Page 45 of Lost and Stolen Gods
I blinked blearily up at Pashim. Oooh, he was purty even when he frowned.
“Leela, can you see me?” Pashim asked.
I smiled dopily up at him. “Course I can, silly.”
“Are you in pain?”
As if summoned by its name, pain registered as a throb that covered my whole body.
I was suddenly fully alert. “Urgh, I think Iampain.”
Pashim helped me to sit up, his arm a brace across my shoulders, and everyone else registered. Surrounding us. Watching.
Earth, please open up and swallow me now.
“It will pass,” Pashim said. “You’ll be fine.”
Guru Chandra appeared to my left. “I apologize. I forgot to disarm my shields.” He looked genuinely upset.
“Shields?” I tipped my head back to look at him,winching as pain lanced down my spine. “I hit a shield?” Yeah, that made sense.
“You were repelled,” Pashim explained. “You hit the platform.” A muscle in his jaw ticked. Why was he pissed at me? Wait…Unless it wasn’tmehe was angry with.
“Take a seat and watch the session,” Guru Chandra said. “I’m sure Pashim will help you catch up next time.”
Pashim pressed his lips together and nodded, his gaze on me. “Come on.” He helped me to my feet, and I bit back a yelp as fire lanced up my leg.
He scooped me up and carried me to the edge of the arena and under the awning.
“You should heal in an hour or so,” he said, lowering me onto a bench.
“So I have to wait to know if my power has come in?”
“Oh, it’s come in,” Pashim said. “If it hadn’t, then the impact just now would have killed you.” He looked across at Guru Chandra, who was circulating between sparring partners, showing them proper form and stance. “Guru Mihir has you after class today, but stay after class tomorrow, and I’ll work with you.”
“Thank you.”
He hesitated a moment then asked softly, “Where is your drohi, Leela?”
I had a feeling I would have to get used to being asked this question. “I honestly don’t know.”
Pashim sighed heavily and nodded. “Very well. Rest now. And observe.”
He left me and joined the potentials in the arena. The rakshasa were visible across the way, their attention on the sparring newcomers. Which was where my attention should also be.
I sat back and winced as a tight band of fire circled my ribcage. Were any fractured? It was a little hard to breathe.
Someone settled on the bench beside me, bringing the scent of woodland with them. “That was impressive.” The voice was male, low, and rumbly.
I slowly turned my stiff neck to look across at the rakshasa with the green eyes and feral face. “I’d hardly called getting smacked into rock impressive.”
His attention remained on the potentials in the arena as he replied. “You survived.That’simpressive.”
“I think the word you’re looking for islucky.”
He shook his head. “No. Even with demigod power, being repelled by Chandra’s shield should have broken your spine, neck, and ribs. You should be a screaming mess right now.”
I wasn’t sure what to make of that. “What’s your point?”
