Read Dorothy Must Die Novella #7 for Free Online Page B

real distraction.
    But no matter how hard she tried, Lanadel couldn’t concentrate. Each time Melindra knocked her feet out from under her, Larkin’s laughter rang in her ears until it was the only thing she could hear. “Come on, Lanadel!” Nox yelled as Melindra knocked her down for what felt like the thousandth time. “Focus!” It was no use. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision, but Melindra was relentless. When she was fighting, she was practically a machine. Nothing could stop her. No wonder she was the Order’s fiercest fighter. It wasn’t just how strong she was. She had something else, some power that let her tune out everything except the enemy in front of her. It wasn’t magic. It was sheer skill.
    Finally, Nox dismissed her with a scowl. Equal parts relieved and humiliated, she wiped sweat and tears out of her eyes as Nox called Holly into the ring. As she watched Melindra circle the other girl, Lanadel started to understand how Holly moved. Her inhuman, panther-like grace let her flow effortlessly from one movement to another. Slowed down, she looked like a dancer performing an elaborate, fierce ballet. As Nox and Melindra took turns darting toward Holly, she quickly deflected their kicks and strikes, mimicking Melindra’s easy, confident movements.
    But while Melindra didn’t even break a sweat, Holly’s face glistened from the effort of blocking her attacks. Even Nox was actually breathing hard. Melindra looked as cool and as calm as if she hadn’t been fighting at all. “Good, Holly,” Nox said, andHolly flashed Lanadel a triumphant grin. Larkin’s turn in the ring was next. As he fought, Holly sidled up to her.
    â€œThat’s how it’s done,” she said in a low voice. “I don’t know why they bothered to recruit you if you can’t even block a basic hit. What are you, some kind of charity case?”
    Lanadel gritted her teeth and refused to look at Holly. If Melindra could ignore her, so could she. And Larkin might have been just as good a fighter as Holly, but he had to work even harder. He was breathing hard, and his forehead was slick with sweat.
    â€œWhat was your family, a bunch of peasants? My family was royalty. They taught me how to protect myself. You know,” Holly said airily, waving a hand. “In case some dirty Quadling wanted to kidnap me for ransom.” She sounded as though she found the thought utterly delicious.
    â€œThat’s ridiculous. Quadlings don’t kidnap people. And you don’t know anything about my family. And you know even less about me,” Lanadel snarled in spite of herself. She could take plenty of insults. But not that. Never that.
    â€œSomeone’s a little defensive. Why, I bet your parents probably weren’t even—”
    Lanadel’s body moved before her brain even registered the slight. All those weeks with Nox had paid off. Her instincts worked just fine when they wanted to. And before she knew what she was doing, her fist connected with Holly’s sneering face. Holly reeled backward in shock, blood gushing from a nose that looked suddenly, distinctly crooked.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” someone was shouting behind her, but Holly had already recovered and dropped into her fighting stance. Whatever else she was, she was no coward. And like Nox had said, she could really fight. She lunged at Lanadel, her fists up for the offensive, and Lanadel ducked and lashed out—just the way Nox had taught her. All the endless, boring repetitions and drills had sunk the movements into her muscles until they came as easily as breathing. As she and Holly flowed and jabbed around each other, she found herself smiling. She liked fighting. And more than that, she was good at it. She saw her opening and drew back her fist, preparing to lay Holly out on the mats of the training cave.
    And then Larkin hit her in the back of the head. She staggered