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down in front of Lidi. I hung back, my hand in my mouth. Malora stepped closer.
    "You didn't break it," Malora said quietly. "They aren't sufficiently accustomed to fighting sword against staff, and they really aren't used to someone with a staff being screened by someone like Nori."
    I couldn't see what Nori was doing with Lidi's ankle, but I didn't hear any screaming. Then Nori was helping Lidi to her feet, supporting her as she put weight on her injured ankle. Lidi limped around for a moment, Nori supporting her, and then Nori stepped away.
    "It's going to be a heck of a bruise," Nori said. "But nothing is damaged. She should take it easy for a few days."
    "I'm sorry, Lidi," I said again.
    Lidi limped over to me. "Good blow," she said. And then she stepped forward for a hug. "I never even saw it," she whispered into my ear. "You've come a long way, Maya. I'm glad you're on our side."
    "Right now I'm not," I replied, and she chuckled.
    "You know what I mean."
    "I'm sorry. I should have pulled it."
    "You shouldn't have to pull it," she said. "You didn't break anything, and I probably learned something. I bet you did, too. If you get another chance to do that, you do it. Don't hold back."
    Then she pulled away.
    "I'm going to go sit over there," Lidi said, gesturing to the grass. "You'll have to live without an obstacle.
    "Keep it elevated, if you can," said Nori. Then she stepped back into line next to Malora.
    "Don't feel guilty," Malora said. "Guilt leads to mistakes. You're doing perfectly. But if you get a chance to do that again, swing just a little higher." Then she raised her voice. "Ready?"
    "Ready," said Clara.
    "Come and get us," Malora told them.
    They rushed us, all in a line. Clara and Gaylie focused on Nori. Omie, Bea and Beria focused on Malora. I faced my sister and Jasmine. Jasmine was supposed to be simulating cracked ribs, but she seemed amazingly whole. I wasn't sure if I got another chance whether I would tap her quite so lightly as I did the first time.
    However, neither Beria nor Jasmine had any experience fighting together this way, and they weren't coordinating their attacks. I held my position on Malora's flank, then when I got a chance, I fended off an attack on Beria, returning a swing at her head, one she easily blocked, but my staff bounced off Beria's and bumped Jasmine. It wasn't enough to cause any damage at all, but she shied from it anyway, bringing her staff around to block my non-existent swing, leaving her entire left flank turned towards Malora. Malora reached out with a sword and slapped Jasmine with the flat.
    "Stay calm, Maya," Malora said. "Don't get cocky. That's not your sister, that's a bandit."
    I didn't take my eyes off Beria, using my peripheral vision to keep track of everything else. I thought I heard Nori score a strike, but I didn't see anyone else go down.
    "Push," Malora said at the same time Beria launched a series of attacks at me. I was forced back at the same time Malora stepped forward, exposing her flank to my sister. Beria made a swing at Malora, but I blocked it then used the counter motion to sweep Beria's legs out from under her. I blocked a return swing, but it was awkward, and I tapped the side of her head with my staff.
    "Ouch!" she said, dropping her staff and holding her ear.
    I hadn't hit her that hard.
    "Don't be a baby," I said.
    "Stay alive, Maya," Malora said. "Fall back."
    We stepped backwards as a unit, but I saw an opportunity with Bea and lashed out with my staff. It had been a ruse on her part, and she swept my staff out of the way and smacked me good across the arm, but it cost her a spank across the back of her head with the flat of Malora's sword.
    "You're down, Bea. Broken arm, Maya," Malora called. "I told you to fall back."
    I hung my left arm limply and fell back to cover Malora's back. Our opposition was down to Clara, Gaylie and Omie, and Gaylie was fighting left-handed. I was sure Malora and Nori would have them easily, but then I