The following morning, Arianna could barely move.

Every muscle in her body screamed in protest as she tried to sit up, her bruises having bloomed into spectacular shades of purple and yellow overnight. She'd thought herself relatively fit from her years of managing Ravenwood—walking the territory, climbing stairs, the occasional hunt—but nothing had prepared her for the reality of combat training.

"You look like you got trampled by a herd of deer," Maya observed when she came to check on her, balancing a tray with bread and weak tea.

"Feels like it too," Arianna groaned, accepting the tea gratefully. The warmth helped, though not nearly enough.

"You're supposed to report...