Savannah lunged in, ferociously stabbing at Arielle’s face, but the empousa parried lazily, countering with a harsh smack across Savannah’s thigh. The probatio fell to one knee.
Will murmured to Nico, “Were we this bad when we started?”
“When did you get somean?” Nico whispered back.
“I remember now. Youwerethis bad. That’s how you got hurt that first time we met.”
“You’re going to hold on to that memory forever, aren’t you?”
Will grinned. “Like it happened yesterday.”
Thwack!
Yazan lowered his sword. “Deion, I’m sorry!”
His partner—the tall Black demigod with locs that were bleached on the ends—rubbed his right arm. His sword lay in the dirt. “Dude. You’re not supposed to swing that hard!”
“Why didn’t you block me?”
Frank lumbered over. “You guys okay?”
“Yeah, yeah,” said Deion. “Guess I got distracted.”
Yazan frowned. “It’s kind of hard when…you know.” He chin-pointed toward the mythics.
Nico had to admit that the chaos was distracting. As Frank wrangled everybody back into lines to try again, Nico decided to step in.
“Will, you spar with Deion,” he said. “Yazan, let’s see what you’ve got.”
He squared off against the probatio and drew his Stygian blade.
Yazan’s jaw dropped. “Whoa. What isthat?”
“Never mind the blade,” Nico said. “It helps to pay attention to it, yes, but you also have to be able to read body language. Which direction does your enemy turn? Which foot do they favor?”
“And we’re demigods!” Will added proudly. “We have a natural feel for this stuff. It just requires letting your instincts take over.”
“ADHD for the win,” said Nico. Then he beckoned to Yazan. “Raise your weapon.”
Yazan gulped. “That sword looks very sharp.”
Nico grinned mischievously. “It is.”
“Have you ever hurt yourself with it?”
Nico shot Will a warning look. “Not a word.”
Will simply smiled. He picked up an extra rudis and faced Deion.
“All right, demigods!” Frank shouted. “And…friends! On my command, let’s try to keep this round going for more than two seconds, okay?”
Deion frowned at Will. “You’ve been to Tartarus. You’re probably not afraid ofanything.”
“Fear can be agoodthing,” Will said.
Deion scoffed. “Yeah, right.”
“Fear is natural,” said Will. “All demigods experience it. And when it happens, I try to tap into it. What should I be paying attention to? What makes metrulyafraid?”
