by S. M. Boyce
She had a flashback to the slithering tail in the tunnels below, and her heart beat faster.
“This is bad,” Fyrn said, kneeling beside her. In her panic, she hadn't even heard him approach.
“We have to get her to safety, and we have to tell the king about this attack,” Victoria said, holding the girl in her arms as she stood.
“You're right,” Fyrn said, frowning as he studied the entrance to the tunnel.
“What could do something like this?”
“I don’t know.” He studied her, pausing for a moment as their gazes met. His jaw tensed, and he stood a little taller.
Unbelievable. He was scared.
Victoria kept her eyes on the entrance to the tunnel as she slowly backed away. She cradled the girl’s head against her shoulder, doing her best to block the child’s view of the dead body.
“It's going to be okay,” she lied.
***
Audrey sat at one of the chairs in Bertha's kitchen, staring at her fingers as she tapped the wooden surface of the table. Victoria sat across from her, and Bertha stood in the corner. No one spoke. No one knew what to say.
Bertha began to pace, the floor creaking with every thump of her heavy feet. “Could it have been an attack by a fellow citizen?”
“Not unless that person has swords for teeth and a jaw as wide as a door.” Victoria tugged the ends of her hair, wrapping the locks around her fingers, a dead giveaway that she was nervous.
“Who was the victim?” Audrey asked.
Bertha wiped away a tear. “A prominent investor in the city. He might've been grumpy and unpleasant, but he changed hundreds of lives for the better by developing previously uninhabitable areas and creating homes for citizens who didn't have one. He was loved, and there will be hell to pay when we discover who did this.”
“What about the girl?” Victoria asked softly.
“Last I heard, she was with her mother.”
“Good,” Victoria said softly.
Audrey rubbed her temples. She couldn’t imagine what it was like to find someone’s corpse. For the moment, she didn’t envy Victoria at all.
“We have to find and kill whatever did this,” Victoria said, eyes locking with Audrey's.
Audrey shook her head. “Victoria, we have enough on our plates. Don't make this our problem.”
“Of course it’s our problem!”
Audrey gritted her teeth. She frowned and narrowed her eyes, saying everything she needed to without uttering a word. Stop playing hero.
Victoria huffed and crossed her arms, leaning back. I’m not!
Audrey rolled her eyes and tapped on her left index finger against her right wrist. You can’t even control the Rhazdon Artifact. Don’t expose yourself.
“Yes, I can!” Victoria snapped, hitting her fist on the table.
Bertha jumped. “What?”
“I can control it,” Victoria said, ignoring Bertha as she glared at Audrey.
“You’re going to go gallivanting off into the wilderness with a few powers you are only just beginning to understand to kill something the size of a house? Are you insane?”
“Powers?” Bertha quirked an eyebrow.
“You haven’t been watching my training. You haven’t seen what I’m capable of.”
“This isn’t our problem!”
Victoria pointed to the back of the house, through the glass doors that led to Bertha’s little yard. “If the city is in danger, we all are! Fairhaven isn’t that big, Audrey. Besides, if we can help, it’s our job to try!”
Audrey set her palms on the table, sighing as something clicked for her. This would hurt to say, but Victoria needed to hear it. “Playing hero won’t bring your parents back. It won’t make them proud. It won’t make everything you’ve endured so far worth it.”
“How dare you—”
“I’m serious,” Audrey interrupted. “You’ll expose yourself. One swing, and everyone in this town will know what you are.”
Bertha crossed her arms. “For goodness sake, what the hell are you two talking about?”
Victoria backed away from the table, running her hands through her hair as she paced the kitchen. For several minutes, no one spoke. Audrey watched Victoria’s every step, waiting for her friend to make a stupid decision or run into the street, swinging a sword made of dark magic and brass for all to see.
And Bertha, bless her, seemed to be waiting for something to make sense.
“It’s risky,” Victoria eventually said.
“It’s stupid,” Audrey corrected.
“It’s not.” Victoria glared at her, and Audrey looked away. She couldn’t hold Victoria’s eye when she scowled like that.
