I turned just in time to see the soldiers crest the dune and slow as they approached me. I scrambled backward.

That’s when I noticed what I’d stumbled over.

I slowed my pace.

“Just come with us nice and easy,” one of the soldiers said. He had one hand up as though I were a wild animal he could tame. The other hand held his sword.

He took slow, measured steps forward.

He inhaled sharply, his whole body going rigid.

I looked away.

He dropped his sword and stumbled backward into the other soldier, blood dripping from his foot where a spike from a spiral cactus had gone straight through.

I rose to my feet and pulled out my sword just as Cion reappeared over the hill with his sword in hand.

The second soldier seemed to realize he was outnumbered now that his partner was injured. “Let’s get out of here,” he said, helping his friend hobble away.

Cion and I stood there a long time with our chests heaving and our swords out just to make sure they didn’t reappear.

“Do you think we should head back?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I’d rather them think we went this way. It’ll lead them farther from the hideout.”

I sheathed my sword and followed him, but I couldn’t help glancing over my shoulder every few dunes, praying we’d make it through a few more weeks, that my father wouldn’t cut off well access. I needed more time until I was ready to face Rodric. But I had a sinking feeling I wasn’t going to get it.

CHAPTER

20

It was late by the time I finally pulled myself from the tossing surf of the shifting hills and collapsed next to Cion.

“Better,” he said.

“But good enough to beat Rodric?” I asked. Because that’s what I needed. And fast. Especially after overhearing those soldiers.

He looked at me sidelong. “If you got him mad enough that he focused more on his rage than his training, then yes.”

“So really, that’s a no.” I sighed.

“Rodric thinks his strength will carry him through any fight. His weakness is dismissing those he sees as weaker opponents. Remy once got Rodric’s sword from him in a training fight by pretending to be injured.”

“So Rodric can be beaten,” I replied, hoping that was the message I was meant to take away.

Cion shrugged. “It was only a mock fight. It’s hard to say what would’ve happened in a real one.”

“I guess I’ll get to find out.”

“I’d trade places with you if I could,” Cion said, “but I don’t think I’d look as good as you do in that gladiator gear.”

I looked down at my clothing. My skirt didn’t even reach my knees. One of the leather flaps arranged to flare out over the base when I spun around had been torn away while I was in the shifting hills. The leather of the breastplate was beginning to fray. Dirt and dust covered everything. My legs looked darker because of it, and a swipe across my scalp proved sand still matted my hair. Not to mention the small cut above my ankle where the spiral cactus spike had scraped me.