Wasteland (2010) by Jordan Crystal - Wanderer

Author:Jordan, Crystal - Wanderer [Wanderer, Jordan, Crystal -]
Format: epub
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2011-01-14T19:13:49.125000+00:00

Chapter Four

The clash of blades meeting rang clearly over the practice field. Akilah and Kadira circled each other, looking for openings in the other's defenses. They'd trained together so often, they knew every strength and weakness of their opponent, but that knowledge also made them evenly matched. Akilah's lower lip was split, and Kadira's left hand bore a weeping cut. They both sported an assortment of bruises. Akilah swung her curved scimitar, and Kadira met it with her broadsword, the long blades sparking as they connected. The hit vibrated up Kadira's arms, and she recoiled smoothly to absorb the impact. Sweat slid down her face to sting her eyes, but she didn't bother to try to wipe it away. It was all familiar. Thrust, parry, step. A deadly dance she knew every move to.

A feral smile curled Akilah's lips, and she taunted softly, "I hear the Haroun chieftain is doing excellent business on that little toy he used on you."

"You just wish he'd used it on you." Kadira blocked a swing and dropped to sweep Akilah's legs out from under her. The other woman went down in the sand, but arched and leaped to her feet, already slashing through the air to meet Kadira's next blow. "Two weeks, and he tells me the demands keep coming in for more. He's going to have to bring an auto full of them to the Rites of Fall." She sucked in a breath, and noticed Akilah was beginning to grow winded as well. They'd been practicing for several hours, and the sun was near to setting. Kadira usually trained in the mornings, but Ezra had pulled her under him at dawn and hadn't let her up until midday. Not that she'd tried to escape--no sane woman would. A fortnight in his bed and every time just got better as they learned what drove the other mad with lust. "I told him to take some with him the next time he goes to the city. Men and women can use them on themselves or a lover, and Whores would probably be wild for them. Might give them a chance to come."

A chuckle rippled out of Akilah, and she slapped her sword against Kadira's without much power. "Your trader blood is talking, there, my friend."

It smarted, yet another reminder that she would never be a true Wanderer, and from her friend, it was all the more painful. Anger pumped through her, her heart pounding and her fingers clenching on her sword, slicing her weariness away. She gritted her teeth, and with a thrust and twist of her blade, she sent Akilah's scimitar flying from her hand. The other woman's eyes widened, then narrowed, and she waited for a beat, then charged in low, catching Kadira around the waist and carrying her to the ground. Jerking her head to the side to miss Akilah's fist, Kadira dropped her own sword, and jabbed the tips of her fingers into her friend's ribs. A satisfying whoosh of air escaped, and she kicked out to send Akilah sprawling.

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