"I don't care," Narsi proclaimed. "I'll beat you, I'll beat this guy, and then I'll beat Lorag."

"You're striking too low," Rhazii said. "If you cut like that it'll glance off the shoulder. Go higher." He tapped the base of his neck and they continued. "Also, you won't beat Lorag."

Narsi scowled. "Bullshit. He's not invincible."

"No, but he's better than you," Rhazii answered flatly. "Only a handful of people the clan have actually beaten him in a stand up fight. He's been fighting hard for all his life. Not just training. Wars. Battles." He stopped. "Okay, now continue with Julan."

While Rhazii and Julan swapped places, Narsi was surprisingly quiet and somewhat sunken.

[hr]
Fendros felt his ears darken with a rush of blood. He tried to keep a straight face while searching for a satisfactory answer. After a suspicious length of silence, he lowered his eyes, waved a hand, and came up with all he had. "My family has magic in its tradition. I grew up learning. Just...keep my skills sharp when I can. It's easier now that Rhazii is almost grown up."

He hoped they did not remember Calia speaking about Fendros' previous difficulties with magic.