Page 7 of A Simple Truth (the Freckled Fate #2)

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FINNLEAH

T he answer to that question was actually quite simple.

The answer that now, every single Destroyer Rebel knew.

I couldn’t.

Wet dirt splattered on my face as my sore lungs struggled to expand. My eyelids, heavy as lead, were unwilling to open, yet the surrounding clatter of metal and commotion pulled me out of the sticky darkness.

“Someone kick her and make sure she is still breathing!” Zora shouted from afar.

A few swift strides accompanied by loud splashes of mud sounded a couple of seconds later. Someone’s leather boot gently poked my side, earning a slight grunt from me.

“She’s alive,” Ashe shouted to Zora, already running back to the ring. Her brash voice still echoed in my ears alongside an annoyingly high-pitched ringing.

I wasn’t sure how many times I had passed out today. I stopped counting after the first five. At first, people were concerned, rushing to me, pausing their training to ensure I was okay. Now though it was just a quick glance over my falling body, along with a chuckle, a sigh, or a scoff.

My face was bruised and my head throbbed with a dull, gnawing ache. I ran my fingers across my lips.

Great, a busted lip now too.

I clenched my jaw tighter.

I was a mess. Physically…emotionally…

I didn’t expect this . I could swear if Lady Fate stood here right now, I’d see her laughing uncontrollably, mocking me.

A Destroyer. A wielder of Justice Fire.

Raw fire, my ass. My brows furrowed.

Not only had I failed to summon even a damn spark, I passed out every time I got too close to the Destroyers’ Cleansing Fire. Each time I tried to find my power, that fire within me, my body refused to cooperate. Darkness immediately overtook me even at the slightest attempt, and I found myself, once again, on the ground, sinking in the cold, wet dirt.

Embarrassment and frustration ran wild in my mind, twisting and poking my tender heart.

I didn’t expect this to be easy. I knew full well this was going to be difficult and painful, but I thought, after all, I was ready for it. But this? Fate was just ambushing me. I could always feel her standing there, enjoying my demise.

I opened my eyes slowly, my body plastered on the ground, vision fuzzy, as I watched distant blurry figures spar.

At this rate, I didn’t care to summon fire, or even a spark. I just didn’t want to black out anymore.

Maybe it would be more embarrassing to get up again.

Perhaps I should lie here and wait until the dark of the night covers me so I can retreat back to my tent and lick my wounds in solace.

“Do you always take breaks face down in the dirt?” The General’s cheerfully taunting voice greeted me.

Fucking great…

It took me a few moments to sit up, not trusting my body’s ability to fully stand yet. I attempted to wipe the dirt off my face, the effort turning out to be totally useless—my hands were just as dirty, if not even more so. I let out a long sigh as I turned to glare at the towering figure of the General behind me as I replied,

“Yes, that’s why my skin is so glowy. You should try it sometime.” I shot a snarky reply, while patting my cheeks with more dirt. A gesture I stopped only a second later, realizing just how ridiculous it was as his face lit up with amusement. I snarled back, returning my eyes to the training field.

I was aware enough that my anger might have been misplaced, and I almost considered correcting myself and apologizing, but either due to my piss-poor mood or my throbbing lip, I immediately justified my cold response.

Ask stupid questions, get stupid answers .

The General took a step closer as he extended his muscled arm to me, my eyes catching the scars on his hand as he waited for me to take it. Instead, I ignored his gesture, pridefully getting up by myself.

Gideon’s pet . Ioanna’s words rang in my mind, and I scoffed at that phrase.

“Rough first day on the job?” he asked, clasping his hands behind his back.

“I’ve had worse,” I answered, holding back the ‘ take one quick guess, smartass.’

“I am sure it will get easier,” he said encouragingly as I tried to shake off the mud caked on my clothes. Tried and failed, as half-dried clumps of dirt were stuck like glue.

I couldn’t resist mumbling, “Easier to pass out or easier to fall?”

“At this rate? Probably both,” he cockily replied, taking another assessing look over my body. My eyes registered a flash of what I could only guess was displeasure on his face as his eyes lingered on my bloodied lip. Without another word, he drew both of his swords from the sheaths on his back and quickly joined the training.