A fist swooped in. Safi swore. Kahina was already on the attack. Another swing, then another. Safi could scarcely block in time. She had no choice but to skip back.
Too soon, she ran out of space. The bulwark loomed, which meant Safi had to move offensively or be caught in a corner. She kicked—just a feint to send Kahina’s hands dropping. It worked, and Safi’s fists connected in a double punch.
One set of knuckles hit Kahina’s nose. The other slammed into her chest—not for pain, but for power. For the distance it gained when Kahina stumbled back.
But the admiral was smiling, all her stained teeth bared, and though her eyes watered, Safi hadn’t broken her nose.
Kahina sniffed. “You know, girl, I do not know your name.” She stomped her left foot, catching Safi’s eyes, before darting in fast. A flat hand sliced against Safi’s throat. Next came a hooking punch to Safi’s nose—and Kahina did manage to break it. A final kick sent Safi windmilling back.
Blood spouted from Safi’s nostrils. Her eyes gushed tears. At least, though, the pain was a distant thing. She was used to getting hit; it didn’t slow her.
Though she was on the retreat again. Kahina was speaking again too. An intentional distraction.
“How delightful for me”—jab, cross, kick to the ribs—“that you like a wager as much as I do, girl.”
More blood. More pain. Don’t listen, don’t listen.
“Do you know what I like more than a wager, though?” Kahina ducked beneath Safi’s punch. Then hopped back before Safi’s foot could connect with her knee.
Safi kept charging. Snap kick, fingernails across the face, back fist. The harder she pushed, the less Kahina seemed able to block. Until soon, Safi was landing blow after blow, and she was close enough for a knee to the gut. An elbow to the chin—
Kahina flipped her.
One moment, Safi’s view was of wood and sailcloth and sky. Then the whole world turned to only sky.
Safi’s head cracked. Stars swept over her vision. Then pain erupted in her ribs. Kahina was kicking her. Once, twice.
Safi curled in, grabbing for a leg, a foot—anything. What she got was a fistful of Kahina’s pants. It was enough. She yanked down the pirate.
Or so she attempted. Instead, though, Kahina used the momentum to tow Safi upright—directly into a waiting fist.
Safi’s already broken nose crunched. Black rushed over her eyes. She swayed back, and once more, her skull slammed to the deck. Not that she felt it.
Blink. She was falling. Blink. She was down. Blink. Kahina was straddling her. Blink, blink. Kahina’s forearm braced against Safi’s windpipe. Except Kahina paused here—no force in her pinning hold. Just a gentle lean while her other hand braced beside Safi’s head.
“You didn’t answer me, girl. So I repeat: Do you know what I like more than a wager?” Kahina’s jade ring flashed sunbeams into Safi’s eyes.
“What?” Safi barely got out that word. Blood, blood. It fringed everything she saw. Every breath too.
“I like a good bargain.”
Safi had no response for that. There was no point in using her wits against Kahina—not when she’d already lost. If Kahina wanted to distract her with words, so be it.
Except that as Kahina uttered, “Tell me your name,” it occurred to Safi that maybe this wasn’t a distraction technique but rather a stalling one. More important than the words spoken, Mathew always taught, are those unsaid.
“You … want to lose.” Safi captured Kahina’s gaze. They were both using these moments to catch their breath. “Why?”
Kahina’s eyes thinned. No—they crinkled. She was grinning. “Because I do not need this ship. However, a favor from the future Empress of Cartorra. Why, imagine what I could do with that, Safiya fon Hasstrel.”
Dread, bleak and booming, filled Safi’s lungs. Of course Kahina would have learned who she was. The information wasn’t exactly secret, and at least Kahina didn’t seem to realize Safi was a Truthwitch. That still remained private.
“Here is my bargain, girl.” Ever so slightly, Kahina bore down her weight—and ever so slightly, darkness woozed in. “I will let you win this fight, and my crew and I will depart. In return, though, you will owe me. Anything I want, I will one day collect from you.” Kahina’s words were laden with truth. “Do we have a deal?”
Safi writhed. Safi fishtailed. Safi strained. But there was no breath here to sustain her, and grappling had never been a skill she’d bothered learning. The sky, Kahina’s face, the ship—it all wavered in and out. Leaving Safi with no choice. She had to agree.
Though she still choked, “Two … conditions.” It was inaudible—no air!—but Kahina understood and eased up enough for Safi to squeak out: “I will kill no one for you, and I … will not give my own life.”
Kahina’s smile spread. “Then we have a deal.” As she spoke those words, a hiss of magic brushed over Safi’s skin. A glow flashed in the corners of her eyes.
Kahina’s jade ring, humming with magic inside.