“Are you sure it’s safe to go out?” I asked.

“We’re going to a different part of the desert today. It’s unlikely we’ll encounter any soldiers. Rodric knows there’s no place to hide in that direction, so he wouldn’t waste time having it searched.”

I nodded and followed him.

I must’ve finally adjusted to so little water. My body didn’t protest quite as much as we walked.

Cion didn’t stop until the sand dunes leveled off. A wide stretch of smooth sand spread out before us. The sun beat down on us without the occasional valley in which to hide from its assault.

“What is this place?” I asked.

“We call it the plateau,” he said simply. “It’s the closest thing we have to your arena.”

He strode out to the middle, and I assumed he wanted me to join him. He stopped after a few steps and faced me, pulling out his split blade. “If you can beat me, you can beat Rodric.”

He didn’t wait for me to pull out my weapon. He pushed forward, nearly taking off my arm. I spun out of the way and rolled to the side. As I stood, I unsheathed my sword. It looked small and thin compared to his. I fumbled for one of my daggers, freeing it just as he pressed his attack.

His blade bit into mine with enough force to shove me onto my heels.

I recovered quickly and tried an attack of my own. I spun my sword low toward his ankles. He jumped over the attack and brought his sword hilt down hard against my shoulder. I faltered, pain spiraling down my arm and back.

Cion didn’t even give me time to recover. A foot connected with my backside. I collapsed forward.

I scrambled up. Cion attacked. I ducked under his blade and arced my sword toward his midsection. He parried the blow, pressing me back. I managed to stay on my feet, but if this had been a real fight, I’d already be pressed against the arena wall. Trapped.

His sword kept coming. The reverberations rippling down my arm hurt less as I focused on nothing but his blade swirling through the air. Again and again, I blocked it, but I couldn’t advance.

I tried several of the jabs he’d taught me with my dagger while our swords were locked. He dodged each one.

Beads of sweat appeared on his brow. Eliciting that felt like an accomplishment in some way. It gave me hope. I may not have been able to touch him, but I was tiring him out.

His blade faltered. He was too slow in bringing it up, and I lunged toward his right side, disarming him.

His sword dropped to the ground, and his body followed after. He lay there for a moment. I leaned over his face. His eyes sprang open, and his hand darted from his side, spraying my face with sand.

I coughed and stumbled backward, waving my hands in front of my eyes.