Amaia was weary and wounded, both conditions that would be fatal when facing Itzal. Oihana and Ganix had attacked her together, and the pair had worked out their tandem attacks over hours of practice. If she hadn't watched or participated in most of their training sessions, they'd have killed her. As it was, Amaia felt lightheaded from blood loss, the numerous shallow cuts on her skin burning. Orion was in no better shape. Blood slicked his skin over wounds that had healed shut, but it was clear that even the strong magic inside him couldn't heal everything. Jamel had scored a lucky hit while Orion was distracted, slicing through his pants and leaving a deep cut along his thigh that still bled. Another slash marred his cheek, and a third his upper arm. He led her to a cave tucked deep in the woods. The front was all but inaccessible, forcing them to climb a small cliff above and navigate a treacherous and winding path down the face of the rock. Only the hand and footholds that had been chiseled out of the rock face made it anything less than suicide.