“That’s it? Your life for the city?” Audrey asked softly.
“We should at least look for the creature. Find its cave. Identify its weaknesses.”
“I know you better than that. You’ll go after it.”
“We would be in the caves. Who cares? No one goes down there.”
“Plenty of people go down there. And if someone sees you fighting it?” Audrey dragged her finger over her throat in the universal sign for dead meat.
“We don’t know they’ll think that way.”
Audrey scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s a death sentence.”
“I’ve had about enough of this cryptic bullshit,” Bertha snapped.
Audrey didn’t flinch, and to her credit neither did Victoria. Bertha fumed. Her cheeks had turned red, almost black, and her glowering eyes shifted from Audrey to Victoria and back.
“I’m sure they have an army, V. They don’t need us,” Audrey said.
“Maybe not, but if I have to choose between saving myself and someone else, you know what choice I’ll make.” Victoria pushed away from the table and stormed into the shop, most likely to cool off in the street outside.
Bertha turned the full force of her frustration on Audrey. “Little one, you had better—”
“I’m sorry, Bertha. The moment I can, I’ll explain everything. Thank you for the drink.” She drained the last of her cup and offered a subtle bow of respect to her mentor and friend before following Victoria outside.
Audrey knew full well what choice her friend would make, and it would probably end in blood.
Chapter 26
Luak sat in the king’s private office, his feet on the monarch’s desk even though he sat in the guest chair. The king, coward that he was, didn't say a thing. He merely leaned against the window, staring through the glass at the magnificent city below.
“Pity about that investor,” Luak said. It took all of his energy to suppress a wicked grin.
The king frowned.
“It seems as though your plan to keep the beast a secret has backfired,” Luak continued.
The king shook his head. “It was contained.”
Luak clicked his tongue in disappointment. “I'm worried for you, my king. There's dissent, talk that you are too weak to protect your people. I fear for you,” he lied for effect. “What's worse is that I hear you now have a Rhazdon host in your city.”
The king froze, not breathing. “You're lying.”
“I wish I was, my liege.”
“What do you know of this host?”
“Not much,” Luak lied again. “But for you, I can find out more.”
“Do.”
Even from here, Luak could see the king’s hands trembling. He crossed his arms, no doubt in an effort to hide it, but it was clear: King Bornt was nervous. Weak as he was, he should have been running for the hills. The wizard monarch had no idea what Luak had in store for him if he stayed.
“I have a proposition for you,” Luak said.
The king nodded without looking at him. “I assumed as much. You always do.”
“You'll want to hear this one.”
“Out with it.”
“I will kill the monster. I will soothe the dissent in the city, and ensure that everyone here loves you and gives you credit for ki
lling the beast. Not another soul will die, and you will keep your throne.”
This got the king's attention. He leaned against the wall, his full attention now focused on Luak. “And in return?”
“You become a figurehead with no power. I rule Fairhaven. I make the laws. The city adores you, and you continue to live here, but you hand me the keys.”
“Get out,” the king said, seething.
Luak chuckled and stood, but he crossed the gap between them instead of heading for the door. He leaned in, his nose barely an inch from the king’s as he towered over him. “Your people think you are weak because you are. It's only a matter of time before you lose the crown. Think about my proposition. It's the only way for you to cling to the last shreds of your power.”
With that, Luak left at a slow and steady pace, letting the door swing gently shut behind him. He adjusted his collar, wondering how he could rile up the creature he had planted in the tunnels. A single killing wasn't enough. It must not have been hungry, but he could fix that.
A few more well-placed rumors about the king hiding the truth and a few more deaths—perhaps a whole family enjoying a day out together—would be enough to start a riot big enough to overthrow the king.
And of course, Luak thought with a wicked grin, the movement would need a leader.
Chapter 27
Victoria paced the cobblestones in front of Bertha's shop, arms crossed as she scanned the empty street. This was the first time she had ever seen Main Street almost completely empty. Usually there were so many heads bobbing down the street that it was difficult to tell the bodies from each other, but today everyone was staying indoors.
“There is a curfew now, apparently,” Audrey said, the door shutting behind her.
