backward and brought her fists up again, but it was too late. Holly swept her feet out from under her with a low kick and she toppled to the mats so hard she saw stars.
âWhat is this?â Mombi barked. Where had the witch even come from? Did she have eyes in the back of her head? Probably, Lanadel thought, rubbing her ringing temples. Holly had danced away from her, a martyred expression on her face as she tenderly dabbed at her nose. âWhat were you thinking?â Behind Mombi, she saw Nox with his arms folded across his chest. Melindra looked like she was trying not to crack a smile. Holly and Larkin had identical expressions of smug satisfaction.
âLet her sit up,â Melindra urged. Mombi grumbled something under her breath that sounded a lot like âidiot girl,â but offered Lanadel her hand and pulled her to her feet. Lanadel winced as awhite-hot flare of pain lanced through her head. Mombi nodded grimly.
âServes you right,â she said, but her voice was a little more sympathetic. âA trip to the healing pool would fix you right up, but maybe a headache will serve to remind you that we do not fight each other outside the ring.â She whirled around, pointing at Larkin and Holly. âAnd that goes for the two of you, too. Donât think I donât know who started this one. Try that again, and youâll be the ones getting whacked upside the head. Is that clear?â Holly and Larkin quickly rearranged their faces into expressions of contrite humility.
âYes, Mombi,â Holly said sweetly in a high-pitched singsong. Mombi rolled her eyes.
âNow get out, the lot of you,â she said crossly. Nox looked startled. âSparring practice is moved to cavern two. Lanadel and I will need the main cave. If you think our girlâs ready for magic, itâs time she got some real lessons. None of this aggravating-people-in-corridors nonsense.â She gave Nox a dirty look.
âI thoughtââ he said, flushing, and Mombi wagged a finger at him.
âYour job isnât to do any thinking!â she interrupted. She turned toward Lanadel, and behind her back Nox gave her a look that was murderous. Lanadel wondered what was going on there. It didnât just feel like Mombi reprimanding him for stepping out of line. It was like there was some whole long, complicated history between them. Something she couldnât even begin to guess at.
âYouâre dismissed,â Mombi added, waving a hand at Holly, Larkin, Melindra, and Nox. Melindra, slipping out of fighting mode as easily as sheâd gotten into it, rolled her eyes and gave Lanadel a sympathetic look, mouthing the words âGood luckâ when the old witchâs back was turned.
Holly smiled evilly. âYouâre going to need it,â she added with a hiss. Mombiâs mouth twitched into an almost-smile, and Lanadel knew sheâd heard.
âWell, what are you waiting for?â Melindra said in a normal tone of voice, prodding Holly and Larkin out of the cave. âGet a move on, you little Wogglebugs. Iâll put you through your paces next door. And if you try to hit me on the head, Iâll make you regret the day you were born.â
But Nox didnât budge as the others filed out of the cavern. âI should stay,â he said stiffly. âYou put me in charge of training new recruits, even if youâre the one teaching her magic.â
Another strange, electric charge passed between them, and something about Mombiâs demeanor softened. âOh, all right,â she grumbled, but her usual hostile fierceness was suddenly gone. Lanadel made a note to ask Melindra later what Noxâs history was with the witch. Sheâd mentioned Mombi had raised him but there didnât seem much love lost between the two. Nox sat in a corner, stretching out his long, muscular legs and leaning back against the wall. He crossed his arms over his chest, his