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Aet an instant before she struck, but it was h for Ashia to block and plot her next three blows The Betrothed spent two hours each day studying sharusahk Ashia and her cousins spent twenty, and the difference had come to tell

Ashia could have put Amanvah under the water as easily as Jaia did Selthe, but she wanted the beating to last, as had the one Amanvah delivered on their second day in the palace

Two knuckles into the armpit, and Amanvah hoith pain A chop to the throat cut off the sound, and As seized The heel of Ashia’s hand to her forehead left Amanvah stunned as the force of the blow knocked her backward into the water

Ashia could have continued the beating, but she stayed her hand as A out bathwater "If you walk away noill not have to tell the daoad, of course, forcing A, lest she appear weak in front of the other nie’dairls held their collective breath as A from her skin Her eyes promised murder, but they also told Ashia where she would strike next

The eyes tell all, Enkido’s fingers had said Ashia stood cal the attack

Auard in place and using feints to set up her true attacks

It was all to no avail Ashia could see thea series of bloithout retaliating, sihs in water, Ashia kept her feet planted, blocking and dodging with her upper body alone, but Aan to breathe hard

Ashia shook her head "You Betrothed are soft, cousin This lesson was overdue"

Alared at her with open hatred Wrapped in the soft cocoon of her breath, Ashia was caload her cousin further She already knehat Airl was not so stupid as to actually attempt it

But in her desperation, A a series of feints before trying a kick

Her legs already tired and underwater, the kick was pathetically slow A on surprise, but even that would not have been enough Ashia caught her ankle, yanking the leg upward

"One stupid enough to kick in water does not deserve the use of their leg" She struck hard, driving her stiffened fingers hard into a precise point on Ah A went li into a submission hold as she held Amanvah under

Jaia tried to intercede, but Shanvahtwo quick blows that collapsed the older girl’s legs She fell to the water, thrashing to keep her head above the surface Selthe could have stepped in to help her, but she and the other nie’da stood frozen in place Sikvah, Micha, and Jarvah lined up next to Shanvah, blocking their path to the combatants

Amanvah thrashed at first, and then went still Ashia waited for her to slap the surface of the water in subirl never did She knew she was the Deliverer’s daughter, and even Ashia would not dare kill her in front of everyone

She pulled Aasp a breath

"Sharuirl looked at her in fury, spitting in Ashia’s face

Ashia did not let her draw another breath before putting her back under, twisting her arher into the air "Everam’s spear sisters Say it" Aasped and thrashed, so Ashia put her under again

This ti minutes, her hands in tune with Amanvah’s body The muscles tensed one last time before consciousness was lost When she felt it, she pulled A in close

"There is no hora , no Enkido There is only sharusahk We can do this every day if you wish"