The next morning, Aria joined the group for combat drills.
The training yard was crowded. Warriors paired off with wooden staffs, the cold air ringing with the crack of wood on wood. Nyssa was already stretching near the equipment rack. She tossed Aria a staff as she approached.
"Ready to get knocked down?"
"Ready to knock you down."
Nyssa grinned. "Confidence. I like it."
They paired off. Aria's body had absorbed the rhythms by now, stance, grip, swing, block. She was still not as fast as the others, but she was precise. She didn't waste movement, every strike was with purpose.
Rowan was on the field with them. He moved among the pairs, correcting stances, adjusting grips, his voice low and steady. When he passed Aria and Nyssa, he paused.
"Again," he said. "This time, Nyssa attack
