You missed all the fun today, little fox,” Elka said as…

““You missed all the fun today, little fox,” Elka said as she sank down beside me and tipped her head back into the steaming water. “Fun?” I shook my head to get the water out of one ear. “When did this so-called fun happen?” “Just after you were finished getting pummeled all over the practice pitch by Meriel.” Elka grinned. “You left, and Nyx had a few unkind things to say about your abilities in your absence.” I shrugged. “She probably had a point. I was terrible today.” “The only point she has,” Elka said, “is the thorn she’s had stuck up her arse about you ever since we first got here. The gods alone know why—it’s not as if we’re the only new recruits. Anyway, I guess I just got sick of her casting an evil eye at you everywhere you went.” I sat up, blinking away the spangles left by the steam on my eyelashes. “What did you do?” I demanded. Her eyes widened with mock innocence. “I simply asked when Nyx was going to call off Meriel and her other attack dogs and muster up enough guts to fight you herself.” Elka stretched her arms above her head and knit her fingers together with a sigh of satisfaction. “Oh, dear goddess,” I groaned. “You didn’t.” “She did.” The surface of the water rippled, and I turned, peering through the steam to see that Ajani had slipped into the pool to join us, an amused gleam in her wide, dark eyes. “She also said that once you had finished fighting all of Nyx’s lackeys, you’d be more than happy to explain to her personally all the ways she holds a blade wrong.””

— Lesley Livingston