Kassian parried the sword flying toward him, changing the angle so he could push his opponent back. Gerrin staggered a few steps, resuming a defensive position as Kassian swooped toward him. He tried to focus on the weight of his sword, the direction of the evening wind, and his opponent’s little tale signs that warned him what he was about to do next, but his concentration kept slipping.
Memories from the night of the festival flashed before his eyes — the way Raena smiled and glared, the way her hair smelled, the way her skin felt under his fingers...
Gerrin ducked under his sword, moving his weapon in his other hand and attacking without hesitation. Kassian had already overreached with the last blow, so he could only partially parry the next attack. His second-in-command pushed their
