Uncrowned (Cradle Book 7)
Page 30
Suddenly the building went silent. He slowed his steps, looking around, but the others in the hallway looked as confused as he did.
A moment later, a sound like birds screaming tore through the Ninecloud arena. Lights flashed from the walls in all colors, and the Ninecloud Soul’s voice resonated out of nowhere, sounding panicked: “All guests, prepare for imminent spatial transfer—”
Lindon dashed backward, trying to get away from whatever was about to happen, but a blue light consumed him.
Just like when he met Suriel, the world was replaced by a river of textured blue that pressed against him in all directions. He couldn’t breathe, and Suriel’s marble in his pocket suddenly grew painfully hot, but in less than a second it was all over.
He stood around the edge of the arena beneath the Akura viewing tower, sunlight beating down. The arena was quiet, the towers completely empty. Whoever had transported him here, they had removed the spectators at the same time.
He saw the other eliminated contestants against the wall close to their original towers; Pride and Naru Saeya stood next to him, Grace and her team nearby, the Frozen Blade students drawing blades. Everyone looked wildly around for an explanation.
Fifteen young Underlords stood in the center of the arena. The remaining participants in round four. Lindon was the only one to have been eliminated so far, and whatever was happening, it pained him that Yerin and Mercy were facing it while he was looking in from the outside.
Fourteen of them looked ready for battle, but Sha Miara was the lone exception. She stood staring at the sky, wearing a grave expression.
One by one, everyone followed her lead. The viewing-towers that held spectators during each round were quiet and empty, but the Monarch platforms floating overhead were still active.
Figures hovered in the air above the platforms. Over the Eight-Man Empire’s plain tower, a circle of eight gold-armored men and women hovered. Akura Malice stood in midair over her mountain, shrouded in shadow. The Dragon King’s cloak rippled in the wind as he flew over his throne, Reigan Shen lounged on the roof of his palace with a goblet of wine in hand, and even Northstrider stood with his hands behind his back above his dark globe of water.
The Arelius tower seemed doubly empty by contrast, its storm flashing blue but no one hovering above it.
The very presence of so many Monarchs made the air feel thick. Every second pressed against Lindon like a knife against his throat, and Dross’ silence felt heavy, as though the spirit was afraid even to think.
Moment by moment, the Monarchs stayed motionless. Quiet. Waiting.
Lindon couldn’t imagine what was happening. Was this a plot by one of the Monarchs? If so, how had they trapped the others in it?
Then, for the second time in his life, Lindon saw a blue light descending from the sky like a sapphire dawn.
He fell to his knees a step sooner than everyone else in the arena below Monarch. It was the only proper thing to do; Lindon felt the awe in his soul. Even Sophara fell to her knees, groveling with head bowed. Sha Miara went to one knee, but she turned and looked to the Ninecloud’s rainbow tower—the feminine figure hovering over it was hidden by nine-colored light.
Seconds later, the heavenly messenger emerged. He was so far up that a Gold would barely be able to see him as a distant figure, but Lindon’s Underlord eyes could make out his features.
He felt almost blasphemous for the thought, but compared to Suriel, this man was a disappointment. He had the features of an ordinary human, a pinched face with a thin beard, and dark hair cropped close to his head. His eyes were the beady black of a rat’s.
But he wore the same eggshell-smooth white armor that Suriel had, and over his shoulder drifted an eye with a purple iris. It looked like an Akura eyeball the size of the man’s whole head.
The eyeball turned in a circle, looking at the Monarchs, but the man didn’t. He looked down to the gathered Underlords.
“Children.” He sounded as though he stood right next to them. “I am Kiuran of the Hounds. Do not be bound by this world. The most talented of you will one day be offered the choice to leave, to emerge from this cradle and truly live. Do not take the example of your elders. When the invitation comes, accept it, and let your eyes be opened to the real world.”
Northstrider’s spirit stirred, and his gold dragon eyes glared. His muscles strained against each other, as though he was fighting not to speak. But he said nothing, and the messenger did not address him. Reigan Shen gave a smile, baring a fang or two, and took a long draught from his goblet.
“The Court of Seven occasionally sponsors this tournament,” the messenger went on, “to give promising young recruits a taste of the world beyond. You are blessed, for now more than ever, we wish to nurture your talents.”
He extended his hand, palm-up. “I give you the new grand prize of the tournament: a weapon of the gods.”
A silver-edged black arrowhead appeared hovering over his palm. It looked fairly ordinary to Lindon, but the aura of the entire world twisted and fluctuated as all seven Monarchs reacted.
Rather than watching them, Lindon looked to the center of the arena. Eithan, on his knees, stared at the arrowhead with an intensity Lindon had never seen. His smile was long gone.
The messenger smiled at their reaction. “Long ago, the founder of House Arelius created this weapon which he called Penance. It is a penance for its target and, unbeknownst to most, its creation was an act of penance by its creator.”
The House Arelius crowd gave a shout, but Eithan’s gaze was glued to the arrowhead.
“He made the right choice, ascending to the heavens, and he brought this weapon with him. Now we return it to the place of its birth.”
The arrowhead drifted up, flashing black and silver. “Penance was made with a singular purpose: to kill. That is what it does, and nothing less. It can be used to kill one being in this world without error. This, children, is the power of life and death.”
For the first time, he looked to the Monarchs, and he didn’t bother to look respectful. His sneer covered his face and infected his voice. “No doubt you will squabble for this, but the results of this tournament are now guaranteed by my master: Makiel, the Hound. No competitors can be added or withdrawn, the rules must be upheld as before, and Penance will not function for anyone other than the rightful champion. If you break the rules, you will be judged. If you kill or punish the champion for possession of this weapon, you will be judged. Tread carefully, for the eyes of heaven see all things.”
