by Alyssa Breck
Oner screamed.
The crowd cheered for Alayah.
The elders rose to their feet, too.
Chapter 10
Alayah had won all her fights. Omin had lost twice and, in his fourth bout, he lost to Palma.
She helped Omin into the holding area, he had been severely injured by Palma’s trident.
With a grin, Omin said, “You know, you will soon be fighting one of those guys, right?”
“Yes, I know.”
“You must win this, for us, for the sake of all of us.”
“I can’t let Corey win the Trident,” Alayah said.
“Nor Palma or any of those people.”
Alayah squeezed his hand affectionately. “Be careful, okay?”
“Go be our hero, Alay.”
Alayah headed to the entrance of the arena and stopped next to Tara.
“It’s going to be tags next,” Tara whispered to Alayah.
There were now six warriors remaining from all the groups. Tara had defeated three fighters to emerge a winner from her own group, and Alayah would have to fight Omin to take the first spot in her group if he hadn’t lost already.
There was now Corey, Palma, Alayah, the twins—Bhuv and Kenel—and Tara.
The elders would decide who fought who in this semi-final.
Alayah faced her supposed ally. “Can I trust you, Tara?”
“I want this, too,” she said.
“And Palma?”
“We all have our reasons.”
“Fair enough.”
Tara voiced with a wicked smile. “All is fair in love and war.”
Alayah frowned. “Maybe.”
A few minutes later, the elders had made their decision. Tara was tagged with Corey and Alayah would fight alongside Kenel.
Palma and Bhuv floated nearby, their tridents at the ready.
“The first bout will be Alayah and her partner fighting Palma and his partner!” announced the leader.
Alayah tensed her muscles, and the fight began.
Sparks flew everywhere, and the four bodies tangled in a blur of Tridents and water. Alayah would parry, and Kenel would blast the opening she created. Kenel kept holding back, however, every time Alayah blocked his twin brother. The fight was Alayah’s alone. It was three to one and became even more difficult for her.
They fought, Kenel still held back from his brother. Alayah tried a different tactic. She drew Bhuv out of the circle, leaving Kenel to deal with Palma. Alayah swam off to the far corner of the arena, and there she trapped Bhuv in a wall of water with her in it. Bhuv would twirl his trident and send bolts at Alayah who parried and redirected it back at him in charged balls of water.
He was no match for her and, soon, she overpowered Bhuv. Opening the wall of water, she bent it and struck Bhuv, who was flung from the arena. He was out.
Kenel was still sparing with Palma. The audience started chanting Alayah’s name as she joined Kenel. Alayah used her water bending powers again. Palma was struck out of the arena—his trident spun into the audience on account of the force of impact.
The fight was over.
The audience seemed to be awestruck by Alayah since they were chanting her name. “Alay! Alay! Alay!”
In the holding area, kneeling beside her beloved Omin, Alayah could hear the crowd cheering. Corey and his tag were getting ready to fight Alayah and Kenel.
“You fought well, Alay,” Omin praised.
“Now I face Corey.”
Omin grabbed her hand. “Be careful, my heart. They don’t play fair.”
Alayah nodded. “I know.”
Even if Alayah was aware of their cunning ways, she wasn’t prepared for what she found when she entered the arena. Standing in the center were Corey and Palma.
Alayah gazed up when the elder spoke. “Tara has conceded defeat, and Palma has taken her place.”
She gritted her teeth as her heart jackhammered.
The elder continued, “Since Kenel has given up, Alayah will have to face Corey and Palma alone or withdraw.”
It seemed that no one wanted her to win. Still, she wasn’t going to forfeit.
“I’ll fight alone,” she shouted at the elder who nodded.
The audience murmured, and she faced Corey and Palma with their tridents drawn. Corey’s smug face infuriated her more. He wasn’t going to intimidate her. She was there to fight and prove her worth. Nothing was going to stop her from that, not even the backstabbing of the other contestants who wanted Corey to win at all costs.
The elder ordered, “Take your place in the arena, warriors!”
Alayah sped to her spot and faced her opponents. As she swam, she had a moment to see the Supreme Leader give her a slight, almost imperceptible nod. An assent of trust. They needed their best warrior. If that wasn’t her, she would accept defeat but not without giving it her all.
She stopped, holding her trident loosely. There were two tridents before her, two warriors who wanted to beat her. She wasn’t going to rely on her trident alone or on the logic of fairness on the part of these two warriors.
The elder shouted, “Fight!”
Without wasting any time, the two warriors encircled Alayah. She let her gills take in oxygen slowly as she studied her enemies.
It seemed that Corey and Palma would try to attack her at the same time. She would have to use her trident and her water bending powers simultaneously if she wanted to win this fight. Or get out alive.
Chapter 11
Alayah knew the only way to beat the two warriors was to attack them from above. Therefore, she swam up above the arena, always keeping her Trident pointed at one of the fighters and using her water bending ability at the same time.
