“Like stopping snowballs?” Charity asked. “Snowballs are good practice,” I said. “Nothing gets hurt but her pride.” Charity nodded, frowning. “But you didn’t learn with snowballs, did you.” The memory of my first shielding lesson under Justin DuMorne wasn’t a particularly sentimental one. “Baseballs.” “Merciful God,” Charity said, shaking her head. “How old were you?” “Thirteen.” I shrugged a shoulder. “Pain’s a good motivator. I learned fast.”
