Flashback ( PDFDrive )

“For the record,” Sandor told her, leaning close to whisper, “the
next time I see him—he’s mine.”
She wasn’t going to argue with that.
“Sooooo,” she said, drawing out the word for another calming
exhale. “Where do we start?”
“With the most basic element. Before I teach you any fighting
techniques, it’s important for you to get the feel for what we’re really
doing here—what actually happens when you utilize a weapon.”
“You mean . . . what it’s like to kill someone,” Sophie clarified,
feeling her mouth turn very dry when Sandor nodded.
“It’s a different experience with every weapon,” he told her.
“Daggers are for close-range fights, where every blow comes at
tremendous risk. So you need to learn how hard to slash, and which
spots to aim for to make it count. Where do you think the ideal strike
point is?”
“The heart?” Sophie guessed, her voice cracklier than she wanted it
to be.
Sandor shook his head. “The heart’s important. But the fastest,
most effective attack is to the throat.”
The world swam behind Sophie’s eyes.
“Yes, it’s incredibly unpleasant,” Sandor told her. “The thing you
must remember is that your goal must always be a quick end. The
longer your enemy lives, the more chances they have to finish you. So
if you only have one strike, it’s best to aim like this.”
He thrust his arm toward the dummy, stopping just short of making
contact as he demonstrated the ideal motion—a quick, decisive slash.
No hesitation.
No remorse.