Page 89 of Fires of the Forsaken
He ignored me. “Kaelan, don’t give her instructions today. I want her to watch and anticipate. If you say anything, you’ll start over.”
Kaelan nodded.
“Beginning now,” Cheriour shouted.
“Gah!” I barely got my arm up to block Kaelan's overhand swing. “Crap!” I stumbled back, swinging my pole around to stop him from whacking me in the ribs.
Cheriour's voice became white noise as he shouted instructions and critiques: “Garvin, breathe out. Elbow up, Moira. Belanna, stop showing off. Kaelan, pick up the pace.”
Pick up the pace???
Swing. Thwack. Swing. Thwack.My arms burned with the effort. It had to have been two minutes already, right?
But Cheriour was still watching me, so probably not.
Swing. Thwack.I gritted my teeth.Focus.Kaelan side-stepped and I moved with him, blocking his next strike. He gave me an encouraging smile before he brought his pole up, nearly catching me under the chin.“Shit.”I snapped my head back to avoid the hit.
And, in that half second, a movement caught my eye.
Quinn stepped onto the field.
Kaelan lunged again. I flew back, never taking my eyes off Quinn, and—
Crack!
I cried out as my left ankle rolled. A piercing and tingly pain rocketed up my calf.
Kaelan grabbed me when my leg buckled. “Are you—”
“Kaelan and Addie, start over!” Cheriour said.
I cursed under my breath. My ankle throbbed, and I wasn't even bearing my full weight on it.
“Start over!” Cheriour called again.
“She’s—” Kaelan began.
Cheriour strode across the field toward us. “It doesn't matter. Start over.”
“I can’t,” I gasped. “I need to sit—”
“No, you don't.” Cheriour now stood only a few feet away. “Start over.”
Kaelan, to his credit, looked a little upset as he released my arm and stepped back, raising his weapon again.
I gasped—goddamn, my anklehurt! Like someone had driven a red-hot needle through my bone.
Kaelan's pole rapped against my arms. The impact was light, but it still sent me spiraling sideways.
He reached for me again.
“Uh-uh.” Cheriour pushed Kaelan's arm out of the way.
I crashed to the ground in a crumbled heap, my stick smacking me across the face.
“Addie,” Cheriour said. “Get up.”
“I can’t.” Every time I moved my leg, the fire throbbing in my bones grew hotter. Angrier.
