Another clash. Another flurry.
Then —
He slipped inside her guard for a half-second and tapped the edge of his sword to her neck.
Silence.
Then Kara sighed, dropping her staff slightly. "Fine. You win."
Tobias exhaled hard and stepped back, offering her a hand. "Barely."
She took it.
Zayn and Elisse were already walking over, Zayn with a canteen and Elisse holding a cloth.
"You were amazing," Elisse said, pressing the cloth to Kara's cut. "That spike trap was brilliant."
"Could've worked if I'd forced him back a little more," Kara muttered. "He adapted too fast."
Tobias sat down beside her and winced. "My ribs disagree with your conclusion."
Zayn handed her the canteen and grinned. "Pretty sure you shook the earth so hard that our rent just went up."
Kara took the water, drank, and then — just barely — smiled. "I'll make it up to you. Free earthquakes for life."
