Page 31 of Enchanted Shadows
“I wouldn’t have cared either way,” I assured her. “My ego is not so fragile that one rude comment would have me off pouting. My point was that you weigh half of what I do. What’s your strategy here? How will you knock me off?”
“I think I liked you better when you weren’t teaching. When you were just yelling at us while we ran.”
“Come on. Humor me.”
I noted Wren and Molly came over to watch.
She finally said, “I distract you and catch you off balance. Delivering blows on both sides of the body until you are off balance.”
“Good,” I approved. “Smart woman.”
“Ugh,” she groaned. “Don’t compliment me.”
I took another step. “Don’t compliment you. Don’t yell at you. What am I supposed to say then?”
“Preferably nothing,” she snapped, but it lacked her normal snippery.
I just grinned. Even tired as hell, I was unrufflable today. It was obstacle course day.
She tried a tentative swing in the direction of my bicep, but I stopped her, shoving at her staff with my own.
I let her get in three more attempts to get me off balance, and then I dropped low, swinging my staff fast, and knocked her to the ground.
She looked at me with such malice that I grinned. I recognized that determination in her because it also flowed in my blood. But today was not the day she’d knock me off and dammit if I wouldn’t make her earn it.
“I’m next,” Wren said, helping Zara up and taking the staff from her.
I walked backward until I was back where I started and beckoned to her with two fingers.
Wren didn’t let me get in her head. As my sister she already knew all my tricks, so naturally, she just bull rushed me. I could have hit her in the face but was feeling extra generous, so I batted her in the hip, knocking her off.
“Dammit,” Wren groaned, falling onto the mat beneath the beam.
“Happens to the best of us,” Zara told her.
“Molls,” I demanded. “You’re up.”
She was far more timid on the beam, looking down often to get her bearings.
“Eyes on me. It helps. Trust your feet to know where you are.”
It was that moment that I noted Vivian had made it to the second level of the obstacle course, the first to do so, bum ankle and all. I was mildly impressed.
While I was distracted looking up, Molly whapped me in the chest with her staff, the motion making me take one step backward.
I looked at her, not actually believing she’d done it. Had she thrown her weight into the motion properly, she just might have gotten me.
“Oops?” she said with faux innocence.
I cocked my head at her.
“Oh damn,” she said, retreating a step.
In three moves, she fell off onto the mat.
Sam said from where she stood watching, “One of us will bring you to your knees, General Raikes. It’s only a matter of time.”
My eyes went to Zara. It was a small miracle I hadn’t been stabbed in my sleep already. “I have no doubt.”
