a couple of weeks ago, not to mention how naturally strong she was. The guy was determined, she’d give him that. And determination was something she could relate to—kind of like the single-minded focus she’d used to save her mother’s soul. Even if she had ended up falling right into Aliette’s trap.
It was so obvious with the gift of hindsight, Donna thought. She wasn’t surprised that the alchemists weren’t letting her off the hook so easily, and for once she could hardly blame them. Even Simon Gaunt.
Robert stood in a “ready” posture. “Again?”
At least he was making it a question. Donna wondered what would happen if she said, “Actually, could we just forget this for the day and maybe go get a coffee?”
“Again,” she replied.
Robert moved toward her, his willowy frame giving him a huge advantage in height and reach, and leaving her enhanced strength all but useless. Just because she could “bend steel bars,” as Robert put it, didn’t mean she was good at fighting. Even after three weeks she had absolutely no idea what she was doing.
Stepping back, Donna tried to “hold her center” as he’d taught her, maintaining her balance while being ready to dodge or parry his attack.
She almost tripped over her own feet, and Robert struck at her right shoulder with his right hand, across her body. It wasn’t a hard blow—he was aiming to demonstrate ways that she could deflect an attack, whether a punch or a grab of some kind—but still, instinctively, she tried to backpedal instead of using the defensive block he’d been trying to drill into her without much success. Just stepping away from the strike was a big mistake.
Robert flicked out a long leg and swept it behind the one foot she currently had anchored to the floor—
—and down she went.
“Shit!” Donna pounded the bright red mat with her fist, forgetting to control her strength. Despite how padded the training mats were, she managed to leave behind a clear imprint of her fist. The mat would probably never recover, but at least the floor beneath was intact. Small mercies, she thought.
Robert raised his eyebrows. “Considering that the floor didn’t do anything to you, that seems a little extreme.”
Donna pulled a face. “Better the floor than you.”
“Why didn’t you do that to me? Or at least,” he added, “try to do that to me. It would have made a far better defense than just falling over.”
“Ha, ha.” Donna pulled off her glove and examined her knuckle.
“Donna, are you sure you’re okay?” Robert actually did sound worried this time.
“I’m fine,” she replied briskly, pulling the glove back on and hiding the flash of silver tattoos.
“Phew. I thought I was going to have to make some kind of rubbish joke about how the gloves were coming off for the next round.”
Donna laughed. “When the gloves come off, Adept Lee, you’ll know about it.”
Robert nodded approvingly as he sat beside her, crossing his long legs. “I like this new Donna Underwood.”
“‘New’? What’s so new about me?” She searched his face to see if he was teasing her, but he looked completely serious.
“Ever since you came here—to the Order of the Crow, I mean—you’ve seemed different. More self-assured than in Ironbridge. It’s good to see.”
Donna half smiled, feeling uncomfortable under his scrutiny. “I don’t feel more self-assured.”
He laughed. “Trust me. I can see it in your eyes. In the way you carry yourself.”
“You’d think I’d be less confident, given my release of the demon hordes.”
“Why is it so hard for you to believe in yourself?” Robert touched her shoulder, taking her by surprise. “You were brave, and you did your best under the worst possible circumstances. Seriously, you’re way too hard on yourself.”
She let out a long breath and met his dark eyes. “Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For being the only person—apart from my mom—who hasn’t rubbed my nose in what I did.”
“What would be the point in that? What’s done is done. It’s how we react to the new status quo that counts.”
“Next thing you know, you’ll be telling me to trust my feelings … ”
Robert smiled a confused sort of smile. “Okay, now what film are you referencing?”
She grinned. “Please don’t tell me you don’t recognize it.”
“I was never allowed to watch movies as a kid. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do, now that my dad’s gone back to China.”
“Dude. We’re totally watching Star Wars together.”
“Okay. Only if you’ll watch my favorite Bruce Lee film afterwards.”
“I thought you said I was bowing to