The eyeball on his shoulder shone brightly, spinning to pierce each Monarch.
None of the kings and queens spoke a word. Not even to agree. Now none of them looked so self-assured anymore. Even Reigan Shen scowled through his white mane, goblet forgotten.
The heavenly messenger looked down on the competitors, and his smile was gentle again. “Fight hard, children, and do not let fear hold you back. Instead, let desire drive you to even greater heights. You are the future, and the Hound values the future above all else.”
Lindon stared at the arrowhead. The messenger held a life in his hand. Anyone’s life—a Sage’s, a Monarch’s.
Even a Dreadgod’s.
[Whoever gets that won’t have an arrow,] Dross whispered. [They’ll have a target. Everyone in the world will be after them.]
Even if the heavens protect them from reprisal? Lindon asked.
[Heaven is a long way away. Humans are right here.]
When the world began to glow blue again, Lindon lunged for Yerin, but he was swallowed up. Only a breath later, he stood in the center of a bright-tiled hallway, exactly where he had been taken. A nearby Truegold woman in Akura colors fell to her knees and started muttering.
The Spirit Cloak sprang up around Lindon, and he started to run.
Yerin was now in danger. Whatever the heavens said, the Monarchs and their champions would do anything for a weapon like the arrowhead. He had to gather everyone they could trust and stick together; keepin
g Eithan and Mercy and Yerin in the same place would be the best way to keep them safe.
And he had to tell them they couldn’t win.
Out of fear of a Monarch’s reprisal, he hadn’t even told his friends Sha Miara’s true identity. The time for that was past; they had to know they were competing against a Monarch.
He had almost reached the end of the hallway when a black-scaled hand shot out from nowhere, grasping at his throat. With the impossible grace of the Spirit Cloak, Lindon dodged.
The hand landed anyway.
It was like a hammer slamming into his neck. He crashed to a halt, choking and gagging past the sudden pain in his throat, his technique dispersing. He sagged to the floor, looking up through watery eyes.
A huge man, at least Lindon’s size, now loomed overhead. His clothes were mismatched and ragged, open at the neck to reveal the rock-hard muscles of his chest. Wild hair spilled down his back, and his face was unshaven, but his vertically slitted golden eyes glared down on Lindon like a king passing judgment.
[Master…] Dross whispered.
Northstrider spoke only two words.
“Who’s Dross?”
THE END
Cradle: Volume Seven
Uncrowned
Lindon’s story continues in…
WINTERSTEEL
Cradle: Volume Eight
Available soon!
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Bloopers
Makiel’s viewing lens flickered to life, a purple-edged rectangular screen that could show him anything in existence.
[Target found: the Soft-Serve Sorcerer, a wizard whose ice cream will make you scream! Beginning synchronization…]
Grumbling, Makiel lifted his remote control. He pressed a button and his Presence blinked. The view on the lens changed.
[Target found: Wedding Wars, wherein fifteen newlyweds charge at each other with maces and shields. Beginning synchronization…]
Makiel pulled out a second remote. “The Vroshir! I’m trying to watch the Vroshir!”
The view in the lens fuzzed to static.
[Target not found. Have you tried changing the input?]
Makiel threw his remotes to the ground.
~~~
The door slid slowly open, revealing the floor and letting in…silence and darkness. No screaming crowd. The shadow aura was thick, shrouding much of the arena, forming a barrier to keep him and his opponent isolated.
When the door lifted fully, the shadow aura didn’t stop him from seeing all the way across the arena, where his opponent saw him at the same time.
Not Sophara.
Little Blue.
Lindon looked in confusion as the six-inch Riverseed charged him on her tiny legs. “What’s going on?”
Little Blue pulled out a knife.
~~~
Something the Winter Sage said caught Yerin’s interest. Was it Sacred Valley itself that had opened the Sword Sage to the attacks of mere Jades? Yerin had always assumed it was the poison. But if there was something about the place...
“Hang on,” Yerin said, “how could a bunch of Jades kill the Sword Sage?”
Nearby, Eithan frowned. “That’s a good question. I wonder why no one has ever asked that before.”
~~~
Pride held out the crown. “This is for you.” He glanced to one side. “I suggest you take it quickly. It hasn't been long since I won it.”
Lindon stood still, watching him.
[It's an imposter!] Dross said. [Get him!]
Lindon’s dragon breath burned off Pride’s head.
~~~
“Oh, you wiped out the Rising Earth sect?” Fury’s tone was light, even conversational. “I see, I see.”
Fury dropped the boulder and pulled his hands back behind him, gathering energy between his palms.
“KAAAAAAAAA…” he shouted. Blue light grew brighter and brighter between his hands.
“MEEEEEEEEE…” The light was blinding, and Lindon could sense the spiritual pressure. Whatever Striker technique he was about to release, it could obliterate the whole city.
“HAAAAAAAA…”
A Forged box of rainbow light dropped around Fury, so dense that Lindon couldn’t see through it.
“Enough of that!” the Ninecloud Soul said nervously. “You want us to get sued?”
~~~
A pillar of rainbow light beamed down from the ceiling, Lindon’s prize suspended in the center: a string of letters and numbers.
“…what is it?” he asked.
The Ninecloud Soul sounded shocked. “I…I can’t believe what I’m seeing. This is a gift fit for a Monarch: a code for Rebel Galaxy Outlaw by Double Damage Games, available now on the Epic Games Store!”
Dross gasped. [You mean the greatest game ever made? I never thought I’d see it with your own eyes…]
Lindon was no fool. He seized the code.