“Finally enough water for you?” Rodric taunted.

I switched my remaining dagger to my left hand and scooped up my sword as I ran toward them. I swung my blade toward the middle of Rodric’s back. He must’ve heard me coming because he turned to meet the blow. Our blades met midair. The clang resounded through the cavern.

Just as Cion had taught me, I moved my dagger upward, nearly catching Rodric under his ribs, but he brought his other arm down and caught my wrist, squeezing until I let go. Then he released my wrist, flinging me backward.

I stumbled a few paces away.

The whole time he’d kept his foot on Cion, keeping him below the water. Cion had stopped struggling.

“Maybe I should give you gills again and see how well you can swim,” Rodric said.

“You can try.” I moved several steps back in the hopes he’d follow.

He did.

And as he moved, his foot released Cion.

Rodric slowly advanced toward me.

It was hard to keep focused on him. I kept getting caught in crevices or tripping into puddles as I moved backward. And with water gurgling everywhere, it was impossible to tell how close the next channel of water was. If I turned to look, Rodric would strike.

“What chance do you think you have?” Rodric asked. “Not even Cion could beat me.”

“I’m not dead yet.” Cion, dripping wet, swung his blade at Rodric, who ducked under the blow and whirled several steps back to keep us both in view.

Over his shoulder, I caught sight of Dimic on the dam, drilling my other dagger into the clay.

My view lasted only a moment as Rodric charged forward, his blade soaring toward my neck. I knocked it away, but Rodric’s foot caught me in the knee.

I stumbled backward as Cion moved forward.

“Is that the best you could teach her, Cion?” Rodric asked. “I think you made her worse. At least she’ll be easier to beat in the arena.”

Cion didn’t respond. He kept his focus on the battle, but I could tell he was exhausted. His blocks were sloppy. His footwork was hindered by the slippery terrain.

“But you,” Rodric continued, “you I can kill now.” He took a long swipe at Cion, who leapt back. Rodric laughed. The sound echoed around the cavern. “Even together you can’t beat me.”

Cion drove his blade toward Rodric’s arm. Rodric spun away from the blow and responded by swinging his sword toward Cion’s face. “I couldn’t stand taking orders from a weak leader like you. Cintric should’ve given me that sword. He should’ve left me in charge. I’m the one chosen by the desert.”

Cion’s blade met his in the air, and they pushed against one another. “I’m not weak.”

“Tell that to Remy. And to Latia.”

Cion put his full weight into shoving Rodric back.

Rodric stumbled a few feet away. “Too weak to save them both.” He shot a look over his shoulder to where Dimic was still punching holes in the clay. “Maybe I’ll keep you alive long enough to watch Dimic die too.”