Yazan kept his eyes fixed on Nico’s blade. “I thought we were training so wewouldn’tbe afraid.”
Nico chuckled. “I promise I’m not trying to sound like a know-it-all, but if there’s anything I’ve learned lately, it’s that you can’t stop emotions from bubbling up. So as much as I’d like to never feel pain or fear, they’re both going to happen.”
“Thatis what we’re training for,” added Will. “How to deal with the unexpected when it happens.”
“Parati!” Frank yelled again. “Impellite!”
Before Nico and Will could engage their opponents, a scream went up from the opposite end of the line. Savannah stumbled back, dropping her sword like it was a venomous snake. She crouched and covered her head with her hands.
Frank rushed over. “Savannah! What’s wrong?”
Arielle retreated. “I didn’t touch her, I swear.”
By the time Nico and Will reached her, Savannah was rocking back and forth, breathing so rapidly she was practically panting.
“I’m fine,” she wheezed. Her eyes flicked wildly from one person to another until they landed on Nico. Her face was pale and sweaty.
He recognized something in her expression.
“Give her space.” Will shouldered his way forward, always the medic, and offered her some water from his canteen. “The rest of you…keep training. Maybe over there.” He waved toward the trenchworks a few yards away.
“You heard the man!” Frank did a good job masking his concern. “Let’s move, let’s move!”
As he herded the trainees across the field, Arielle sidled up to Nico.
“Will she be okay?” asked the empousa. She sounded more curious than concerned, like Savannah was a side character in a movie.
“I think so,” said Nico. “Any idea what—?”
“Not her!” screamed Savannah. “Not her!” She pointed with a trembling hand at the empousa.
Will tried to calm her, breaking off a piece of ambrosia from his med kit.
Nico took Arielle’s arm and led her away. “Maybe you should—”
“Yeah,” Arielle agreed. “I really didn’t— I never meant—”
“I know,” Nico promised.
Arielle frowned and marched toward the others.
Nico glanced back. Will was encouraging Savannah to breathe, soothing her with kind words and chocolate like the gentle healer he was. He caught Nico’s eyes and silently let him know the plan: Nico should stay here. Will was going to take Savannah to the infirmary and get her checked out. Nico and Will had been together long enough that they could read each other that easily. Also, they’d been in situations like this an unfortunate number of times before.
Nico put his hand to his own heart.Good luck. Love you.
Then he went to rejoin the sparring session.
“All right, everyone,” Frank was saying. “Let’s get back to it. Impellite!”
The drycrackof wooden blades hitting one another filled the air again, but Nico could tell the trainees’ hearts weren’t it. There was no conversation. No enthusiastic shouts. Just cautious strikes and parries from both demigods and mythics.
Frank looked over as Nico joined him. “So, what’s going on?”
Nico shook his head. “Not sure. Will is taking her to the infirmary just in case.”
“That’s a good plan.”
“Is there anything else we should know?” Nico asked. “About Savannah’s history with Arielle?”
