Every year, hundreds die within the walls of Basgiath War College. It's no surprise that many are those who choose the Riders Quadrant. Dragons do not tolerate much, but neither do the ruthless gryphons on the outside of the wards.
At least...
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"Nadine!" Rhiannon's voice echoes off the walls, suddenly louder than all the cheers and yelling around us on the mats. Nadine's body drops to the floor from between the brutish man's hands. "Nadine?" he repeats, furrowing his thick brows so much, they're indistinguishable from one another. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Emetterio barks from the dais he's now stomping toward the edge of.
My fingers twist around a dagger on my side, unsheathing it in an instant to let it settle perfectly in my left hand. "Down!" Rhiannon and Sawyer drop to their knees as I flick one at him. My two squadmates scramble out of the way as it sticks him in the knee, exactly where I was aiming.
His gaze jerks from the dagger he yanks out of his leg to my face, then up to my crown of white hair. I can see the recognition of his mistake in his eyes, but he doesn't seem to care, and I've just armed him. I grab another dagger. He's shockingly fast for a man of his size as he takes off with a start at me. I'm down one arm, considering the burns stretched across my right still that fully protest any movement.
He's massive, both tall and bulky, so much to the point that he seems to think he won't need a blade to kill me, letting it clatter to the floor. My arm begins to move to throw it again, but I quickly abandon the idea. Like Xaden had told me a few months ago, I'm good at hand-to-hand, despite my hatred for it. I don't need to throw everything, and in here, range is as dangerous for him as it is for every member of my squad.
A dirty blond moves between us and for just a moment, I reach for Liam's name. "No!" I shout. Sawyer turns around and stares at me before I slam a hand into his chest to push him out of my path. I can't let preventable deaths happen right in front of me, not again.
The man swings a meaty hand for my head and I drop out of the way to the right. I take a crouched step behind him and slash my left hand back to cut through the back of his knee. He shouts in pain before crashing to the floor like fallen timber. "Stay back," I order when Rhiannon sets her hands on her own blade. I look forward just in time to see a dagger flying straight toward my chest and I spin out of the way. Resson flashes before my eyes for just a moment, but one long enough for him to kick my leg out from under me.
There's no surprise that I land expertly, catching my fall with a roll from one side of my back to the other and straining my neck to not let my head bang onto the floor. His paw grabs onto my shin with a vice grip and my leathers squeal when he drags me closer to him. At least with this fall, I didn't land on one of my own blades, so I have that going for me.
I slash at his veiny arm in a desperate hope to get him to release me. The scar on my thigh is still sore, especially when he slaps his palm onto it to drag himself above me. My squad waits with baited breaths, but they won't interfere. Not when I wouldn't even let Sawyer close. The only person who can do anything now is Emeterrio, and who's to say he will?
