My window was narrow.
She took one step forward. I feigned labored breathing.
She took another step.
This was it.
I surged forward, closing the gap between us. Shock swept her features as she pivoted, trying to evade, but it was too late. My blade struck hers, the clash sending a shockwave through both of our bodies. I didn’t let up; I had the advantage here. Her speed meant nothing if she couldn’t get away from me, and she lacked the skills to engage me in a prolonged close-distance fight.
And I wasn’t letting her get away.
Our weapons clashed again. I could feel her strength failing her. I knocked her back, twisting her wrist in a quick lock, and swiped her legs out from under her. I didn’t let her get up, my blade pressing against the curve of her throat.
The only sounds in the hall were the rapid breaths we took in.
Roslyn was watching me from the floor, a slight grin on her face. There was no contempt, just a curious glint in her green eyes expressing surprise, but mostly an impressed amusement.
“Well done, Anna,” she murmured.
I removed my blade from her neck and stood, stretching out my hand.
She took it, and I pulled her up.
A loud round of applause and cheers sounded around us, and I glanced around the room. There were dozens of other studentsaround the edges of the mats, and my chest tightened with shock. What were they all doing here?
I noticed Blake on the upper mezzanine. He had both hands on the railing.Had he been there the entire time?He was as stoic as ever.
“That was intense.”
Caelan strolled up to us as the crowd started to disperse. I glanced back up to Blake, but he was gone. I bit my lip. Ever since the incident with Melanie, I hadn’t seen him at all.
“I’ve been trying to tell you guys,” Roslyn said, shrugging.
“What are you talking about?” Caelan asked. “I’m the one who’s been trying to tell you.”
Roslyn scoffed. “Nah, I knew she was going to kick my ass.”
My lips thinned skeptically.
“What?” she asked. “I’m allowed to lose with a bit of grace, aren’t I?”
Roslyn was grinning, but she’d been fighting with restraints. I was certain of it. I thought I’d judged her skill level correctly. What was I missing? She wasn't skilled in close combat, but that wasn’t it.
Her distance skills were unlike anything I’d ever seen before. The careful planning, the grace within her movements—it was nothing like what I’d seen of anyone else in the training hall. But what was it about it that made it so much better?
“Where did you learn to fight, Roslyn?” I asked.
Caelan tuned in to my focus on Roslyn.
Roslyn smiled hesitantly at my hushed question.
“Perhaps another time,” she said, her smile fading.
I watched her as she bid the others goodbye, claiming to be exhausted and needing to rest.
I nodded and smiled as others came by to congratulate me, but my mind was elsewhere. What was I missing here? I slippedaway from Caelan and the others and quickly made my way out of the training hall.
When I got to the corridor, I saw Melanie. She was leaning against the wall, her typically pristine and well-groomed appearance in stark contrast to the woman I saw before me. Dark circles appeared under her eyes, and long sleeves and pants covered her skin—a far departure from her usually revealing uniforms.
