ARC: Assassin Queen by Anna Kashina

entirely to the training of the King ’ s five Gem-ranked Majat bodyguards, was packed. Mai ’ s attack force flooded it from wall to wall, the activity resembling the lower market plaza on a busy day.
    Men paused in their tasks and stepped aside, letting her and Raishan through to the elevated training platform at the far end. Kara strode up to the weapons stand beside it and chose a long staff from the back row – too heavy for her build, but appropriate for an intense workout she had in mind.
    “ Will you practice with me, Aghat Raishan? ” she asked.
    Raishan grinned. “ If you ’ re certain that ’ s what you want. ” He picked the staff nearest to him, weighting it in his hands. Bigger and heavier than Kara, he could use any of them for an effective practice. Standing up to him with the heavy staff she chose would be an extra challenge – exactly what she needed just now.
    She stepped onto the floor, half aware of the men pausing in their tasks to watch. Diamonds rarely had the opportunity to face each other. Seeing her and Raishan spar with heavy staffs was bound to be a sight not to be forgotten in a hurry.
    The staff was heavy, but well balanced. She enjoyed the strain in her muscle as she parried Raishan ’ s blows, the polished wood singing in her hands. His head-on attack was forceful and she enjoyed it too as she twisted out of his locks, spinning around, aiming for the peripheral spots. A quick smile slid over Raishan ’ s face as he changed his tactics to match.
    She waited until he was committed to the new attack and unexpectedly dropped to a crouch, sweeping low. His eyes widened as he jumped over her staff, his shape becoming a blur as he picked up speed. She kept ahead of him, aware of the silence around them, the crowd of top ranked warriors watching in awe as she and Raishan circled around the small practice space. She was now fighting at her full power and she could tell he was too. She stilled her mind, focusing on his moves, anticipating …
    The pulling sensation wafted over her skin like a cold draft. She wavered as she parried Raishan ’ s attack and clenched her teeth, recomposing. Her muscles were beginning to feel sore. Staffs were not choice weapons for both of them, and the need to wield a heavier one than she normally would pick was beginning to take its toll.
    She could tell Raishan was tiring too, but the knowledge didn ’ t help much. He was going to keep it up until she stopped, and, despite the sweat breaking on her forehead, she was not ready to do so just yet.
    A sting at the back of her head made her stumble. For a moment, the boards under her feet felt uneven, like quicksand. Images of being nearly pulled into the Kaddim ’ s vortex floated up into her head. The cobbles of the pavement, bucking. The ground caving in, pulling her down. The Kaddim Brother nearest to her brushing his hand over her skin. This time she felt the invasion all the way in, the touch like a needle piercing her skin. The mark. A piece of their magic, inside me. A bridge to their minds…
    Dear Shal Addim, that’s how it works.
    She felt like she did back then, a force sweeping her, trying to pull her away. Her feet were still here, grasping the firmness of the training floor, but her balance shifted, as if she wasn ’ t fully present on solid ground. Her hand wavered. The tip of her staff, raised for the block, dipped downward. She could see the horror in Raishan ’ s eyes as his weapon came through, hitting her on the head.
    Her vision darkened as she dropped her staff and sank to the floor, half-aware of Raishan rushing to her side. He caught her as she fell, and she saw his pale face very close.
    “ Damn it, ” he snapped. “ Jahib Lenart, get Aghat Mai, quick! ”
    The pulling became stronger, drawing her into a void as she passed out in Raishan ’ s arms.
    Gradually, she started hearing sounds again, aware of the conversation going on beside her.
    “I ’ m not sure what happened,