Corey was a strong warrior. Alayah knew him way too well. She also knew that he wasn’t easily fooled. It wasn’t a surprise when he moved against her and tried to come up to her level above the arena. Soon, Alayah could not keep the two fighters down anymore. She had to swim.
Propelling her feet, she swam around the arena. The two warriors didn’t have any other choice than to go after her. Corey was faster than her. She knew that. Soon enough, he was on Alayah’s heels. From the corner of her eye, she noticed that Palma had broken off the chase to stop Alayah when she came around.
Alayah was ready. She swam as fast as she could, rounding the bend in the arena in a tight curve so that she could see both men at the same time for that brief moment. But Alayah did not make her move then. Corey shot bolts from his trident. Alayah trapped it in the water she had formed and threw it in Palma’s direction. She missed.
Coming in fast and deep around the curve once more, Corey aimed his trident again and blew off a large one. Alay was ready for it. But Palma wasn’t.
Palma was waiting to cut Alayah off when she came around the bend one more time, being directly in Alayah’s path, he had not seen the shot from Corey’s trident. Alayah lunged to the side in the last second before the blast went past her and knocked Palma out of the arena and far into the walls of the alcove.
Alayah smirked with the vision of Palma’s slumped on the seabed. That had to hurt badly.
With bulging eyes and tensed jaw, Corey intensified his speed. He was now the only opponent remaining to be beaten. Alayah spun in sharp turns, evading Corey’s blows and baiting him. They both swam around the arena.
The audience was silent, and that intensified Alay’s anxiety. Everybody was watching her fighting Corey. Their champion. It was time for her to prove her worth.
Gathering more speed as Corey bore down on her, Alayah sped around the corner and went off the track. Corey blew past underneath her, missing another shot.
Alayah, who was now above Corey for a moment, quickly twisted a tight string of water around his torso.
Corey dropped his Trident in his attempt to wriggle free. With all her strength, Alayah tightened the rope of water. She didn’t dare to look around or breathe too deeply. Everything remained silent, no one cheered for her.
&
nbsp; Corey’s movements began to lose strength. Alayah weaved more water around his feet.
Trapped in the water, Corey weakened.
The audience began to call out Alayah’s name as she fetched Corey’s trident and hovered over Corey where he writhed in the chains of water.
Alayah had won.
Moments later, she stood in the middle of the arena, soaking in the ovation. In the audience, the elders clapped, too.
“And we have our winner!” said the king. “Alayah!”
Thermal fireworks went off in the audience. Singing and jubilation followed as the king presented Alayah with the golden Trident.
“You have proven yourself worthy of the Trident, Alayah. Soon, you shall use it in defense of our civilization and in the preservation of all life. Under the water and on the land. It is an honor to have custody of the Trident, young siren. It is hoped that you will live up to its glory.”
Alayah bowed before the king.
Alayah felt a tugging at her feet. She looked down and found herself above the maze of reeds. She floated down into it. All around her, reeds danced as though to an invisible music only they could hear. Alayah continued to swim around the maze.
She sensed a shift in the water current behind her and turned around but there was nothing there. Just reeds. She came up to a dead end in the path. She turned around and saw that the trail she had followed was no longer there.
Looking up, she sensed an enclosure over the maze that wasn’t there when she arrived.
How did I get in the maze?
She sensed more changes in the water around her, and she backed up against one side of the wall.
As she looked on, the waters before her began to move. They shimmered and started taking a form. Alayah watched as the liquid turned into a monster.
It was robed in glowing white and had eyes like that of a dolphin. It was the monster from the tournament that tried to kill her. It bared razor-sharp fangs, and its long hands shot out of the flowing robe and wrapped around Alayah tightly.
“We want it,” it whispered and brought down its sharp teeth on Alayah’s neck.
She woke up drenched in sweat.
“What’s wrong?” Omin moved and wrapped his arms around her naked body. “Did you have a nightmare?”
“A premonition, maybe,” she mumbled, caressing his face with her fingers. “Just keep holding me tight, and I know I’ll be safe.”
“I wish I could go on this quest with you.”
“I wish that, too, but our great leader won’t allow it. Once he chooses the remaining warriors, I’ll have to leave for the dry land.”
Omin kissed her forehead. “Until then, you’ll stay here with me, making love and enjoying the victory over Corey.”
“I made you a promise, Omin. If I return with the stone, I’ll take you as my husband.”
“I’ll be waiting for you, my love.”
Second Part
Chapter 12
Alayah had been tending her garden behind her small home when she fell asleep among the grass. She had been sucked into a dream for the third time since after the contests.
Waking up, she touched the red stone hanging from her necklace. What does it have to do with monsters?
She rushed inside her home and sensed someone outside the place. Turning around, she found Omin standing there. His face had a heavy frown.
“What’s wrong?”
“Did you hear the alarm?” He narrowed the distance between them.
She shook her head.
“Are you okay? You look pale?”
“Just tired. What happened?”
Omin replied, “Three Titans showed up and tried to get past our defenses.”
“What?”
“They seemed to be under a spell of some sort. Not that we understand how they function, but it was as if there was intelligence behind their actions.”
