Aiden was called down before me.
I stood so quickly that the sword rolled against my knees. I caught it by the grip, regretted that, and looked for the assistant who should have been calling my name.
He was pointing Aiden toward the narrow practice strip beside the court.
"Warm-up only. With him."
The partner waiting there was an older student wearing an academy training sash. He lifted his wooden sword to show that he was ready. In the court itself, the next assessed pair were still giving their names.
I sat again, then got up more carefully. From the rail I could see Aiden over the heads of the students below me.
The boy nearest the stairs looked from me to the practice strip. He opened his mouth, perhaps to tell me what the assistant had already said. I reached the rail before he could.
