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"This is Myrina," Aspasia introduced me. "She will be joining us. I have already told you about her. Remember?"
A sparkle appeared in her iris and disappeared at the same moment. She looked at me suspiciously.
"Let's get started, then," she grumbled and returned to the mat.
I swallowed once because she scared me a little. I had never fought anyone before, and if I had been allowed to choose a training partner, my choice would indeed not have been Maggy.
I looked uncertainly at Aspasia, but she only gave me an encouraging slap on the shoulder. "You'll be fine. And Maggy isn't as tough as she seems."
“Are you sure about that?” I whispered back. “Did you see the look on her face?”
But Aspasia just laughed and pushed me, sending me to the mat.
Hastily, I removed my socks, making the ground a skating rink. My bare feet had a better grip on this surface, even if I did not expect to stand long on my feet.
Panicking, I went over the rules of self-defense in my head and the few moves I had learned from the men recently.
Maggy grinned wolfishly at me. She could undoubtedly smell my fear.
“Then let’s see what you can do. I’m curious to see how you do. Expectations are high, so you better not disappoint us,” she tried to unsettle me even more.
Entirely unexpectedly, she shot forward, lunged with her leg, and knocked it under mine. As if in reflex, I grabbed her arm, pulling it along in the fall so that Maggy also lost balance and stumbled. I landed on my butt, which hurt directly. That would become a bruise.
"Up you go!" my opponent shouted through clenched teeth. Furtively, she rubbed her shoulder, which had apparently not survived my maneuver too well. My ambition rose, so I braced myself to face her again shortly after.
This time, she attacked with her fists and arms. She spared my face, but everything else of my body served her as a target. The blows I received burned hot, but I didn't let that show. Instead, I paid close attention to her movements and began to study them. Maggy's eyes widened in amazement when I dodged a punch in time for the first time and landed a hit myself. I was so surprised that it took me at least ten more bruises to regain my composure.
I would never give up, no matter if it meant that my entire body would hurt for the next few days.
Maggy's steps and arm movements became faster and faster. Nevertheless, I managed to fend off one of her blows here and there, and a few of my hits were already showing on Maggy's arms. Sweat was running down my back and face. My shoulders ached from exertion, as did my legs. Trembling, I faced this test.
"Stop!" I heard Aspasia's voice in the background. Maggy immediately interrupted her attack, and I propped myself up on my thighs, breathing heavily.
"That's enough," the Amazon now said sternly. Had I disappointed her after all? I looked up uncertainly and saw her give Maggy a reproving gaze. Then she came toward me with a cup.
"Here, drink this." I greedily accepted the water. It was pleasantly cool as it ran down my throat. My entire body felthot, my skin burned, and yet I felt better than I had all the years before. Almost as if this fight had freed something in me, a piece of myself.
“Welcome to the Amazons,” Aspasia congratulated me, and even Maggy threw me a satisfied smile.
CHAPTER 24
Alittle later, I sat between them in a large group of women. They all wore pants with shirts and belonged to the Amazons. Most of them were my age. Young women who, under different circumstances, would have just started their adult lives, who might now be starting a degree, taking a job, or starting a family.
Nevertheless, the mood was relaxed. There was giggling, hearty laughter, and smiles.
“Hello, ladies!” Aspasia suddenly interrupted the conversations.
"We welcome a new member today!" She rose and pulled me up by the arm. All eyes were suddenly on me. Warmth rose in my cheeks. My gaze wandered restlessly over all the unfamiliar faces. Each of them gave me the feeling of being as welcome as Aspasia had announced.
“This is Myrina. She is also an Amazon as of today. One of us, a woman who takes her destiny into her own hands!”
Applause, originating in our group, spread and finally poured out like a wave through the entire hall. Now, the heat traveled up to my ears. It was this attention that made me decide against ballet. I didn't feel comfortable in the limelight.
"Myrina will always be here at night. During the day, she will stay with her family."
Whispers spread through the ranks. Apparently, it was rather unusual for an Amazon to stay at home. Had these rebels all separated from their families to join the Amazons?
Aspasia continued unperturbed, “Your father owns most of the ports in New York. We hope to get more information this way regarding the deportation of the abducted women.”