“Did anyone get hurt?”
Omin shook his head. “The strongest warriors were summoned and attacked them. We managed to scare them away, but we don’t know how much more the protective shield will hold if more were to attack.”
“Why wasn’t I summoned if you also went out to fight?”
“You are too important for the Legacy Stone’s quest, and that’s why I am here.”
Alayah’s eyes widened. “Did they summon me?”
Omin nodded. “I believe they are sending you away, my love.”
She laced her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “I knew this day would come. I’m excited and terrified all at the same time.”
He caressed her hair. “You’ll do just fine.”
“Promise me you’ll take care of Nana while I’m gone.”
“Promise me that you’ll return.”
Alayah smiled against his chest. “I will miss you, my love.”
The elders had summoned Alayah to the king’s palace and there she stood before the elders.
“It is time, Alayah. Our people have never been in this much danger before. I am afraid you must embark on your search for the Legacy Stone.”
Alayah was presented with the Trident. Her hand shook as she took the magical weapon. It was magnificent to behold. A sapphire stone was embedded in it just below the fork, and its shaft was pure gold. The weapon was hers until she found the sacred stone.
The elder leader cleared his throat. “You aren’t going on your own since it’s a dangerous journey. You’ll need a team to find a mage willing to help you.”
She looked up. “A mage?”
“You’ll team up with our best warriors, and you will have to convince a White Mage to help you in this quest. They are the only ones who can find the Legacy Stone with their tracking powers.”
“I have no idea where to find a White Mage.”
“We know. But you’ll have a guide on land who will take you to one of our allies.”
Alay nodded.
“Mages are complicated creatures with great power and arrogance to match. You might need to be persuading and appeal for the greater good.”
“Why wouldn’t they want to help us save our world?”
The king spoke. “Many have lost faith and believe that we betrayed the wishes of the gods by changing into sirens and moving to the sea. They don’t care if everything withers.”
The elder smiled and placed his hand on her shoulder. “You are special, Alayah. More than you know. But be aware that if you fail your mission, you are dooming us all.”
“I understand, sire.”
Chapter 13
Two days after her encounter with the elders, Alayah was sent to dry land. The pirates gave her a ride to the trading city called New Casablanca. It was there that she met the siren warrior named Marina. She was there to guide Alayah and the other three companions through the unfamiliar places.
That same day, Commander Alayah and her group of four siren warriors rode out of New Casablanca and headed along the old road north where they could find the White Mage in Blyst.
Trusting their strength and endurance, they forced their horses to a constant gallop and kept the chat to a minimum . There was still a lot that Alayah had to understand about the ways of the ones who lived above the level of the sea.
In the afternoon, they stopped to eat and give water to the horses. With their legs crossed on the floor, the sirens engaged in a conversation.
“How long have you been living on the surface?” Alayah asked Marina.
“For two years now.” She looked at one of the sirens with dark hair. “Kiera has been here with me for one year. We work as ambassadors and also carry messages between kingdoms.”
“That’s why you were chosen to lead us in this quest,” Alayah said, taking another bite of the salty, dry fish. “These roads look well maintained.”
It was Kiera’s turn to speak. “That’s because New Casanova is a central trading city. Blyst is also an important city, and its path is perfect for urgent travel. But if we have to go west, you’ll see that those r
oads have been destroyed by the countless army boots and wagons that crossed over them a few years back.”
Lyra, the slender siren with pink hair, spoke, “I’ve been to the surface a few years back. My father came to trade with the people of Blyst. They like precious stones, and we had an oyster farm. There were more farms and green pastures than now.”
“Yes,” Kiera agreed. “Now the landscape is just vast plains and burned forests and houses. The war has been vicious. Warlords from the desert have been pillaging what they can.”
Marina drank from a canteen before wiping her mouth on the sleeve of her cape. “Have you ever been here, Commander?”
Alayah looked at Marina’s big, blue eyes. “Not that I can recall. My mother must have made this trip before arriving in Madeira. I was too small to remember.”
Marina bobbed her head. “You must be a strong warrior to be given this task by the king and the elders.”
Rose, the red-haired warrior with pink highlights, spoke before Alayah could. “You should have seen her win over Corey. I jumped from my seat and screamed. It was about time a woman taught those male sirens a lesson.”
“Corey?” Marina tilted her head. “I don’t think I know him. I graduated the academy five years ago. I thought they would be sending Amadeus. You must be a skilled magic wielder, Alayah.”
Rose spoke. “I’m glad we are just women. Guys tend to be arrogant and put themselves at unnecessary risk.” She lowered her voice and leaned forward. “They say that Corey is the heir to the throne. I didn’t think his father would let him come since it’s a dangerous mission.”
“So, the prince’s identity hasn’t been revealed yet? I thought that silly tradition was over by now.” Marina scratched her head. “Pesky mosquitos. From all the bugs that died with the Big Crash, mosquitos should have been one of the extinct species. They like the siren’s blood too much, and they carry diseases. We need to be careful.”