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Back Golden Age Save as PDF
Chapters (70)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Dedication
  4. CONTENTS
  5. MAP
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. 54
  60. 55
  61. 56
  62. 57
  63. 58
  64. 59
  65. 60
  66. 61
  67. 62
  68. 63
  69. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  70. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chloe nodded as he finished the spin until he was facing her.

‘Your turn now. I am taller than you, so you do not need to crouch. I will come up behind you and grab the hair on the top of your head.’

He gripped Chloe hard, making her wince. She slapped her hand down, crouched so that she was moving into his body behind him, then brought her stiff left hand up, inserted it into the joint at his wrist, and spun into him. Tomarys had no choice but to let go as she whirled to face him. Even if Chloe couldn’t break a man’s arm, she could get herself free of such an attack.

‘Good!’ He smiled. ‘We will practice it more over the coming days. I have one more movement to teach you. An easier one this time. Face away from me again.’

Chloe complied. Tomarys came up behind her and suddenly grabbed her right wrist. He twisted her arm up behind her back. She grunted at the sudden pain.

‘Many people use this hold. It is extremely common, so it is a good one to know how to get out of. It is a matter of instinct. You want to pull away, but pulling in the direction your mind tells you to go in simply adds to the pain. Here is the key. As soon as you can – ideally surprising the man who holds you – turn in the direction of your free arm. The easiest way to remember this is to rotate and swing your free elbow at your enemy’s head. As you turn, you bring your entire body to bear against the force of one man’s hand. The hand being held moves away, reducing your opponent’s leverage. The key is to use surprise. You are a woman, and surprise is your key advantage, for they will not be expecting you to have any skill or power. Try it now.’

Sure enough, when Chloe turned, the pain of the wrist twisted behind her back decreased rather than increased. She made a point with her elbow and freed herself as she whirled.

But her raised elbow didn’t come close to touching her bodyguard’s chin.

Tomarys grinned. ‘Do not worry – my height is rare. Your elbow will likely strike a man’s mouth, causing him a great deal of pain. If you are skilled, you could even strike his throat. We will practice that move in addition to the first. I will also teach you some basic swordplay. Remember, you only need to know enough to kill a man after taking his weapon.’

Tomarys looked up at the sky.

‘Now, before we go, I have a gift for you. You wear a copper chain around your neck, but the chain is bare.’