26
“Again,” Bradamante told Jara. “Block, parry, strike.”
It was early morning still, and the two of them had carved out a short time away from their other duties to continue working on Jara’s training.
Ever since Rogero’s attack, Jara had been particularly anxious to practice.
She doubted that she would ever be good enough. She knew she could never match Bradamante’s skills.
But she hoped she could at least be better than she was right now. That was at least something she could try to do.
She joined Bradamante in their regular training area, a flat patch of dirt at the far edge of camp where normally no one bothered them.
Normally.
“Block, parry, strike,” Bradamante repeated, demonstrating the sequence again.
Jara raised her dull-edged training sword and attempted to copy the mov
