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"I h"

"Bastard" His face contorts, and he lashes forward, belloordlessly, knocking ive the benediction They shout for us to stop, but as the razors screasnow He uses the tenets of kravat Four seconds of precise, kinetic violence, retreat Assess Engage

We are the only the only sound in this strange place The odd, high-pitched keen of an arching whip The thruises on left arms spark white when blades slash into the of leather

Despite his anger, Cassius is perfect in his for; his hips swivel as he lunges in the compact salvos His breath comes measured, paced He lashes his whip forward in a sweep, then hardens the blade and swings it up, airoin His movements flicker fast Trained Honed by masters and Swords of the Society It’s easy to see why he has devastated his opponents since childhood, why he gutted ht like hiht like them I learned that lesson

Noill learn his

"You’ve been practicing You canback He darts forward, feinting high and sweeping low to claim my ankles "But you’re still a novice" He sends a flurry of seven blows at nize the engagement pattern, but a myself out of the way of a thrust at the last moment Two more sets of seven co to a knee, panting, looking around at the gathered guests

"Do you hear that?" he asks I hear nothing but the wind and the throbbing ofalone No one to weep No one to care"

"Arcos will care," I whisper

He stiffens "What did you say?"

"Lorn au Arcos will care if his last student dies," I say, dropping the falsely ragged breath, straightening proudly Cassius stares at host He hesitates So too do those who hear what I say "While you ate, I trained While you drank, I trained While you sought pleasure, I trained from the weeks after the Institute to the days before the Academy"

"Lorn au Arcos doesn’t accept students," Cassius hisses "Not for thirty years"

"He h "Did you think I came here to be killed? Did you think yourself entitled to my life? No, Cassius I came here to cut you down before your parents"