Page 77 of Journey to the Elderoak
“You’re holding back.”
She lunged at him, but he blocked it, swords locked in an x near his throat. “No, I’m not.”
He leaned. “Yes, you are, dainty human.”
“I’m not dainty.”
He shoved her off him and backed up, swinging his sword as he taunted her. “Prove it.”
She whirled toward him, and they met blow after blow. Her arms were aching and strength waning, but she pushed on, barely able to keep up. Raine advanced, pushing her to the edge of the ring.
“Not good enough,” he said. “What would Andras say?”
Anger coursed through her at the mention of his name. “Shut up.”
Determination flared in Raine’s eyes as he continued to goad her. “He’d call you a coward.”
“I’m not a coward,” she seethed as she knocked his sword away before it sliced her hip.
“He tricked you. Tortured you,” he went on as he battled her. “He got your friend killed.”
She screamed as she lunged toward him, a burst of strength pulled from her anger. “Fuck you,” she snarled and increased her speed as Raine parried.
“There you are.”
Though he blocked each and every blow she landed, she was faster, stronger and more determined than before. After several minutes of their back and forth, he called it. “Let’s take a break.”
She slumped against the wall, dropping the sword. Rainesat next to her and handed her a water skin. “That was fucking amazing.”
She frowned at him, panting. “You’re mean.”
“So is Cas.”
“Yes, but you’re meaner.”
“He holds back because he lo—” He stumbled before correcting himself. “Because he’s afraid of hurting the dainty human.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “What?”
“Nothing,” he replied and changed the subject. “You’re getting better. You’re ready.”
She shook her head, still wondering what he was about to say but didn’t mention it again. “I’m not.”
“If you fight like you just did, you are.” He took a sip of water before handing it back. “You have the technique down. Once you have your fae strength and speed, you’ll be unstoppable.”
“But I won’t have that on the way to the Elderoak.”
“You won’t need it,” he encouraged. “You can do it now.”
They sat quietly as they rested. Ava watched a family of rabbits dart into the forest, their silver fur a blur. Luna opened an eye from her nap beneath a nearby tree, seeming to debate whether she wanted to hunt them. With a feline sigh she went back to sleep.
“Hey Raine?”
“Hmm?”
“What does Mi’ra Vässa mean?” she asked, remembering the words Casimir said to her the night of the tavern. She’d been too scared to ask anyone what it meant, not ready to hear the answer.
Raine looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “Where did you hear that?”
