Ned’s fist swung straight at Perry’s face. Perry dodged—at least, he thought he dodged. He’d certainly planned to, but somehow he found himself on his back on the mat with blinding pain flashing across the left side of his jaw. He groaned and squinted through half-open eyelids. Ned looked down at him, hands on his hips, barely breathless. “What’s up with you?” he asked. “It’s like you’re not even trying.”
Perry sat up, moving his jaw from side to side to check it still worked. The pain slowly began to subside. “I’m a little distracted, remember?” His brows drew together as he looked across the training center. Everyone was going about their morning sessions as if nothing was wrong. As if one of their classmates hadn’t been abducted from within the Guild yesterday.
Ned extended his hand t
