Her hands molded him like clay, and though he mimicked the swing, it was impossible to ignore her touch.
“You thrust to kill. You’ll carry the intention in your arm and shoulders. A firm, powerful push is all you need.” She guided his arm, driving it forward. “Thrust. Make contact, and you win the battle.”
Tobias stared at Leila, his senses piqued, his thoughts a muddled confusion. Focus—but she had lost him at thrust. For God’s sake, this tension is in your mind. No one can feel it but you.
“Am I the only one who found that extremely erotic?” Flynn said. “There’s something about violence that really gets the blood flowing. Or maybe I’m still worked up from my reward with Cosima—the one neither of you has asked about.”
Tobias cringed, and Leila abruptly released him, her cheeks red.
“We’ll cover the kill later. For now, we practice.” She stood opposite Tobias and raised her weapon. “Ready?”
Tobias took his stance. “Ready.”
Leila’s eyes shrank into slits, and she swung her bardiche, knocking his wooden sword from his hand.
“Tobias!”
“What?”
“Hold firm!”
“Apologies. I’m a novice, remember?” After plucking his gladius from the floor, he assumed his stance. “All right. Ready.”
A whoosh sounded through the tunnel, followed by the heavy smack of Leila’s staff in his gut. He lurched forward, clutching his throbbing stomach. “Son of a—”
“Tobias!”
“What? You hit me.”
“Yes, and you’re supposed to block it,” Leila said. “Or at least hit me back.”
“I can’t hit you. You’re a woman.”
“I’m not a woman! I’m a stupid, ugly giant!”
“You are most definitely none of those things.”
“Attack me!”
“Maybe this is a futile endeavor,” Flynn said. “Maybe we should just help the man enjoy his final hours. Find him a woman to fuck.” He turned to Leila. “Oh, actually, you could help with that.”
Leila growled, pinching Flynn’s nipple and twisting it in a circle.
“Mother of God, woman!”
“No more from you, do you hear me?” Leila turned to Tobias. “And you.” She raised her bardiche. “Fight me.”
Tobias sighed. “I’ll try.”
“You’ll try? What if I appeared more fearsome—mirrored the look of Antaeus?” Her eyes lit up. “I have an idea. Flynn, over here, we’ll make you useful yet.”
“Wait, what’s that supposed to mean?” he said.
“Quiet, you.” She tapped his back with her staff. “Let me sit on your shoulders.”
Leila wasted no time climbing onto Flynn’s back, the two cursing at one another as they struggled to get situated. Flynn hoisted Leila onto his shoulders, his hands clamped firmly around her thighs—the sight of it made Tobias’s nostrils flare—and after a bit of wobbling, they eagerly turned to face him.
“How about now?” Leila said. “Together, we’re the Giant. Do you see it?”
Tobias stared them up and down: little Leila sitting on Flynn’s shoulders, her bardiche in hand. This was their version of the Giant—except it was utterly ridiculous. Tobias tried to keep quiet, but his laughter crept out in a snort.
“Tobias!”
He shook his head, chuckling freely. “I must thank you both. I truly didn’t think I’d be capable of laughing today.”
Flynn pouted. “Oh, piss off, we can’t possibly look that absurd.”
The pitter-patter of footsteps echoed through the labyrinth as Raphael headed their way. “Flynn, where the hell did you—?”
Raphael froze, staring at Leila and Flynn stacked like blocks in the most unthreatening manner. His brow twisted, and he turned on his heel, trotting off.
“Never mind.”
Leila grumbled, “All right, put me down.”
Flynn knelt to the floor, and Leila hopped from his shoulders, grabbing the waistband of Tobias’s pants and tugging him forward. “Listen to me: tomorrow, you face the most dangerous obstacle of your life. So tonight you’ll fight us both, for however long it takes, until we’re good and bruised.”
“I’d rather not be bruised—”
“Shut up, Flynn.” She turned back to Tobias. “The sole intent of a battle is to eliminate your opponent. And if I’m your opponent, you will hit me. I’m giving you permission.” Her eyes narrowed. “No more of this nonsense, all right?”
A loud voice in his mind urged him to resist—a voice he had to ignore. “All right.”
“Good.” Leila took a step back, regaining her stance. “We fight.”
Leila and Flynn took turns battling Tobias, and when they deemed him ready, they fought together, attacking him from all angles until he was dizzy and disoriented. He took blow after blow to his gut, his back, each hit more damaging to his pride than his body, but a wounded ego was easier to repair than anything Antaeus had planned for him. Thus with each repetition, he worked