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My limbs flailed a moment before instinct kicked in Still in s close to n ain ed, I turned on Ari Before I could de acrobatic training is the ability to stay on your feet That maneuver of yours could ht, Janco?"

Janco rubbed the vacant spot where the lower half of his right ear used to be "It helps You knoho else would ed, as if he knehat Janco was going to say next and resigned hiued, I asked, "Who?"

"A dancer With the proper training, the fire dancers at the festival could take on anyone With a blazing staff spinning around, I wouldn’t go against one with any weapon"

"Except a pail of water," Ari countered

He and Janco then launched into an intense arguainst a fiery staff wielded by an enraged dancer Although fascinated by the discussion, I had to interrupt them My time was limited The Commander’s dinner would soon be served

With only occasional sarcastic comments about fire dancers, Ari and Janco spent the re me to block punches, then kicks, until my forearms were numb

Ari halted the exercise when another soldier approached His and Janco’s relaxed postures tightened They shifted to defensive stances, as Nix, the guard from Captain Parffet’s unit, came closer The skin on Nix’s bald head was sunburned, and his thin fringe of black hair lay da stench of body odor preceded hi me His lean erous when pulled tight

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?" Nix de, sir? " Janco corrected him "We outrank you And, I think a salute would be a nice touch"

Nix sneered "You’ll lose your pro with a criminal Whose brainless idea was it to make her into a more effective killer? When another dead body shows up, you’ll be acco step toward Nix, but Ari’s meaty hand on his shoulder stopped him With undertones of a threat laced into his voice, Ari said, "What we do with our free time is none of your business Nohy don’t you shuffle off to Parffet I saw hi toward the latrines He’ll need you to wipe his ass soon It’s the one skill you’re most suited for"

Nix was outnu shot "She has a history of killing her benefactor I’d watch my necks if I were you"

Ari’s and Janco’s eyes stayed on Nix’s back until he left the yard Then they turned tothe lesson "See you tomorrow at dawn"