Atty’s answering stare was priceless. “Are you sure?”
Giggling, Tory gave her a quick peck on the cheek and left her to fend for herself. Atty watched her friend walk away, then turned to see her husband still in mock battle. Without waiting for him to finish, she took off for the clinic at her top speed.
* * *
For the third time, Yulen’s blade barely passed over Renken’s arm. The near miss earned a chuckle from the ex-mercenary, and shouts and cheers from the crowd.
“You’re tiring, D’Jacques,” he panted. “Your arm doesn’t appear to be solid.”
“I’m just getting my second wind,” Yulen assured him. He would never admit that his muscles were aching from the workout. He would pay for his overexertion tonight when his body refused to let him get any rest.
Avery called another time out, an
