“But—”
“Now!”
Nick flinched, jumped, and punched Todd, sending him stumbling backward a few steps before landing on his rear in the sand with a thud.
“Oh…I didn’t…Todd…”
Rubbing his chin, Todd shook his head, cracked his neck, and climbed to his feet, grinning like a loon. “That was perfect, Nicky!”
Nick blinked at him, not sure what to do, until he found himself landing hard on his back in the sand, pain blooming along his shoulders. Todd grinned down at him, held out one hand, and when Nick grasped it, hoisted Nick to his feet.
Then Todd flipped him over onto his back again. “It’s on.”
Nick rolled to his feet, smirked and a few minutes later, he and Todd were in a mock battle. Unlike the training matches in the village, where slaves were punished for missed moves, cuts and even br
