Page 115 of Bound By Darkness

Chapter 34

Dying Logs

THALIA

“You’re swinging too wide.”

Pressing the tip of my sword into the ground, I used it as leverage as I stumbled, my sides clenching from the two punches they’d taken from the hilt of his sword. Even worse was the smug look across Ivan’s face, his arms crossed against his bare chest.

Sweat glistened against his temple, the mid-morning light cresting over the slowly awakening camp. It was frigid, but it didn’t seem to bother him as he wiped a hand across his forehead.

Chiseled muscle crept into view as he leaned over, my hands itching to wipe the sweat dripping down his chest. “You’re worsening every day. At this rate, a single, untrained guard could wipe you out.”

“Maybe—” I huffed. “Maybe I have a lousy teacher.”

He leaned closer, the scent of rosewood tickling my nose. “Again,” he said firmly.

I raised my sword, the hilt glittering as the rays hit the flecks of silver and gold. Shifting my feet, I angled the blade.The tip pointed at his stomach—the easiest expanse of flesh to hit while also causing maximum damage.

His eyes pined over me, assessing my stance and balance. A quick nod of approval sent us into a dance.

My feet traced the dirt as I kept one foot behind me for balance, the other pivoting to keep him within view.

The first blow wasn’t a surprise as his sword swung high and to the left. I deflected it with ease, our blades singing as they met. With a twist of his wrist, the sword curved upward, slicing the air as it headed for my side. Turning rapidly, I followed the motion, the blade grazing my tunic as I danced beside it.

It cut inward, but my blade greeted him as I pushed him back, my feet planted into the dying grass. My muscles ached as I grunted, pressing further against the steel.

Ivan’s jaw clenched in response as he leaned forward, applying his body weight to the sword. “Use it. You can’t win in a game of attrition. Everyone will be stronger than you, but you have your casting, which most won’t know about.”

Wincing, my feet slid back an inch as he pressed further. “I can’t.” I shook my head, my lips taut. “I can’t control it.”

He pressed harder. “The way you’re going to control it is by using it. Without it, you won’t win. You’ll be dead on the battlefield.”

He shoved his shoulder into the blade as my balance faltered.

A fury of black hurled at me as I bolted to the side, narrowly missing the wide flourish of his blade. Grunting, I jumped back to be met with another giant arc of his sword. His attacks were powerful, each swing of his blade holding enough force to slice me in half.

It was working—the constant drive of his power against me. Panting, my sword lowered slightly with each blow.

I stayed on the defense as I took another step back, but he kept coming, his swings relentless—a true assassin.

I took another, but my back slammed into a rock.

His sword swung high, and I barely had time to meet it with mine before his foot swept behind me, knocking me off balance. My head hit the rock as I slid down, the air leaving my lungs in one big exhale.

His sword pointed at my throat, the black tip drawing in light. “Pathetic.”

I shoved the tip of his sword away with mine. My head ached as I rested against the cool texture, my sword clanging to the dirt.

He shoved his sword into the ground before splaying his hand against the boulder, his body leaning over mine.

His chest rose and fell as he peered down at me. Beads of sweat dripped down his muscled chest, the one piece of evidence we’d spared. “What the hells?”

Lifting my head, I stared at him, my chest rising unevenly.

“Rule one.” His fist curled. “Don’t corner yourself. If this was a real fight, you’d be dead.”

“Well, lucky for me, it wasn’t.” My hand rubbed the sore spot forming on the back of my head.

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