The Trials of Aphrodite: Righting the Wrongs

I Avoid Going on a Date (and Other Really Dangerous Stuff)

The Trials of Aphrodite

♦ Chapter Thirteen ♦

"No, you're doing it all wrong," Hylla snarled.

We'd been sparring for an hour. I discovered that I had as much skill as a retarded seal. I bet I looked like a retarded seal, swinging a spear like I knew how to use it.

I didn't.

Before I could come up with an intelligent response, the Queen of the Amazons slammed the shaft of her spear into my stomach.

I groaned and fell over, my body aching. I hated pain. It was something I hadn't experienced since yesterday.

"Go easy on me," I begged.

She looked at me coldly. "'Easy' doesn't exist. Only 'I will try harder, Hylla.'" She snorted. "Which is a horrible lie. But say it anyway."

"I will try harder, Hylla," I muttered.

"No, 'I will try harder, Your Majesty, Queen Hylla' sounds better. Say that."

"You're insufferable," I grumbled.

"You're annoying and conceited," Hylla shot back.

"Why are you pushing me so hard? It's not like I'll ever learn to fight. This is boring. I'd rather have eggs and toast with Reyna. I'm starving!"

"Because when we confront the goddess Khione, you'll trip and impale yourself on your own spear."

I was silent. You can't argue with a valid point, no matter how humiliating.

"You're right," I conceded, sighing heavily. "I do fight poorly."

"That's an understatement," she commented. "Well, if we're going to make you a decent fighter, we'll have to train and train. Which means you'll need to stop slacking off."

Hylla twirled her pilum like a baton and sent a smirk my way, and I knew she was toying with me. Then she charged.

Faster than I could comprehend, I jerked my spear sideways and blocked the attack. Hylla regarded me, eyebrows raised. "That was the most improvement you've shown all day."

I brushed a lock of hair behind my ear and lowered my spear. Sweat collected at the nape of my neck, and it was a sensation I'd never experienced before. I never wanted to experience it again.

"We can take a short break," Hylla allowed. "You look like you're about to die from sweating too much."

"Thank you," I puffed out, staggering to our campsite. Reyna was sitting on a log, chewing a slice of toast with jam. She looked like she was enjoying herself immensely, partly from her breakfast and partly from watching me get beat up by her older sister.

Reyna caught my eye. "Finally realized how much better Hylla is at fighting?" she said cheerfully.

"Shut up." I took a piece of toasted bread from Reyna's stash and spread butter over the top. "I'll get better."

The Roman praetor smiled. "Stop telling yourself a lie. You have no promise whatsoever."

"You have so much faith in me," I muttered.

Reyna rolled her eyes and pointed to the log beside her. "Sit down. You look ready to pass out."

I took the offer gratefully. Gravel shifted with the movements of my feet.

"I am ready to pass out," I said. "Hylla is relentless."

"Took you long enough to figure that out."