Page 97 of Court of Lies and Deceit

He recovers from the missed strike and swings his fist, still gripping the blade, towards my cheek in a backhanded strike.

How did I beat Draven when he was blocking out his emotions?

Shadows streak through the air towards my waist.

Diving to the side, I roll across the sand to escape both the fist and the shadows.

An idea strikes me. I shocked Draven into feeling something. I need to do the same now.

Sand flutters up around me like a cloud as I grind to a halt and spin up onto my knees. Oleander is already on me. He lunges, his blades aimed at my throat.

Snatching up a fistful of sand, I throw it right in his face.

He gasps as the sand hits his eyes and mouth, which then causes him to choke. Shooting to my feet, I call up my magic and shove it straight at his chest. I aim for panic. Then fear. Then shock.

Nothing.

A snarl of frustration rips from my throat as I can’t connect with any of the emotions. I need to do something else. Something?—

My stomach lurches as a shadow wraps around my ankle, yanking hard. I throw my arms out, spinning wildly as I try to regain my balance. Oleander is coughing and spitting sand from his mouth while wiping the back of his hand over his eyes. Iswing my dagger at his face in a desperate attempt to make him lose focus.

Still blinking against the sand, he barely sees my blade in time to dodge. His focus wavers as he is forced to yank up his arm and block my strike with his forearm. It causes his magic to flicker, and I rip my ankle out of the constricting shadow. My blade barely scratches the leather on his forearm, but I wasn’t trying to kill him with the blow anyway.

Now free from the shadow again, I leap out of reach while my mind churns.

I need to do something else to force an emotion into his chest.

He blinks the last of the sand from his eyes and then advances on me again, fury now crackling across his face.

My heart slams against my ribs.

I gasp.

Then whip my head back to stare up at the sky. “DRAGON!”

A collective gasp rips through the whole arena as everyone snaps their gazes towards the sky. I shove with my magic.

This technique worked perfectly against Tommen during the battle royale trial, and I do the same now, aiming for the bone white spark of fear in Oleander’s chest.

I almost scream when I find nothing.

Quickly dropping the magic, I throw it out towards another emotion. Shock.

My heart jerks as I at last find a brass flame of shock in his chest. Latching on to it, I pour everything I have into it.

Oleander gasps, dropping his blades and throwing his arms over his head, as his shock flares into wildfire.

I dart forward. If I can just get my knife against his throat, I can force him to surrender.

My boots pound against the sand as I practically throw myself the final distance between us. The shock is still wreakinghavoc inside Oleander when he sees me coming and snaps his gaze to me. Just another step. Another step and then?—

A fist slams into the side of my face.

The hit is so unexpected, and so powerful, that I’m thrown sideways across the sand like a doll. I hit the ground hard, my dagger flying out of my hand when my elbow smacks into the sand, and I roll several times before coming to a halt.

My ears ring and I swear I can hear the sound echoing around in my empty skull. Blinking, I try to gather my wits. The stands above shift back and forth, as if duplicating and then becoming one again.

A figure in white fighting leathers become visible above me.

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