Shadows and Steel | ✓

chapter thirty-eight

-38-

Cerid wasn't there when she entered the fighting hall. Immediately after scouring the long, rectangular hall for familiar smoky eyes, her eyes were drawn to the chalkboard where the pairs were already written. She blew out a breath when she saw Hana's name scribbled next to hers. At least her first fight wouldn't be too hard.

Mather clapped his hands. "Go find your fighting rings. Select your weapon." He barked to the recruits. "Don't make me look incompetent in front of the Imperial Party."

Her eyes darted to the rafters in case there was a higher balcony she had missed. But no, the Imperial Party hadn't visited their section yet. The matches would be run throughout the day, and it was the Imperial Party's job to visit each and every section. Cerid would arrive soon, but not as her mentor or lover. Someone detached, formal, the Imperial Heir title she had grown to hate.

Elle shook her head at herself. Now was not the time to be pining over the Imperial Heir.

Let's get this shit-show started.

Hana's fiery locks bobbed into view. She crossed her arms, looking Elle dead in the eye. "If you just conceded now it would save us a lot of time."

The assassin smirked. "It would save me a lot of time. However I actually want to bash your face in," she shrugged. Cerid would have told her to get a lid on the swagger and just beat her in three or four moves. She knew he was right. Stepping over the painted ring, she unsheathed Ravaryn from her side.

Hana and Rand's colluded whisperings continued until Mather bellowed again for them to take their places. The recruit send the redhead forward with a heavy slap on the back. Baring his teeth, Rand's icy orbs met her own.

Elle's long fingers snaked around her dagger's hilt. Every nick, every indent in the blade she knew by heart.

An overseer strode to their ring, standing with a stopwatch in hand. He glanced up, face impassive. Rand strode off to his own match. Once everyone was in position and the silence took hold, Elle's heart picked up. Blood pumped through her legs, to her fingers.

"Begin!" The cry to start had barely broken from Mather's lips before she surged forwards, spinning to club Hana around the head with the butt of her dagger. Hopefully hard enough to fracture the bone on her temple. The girl stumbled but didn't fall. Elle danced away again, grinning.

Regaining her footing, Hana clutched her own dagger until her knuckles whitened. A nice bruise would flower on the side of her head from the blow, Elle thought with some satisfaction. It would serve as a reminder of how badly she had lost.

Hana released another pathetic sound as she landed another hard blow. A wicked smile crept across her features. Her opponent was lagging behind, her body turning frantically to meet each blow. Their daggers couldn't clash like swords, but instead the jabbing movements required close combat. They moved too swiftly for Elle to throw Ravaryn into her chest.

Another slice to her cheek. Hana touched blood trickling down her face, hissing.

Elle sucked in a breath. "Oh. That looks painful." She then grinned, wiping the blood off the tip of the blade. Riled up, Hana launched into the fight once more. Teetering as she approached Elle, it was all too easy to step out of the way and push her down. The girl almost stepped out of the circle herself.

She landed a punch to Elle's jaw. The assassin didn't register it hurting.

Three minutes into the match and Elle spied the holes in Hana's patchwork defence. It was fortunate, really, that the hard-hitting blow to the head had dizzied Hana significantly. Less than a minute later the girl provided the perfect opportunity, allowing Elle to place two perfectly aimed blows. First, a kick to her lower gut. The girl automatically doubled over.