Urdon Pov
The sun had not fully cleared the trees yet, but the light was enough to see the gray dust in the clearing. My lungs felt like they were full of dry sand. I had spent the night trying to stretch my muscles, but they were still tight and stubborn.
"You ready?" Rex asked. He stood by the porch, holding a water skin.
"I have to be," I said.
I walked into the center of the clearing.
Viktor was already there. He was stripping off his shirt, showing off the thick slabs of muscle on his chest and shoulders. He looked like he had spent the night sleeping in a warm bed and eating steak. He saw me and grinned, cracking his knuckles one by one.
"Last chance to run, Urdon," Viktor said.
"Save your breath for the fight," I said.
