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breath, flexed his right arm, and strode in, heading right for the center of the line. Abban had already taken his place, farther back, and would not help him, as they had agreed.
    It is the weakest camel that draws the wolves, he heard his father say, and the simple advice steeled him against his fear.
    'To the back with you, cripple!' Shanjat barked, seeing him approach.
    Jardir ignored him and forced himself to smile widely. 'Everam shine upon you for holding my place,' he said.
    The look in Shanjat's eyes was incredulous; he was three years Jardir's senior, and considerably larger. He hesitated in that moment, and Jardir took the opportunity to shove him hard, knocking him from the line.
    Shanjat stumbled, but he was quick and kept his feet, kicking up a cloud of dust as he regained his balance. Jardir could have kicked his hands or feet from under him and struck while he was off balance, but he needed more than mere victory if he was to ward off any rumors that his injury had left him weak.
    There were hoots of delight, and the gruel line curved in on itself, surrounding the two boys. The shocked look vanished from Shanjat's face as it twisted in rage, and he came back in hard.
    Jardir flowed like a dancer to avoid Shanjat's initial blows, which were just as fast as Abban had warned. Finally, as expected, Shanjat launched a wild swing that put him off balance when it failed to connect. Jardir stepped to the left, ducking the arm and driving his right elbow into Shanjat's kidney like a spear. Shanjat screamed in pain as he stumbled past.
    Jardir whipped around and followed through with another elbow strike to Shanjat's back, driving him to the ground. His arm was thin and pale from weeks in the cast, but the bones did feel stronger now, just as the dama'ting had said.
    But Shanjat caught Jardir's ankle, yanking him from his feet and falling on him. They wrestled in the dust, where Shanjat's weight and greater reach were to his advantage. He caught Jardir in a headlock, pulling his right fist into Jardir's windpipe with his left hand.
    As the world began to blacken, Jardir began to fear he had taken on too much, but he embraced the feeling as he did pain, refusing to give up. He kicked hard behind him, a crushing blow between the legs that made Shanjat loosen his choke hold with a howl. Jardir twisted free and got in close to Shanjat's joints, where his blows held little force when they could reach Jardir at all. Slowly, laboriously, he worked his way behind Shanjat, striking hard at any vulnerable spots'eyes, throat, gut'as he went.
    Finally in position, Jardir caught Shanjat's right arm and twisted it behind him, driving his full weight into the older boy's back with both knees. When he felt the elbow lock, he braced it on his own shoulder and heaved the arm upward.
    'Aaahhh!' Shanjat cried, and Jardir knew it would be a simple thing now to break the boy's arm, as Hasik had done to him.
    'You were saving my place, were you not'' Jardir asked loudly.
    'I will kill you, rat!' Shanjat screamed, beating the dust with his free hand as he twisted and thrashed, but he could not dislodge Jardir.
    'Say it!' Jardir demanded, lifting Shanjat's arm higher. He felt the strain in that limb, and knew it could not withstand much more.
    'I would sooner go to Nie's abyss!' Shanjat cried.
    Jardir shrugged. 'Bones become stronger after being broken. Enjoy your stay with the dama'ting. ' With a heave, he felt bone snap and muscle tear. Shanjat screamed in agony.
    Jardir stood slowly, scanning the gathered boys for signs that another meant to challenge him, but while there were many wide-eyed stares, none seemed ready to avenge Shanjat, who lay howling in the dust.
    'Make way!' Drillmaster Kaval barked, pushing through the crowd. He looked to Shanjat, then to Jardir. 'Hope for you yet, boy,' he grunted. 'Back in line, all of you,' he shouted, 'or we'll empty the gruel pot in the waste pits!' The boys quickly flowed back to their places, but