I duck his punch and jab his gut. The impact jars through my leg. His strength would quickly overpower me, so I can’t risk getting caught. He kicks out. I leap back, but my injury makes me clumsy. My foot slides out from under me. I land on my side with an oomph. Pain jolts through my thigh.

He tries to get on top of me, but I bring up my knee, jabbing him in the side. He falls onto his back, groaning from the impact against the cut in his shoulder. I flip to my feet and drive my knee toward his neck. He rolls away, and my knee strikes dirt. As he climbs to his feet, I spy the dark sash of one of the dead musicians, half undone from the man’s waist. I wrap one end of the rough cloth around my fist and stand as well.

Before Jonyah can attack, I land a punch on his jaw. He dodges the next punch. For his size, he’s fast, and he’s a competent fighter. More than competent. A bitter reminder that we share the same teacher.

He goes for my injured thigh, and I swing my other leg into his jaw. He collapses against a tree. Leaping onto his back, I dig my arm into the cut on his shoulder, making him stagger from the pain. Then I hook the sash around his neck, gripping the ends tight with one hand as my other presses to his chest.

Magic flares inside me. Jonyah goes rigid as his soul pulses against my fingers. Then agony spears my chest. My magic vanishes like a doused candle. Jonyah’s elbow crashes into my temple. My grip loosens and I fall, landing hard on my back. Lights flicker behind my eyelids. Jonyah clutches the tree trunk, coughing and swearing as he pulls in air.

I roll onto my side, struggling to focus my vision. Saengo. Dread splits open my chest. She’s dying. I have to defeat Jonyah and get to Spinner’s End. But the weaker she grows, the less I’m able to access my magic.

Jonyah swipes for my head as I regain my feet. Blocking his fist, I slam my forehead into his face. He cries out, falling back.

I don’t need magic to defeat him. I never have. The Company trained me to be a soldier, but Kendara trained me to survive. From the moment she took us both on as pupils, it was always meant to come to this: him or me. And I don’t mean to lose.

I rush Jonyah as he’s still clutching his face, slamming us both back into the tree and shaking the branches overhead. Leaves flutter down around us. Jonyah’s fingers dig into my thigh as mine claw at his shoulder. Pain sears my leg and up my side, but it only enrages me as I wrap the sash again around his neck.