32

Having proven myself in training, Althidon declared our sparring done for the day. Being able to use magic gave me an enormous advantage; I just had to remember there was one person I couldn't use it on. I still had a plan for that, but it was risky. But then again, this whole thing was risky.

I untucked my shirt and flapped it a few times, cooling myself. Leena still watched me, although with more curiosity than anything else.

After a moment she got up from where she was leaning against a wooden railing and approached me. Althidon kept a close eye on her as she walked up to me, but he didn't look overly concerned. It was me, after all, and he trusted me.

Leena crossed her arms and studied my face. She was tall, only an inch shorter than me, and this close she smelled faintly of lavender.

"I'm told you come from a different world," she said softly, studying my reaction. "Tell me about it."

"He doesn't have time for that, Leena," Althidon said.