Chapter 17
After lunch, Paulette suggested I return to the training room and practice on my own.
“I need to tend to my other duties,” she said. “But I’m sure it will be good for you to keep working. Just be careful.”
“I will,” I said, though I felt drained.
She departed, and I went, somewhat reluctantly, back to the red-walled room. For several long moments, I just stared at the flame-blackened walls. My mouth didn’t want to form the words of the chants. I closed my eyes, trying to connect with my power, and felt only the barest flicker of flame.
However, the room was big enough to practice my blade work. There were no straw dummies for me to stab at, of course, but one year Sir Durum had taught Neeve, Kian, and me a series of dance-like fighting moves. I hadn’t thought of those movem
