebbenel agreed.
Tymon stepped forward. “Have you been to the Breaking Cave? Either of you?”
Both masters shook their heads in the negative.
Tymon nodded, his unruly mane of mahogany hair moving with him. “Then cram it.”
“Without reason, that’s the answer?” Master Argo’s eyes flared gold.
Tymon spun to Master Argo. “The rocks of the Spine dance for her, you jackass. They light in her presence and twinkle with her laughter. You have not been to the cave to see that, so I don’t expect you to believe it. That’s why I told you to just cram it, you ignorant bottom feeder!”
Master Argo’s anger burst out of him as a whip of magic. It snapped at Tymon as he walked away, aimed for his neck.
Instinct made me whip my own magic out and grab Master Argo’s before he could touch Tymon. I only imagined bad things happening to Tymon if that lash had wrapped around his neck.
With a hard, angry yank, I pulled Master Argo closer to me. “Why would you ever think attacking someone with a lash of magic to the throat while they walk away was a good idea?”
Master Argo fell to the ground in agony, his features distorting and pain writhing across his face. “Let go, let go!” He started clawing at his arm, tearing at the sleeves.
I stepped back, suddenly afraid.
Lunella’s hand landed on my shoulder. “Release his magic, little one.”
I tossed the string of the lash away from me, and Master Argo spun with the magic. He collapsed on to the cold bricks by the wall.
Bebbenel openly stared at me. “Where… where did you learn that? I thought you said you never took defensive magic.”
“Just because I never took it doesn’t mean I didn’t read up on it. I’m a teacher, remember? I not only teach, but I spend my life learning as well.” Those words were full of more bravado than I felt.
Master Argo’s reaction terrified me.
“You couldn’t have read that in a book.” He traded looks with Master Dorian.
A cruel, pleased look graced Master Dorian’s face. “No. She could not have. Not the way she executed it. Was that instinct, my dear?”
“Instinct.” I was desperate for space from him but couldn’t move. “He could have broken Tymon’s neck, and I’m not sorry I stopped him. Punish me if you will.”
Stuck in place, I raised my chin, determined not to back down from his glower.
Lunella chuckled behind me. “Spitfire. You all forget that we womenfolk are not to be trifled with. Good luck, Dorian. Argo, you’ve made an enemy of the very woman you wanted to break.”
I narrowed my eyes at the master in front of me. “Break me?”
“You’re nothing but a pup here,” Master Bebbenel said. “You need to be broken and reshaped to be useful, to understand what your place is.”
Inching my head around to Master Bebbenel, I stared at him. Hard. “Excuse me. You want to break me? I am not a horse nor am I a tool for your use. I am not conforming to some ideal you have for the Breaker of the Spine.”