“What did you tell Bertha?”
Audrey frowned, grimacing a little in an expression that Victoria had long ago learned meant, C’mon, really?
Victoria shrugged. “If anyone should be told, it’s her.”
“I wouldn’t want to put her in that position,” Audrey said, hands on her hips.
“To choose?”
Audrey nodded. “She would have to choose between her city and two strangers she took into her home.”
“You think she would turn us in?”
Audrey grinned, shaking her head a little bit. “I know she wouldn't. That's the problem.”
Victoria laughed. “It's nice to have at least one person on our side.”
“Two, if you count Fyrn.”
Victoria nodded. “I do.”
“Now that you’ve had some time to cool off, what do you think of your little plan to go after this creature?”
Victoria frowned, eyeing Audrey. “Don’t talk down to me.”
Audrey lifted her hands in surrender. “I’m absolutely positive this city has an army. I think you should leave the fighting to the pros while you and I learn about the city. I mean, think about it—we didn’t even know how long our money would last a couple of days ago, and now you want to hunt something that can create wounds like the ones on that poor goblin's body? It killed him, Victoria. It won't hesitate to kill us, too.”
“Nor would it hesitate to kill anyone else,” Victoria added.
Audrey’s shoulders drooped a bit. “I know. I know you’re strong, Victoria. And I know you have these newfound gifts you’re learning to control. You’re capable, but I don't want you to bite off more than you can chew right now, that's all.”
“I know my limits.”
Audrey caught her eye, brow quirking a bit. “Do you?”
Victoria hesitated, scanning Audrey's face as something clicked in the back of her mind. “You're scared I'm going to die.”
As if Victoria’s words had flipped a switch, tears burned in Audrey's eyes. She swallowed hard, staring at the rooftops for a few moments. When she did finally speak, her words came out in a whisper. “Of course I am.”
“You're scared I'm going to be reckless and get myself killed.”
“Y-yes. Yes, okay? Yes!”
Victoria nodded. This confirmed a deep fear she'd had since she first came to Fairhaven. She paced a bit, trying to figure out how to word what she wanted to say next. “When you came down here with me, when you joined me, you knew I was on the warpath. This isn't a field trip. It never was. You knew this was about revenge for me. You knew this was about blood and sweat and vengeance. If I die, Audrey, it will be for a purpose.”
“But killing this monster doesn’t help you get vengeance.”
“You’re right.”
“Then why do any of this? Why care? It sucks that the girl lost her dad, but come on, Victoria. Keep your eye on the big picture!”
The words wounded Victoria like a punch to the gut, but they disappointed her more than anything. “What's gotten into you?”
“Into me? What's gotten into you?”
“Audrey, we've been friends forever. You were willing to come here with me, abandon your life to help me get revenge and seek justice for my parents. Hell, you even fired a gun in the bank parking lot to protect me. I love you like a sister, and I always will. But fuck, woman! How can you be so heartless as to say this girl doesn’t matter? That these people don't matter? Don't you love Fairhaven?”
Audrey frowned but didn't answer.
Victoria pressed it. “This place is magical and fucked up and beautiful, and I never want to leave. I don't understand it and probably never will, but we can't leave these people to die, Audrey. You've heard the rumors about this king. He doesn't care about the people. He doesn't care about keeping them alive, keeping them safe, or even keeping them happy. The people here are on their own more and more, and the Army doesn't serve them. The Army serves him. And what will happen if he locks himself in his palace? If he pretends this doesn't exist and that there's not a problem? Audrey, I'm not saying we have to fight, but we need to be prepared to if that's what it takes.”
An indent appeared in Audrey's cheek where she was almost certainly biting it to stem the flood of words she would probably regret. Victoria had learned a long time ago not to push Audrey to share what was on her mind. Audrey would share if she wanted to.
Victoria put her hands on Audrey's shoulders. “This is as much about justice as revenge, Audrey. I have to do this. Are you with me?”
Audrey's lip curled in the subtlest of smiles. “To the end, you friggin’ idiot.”
***
Victoria and Audrey had a deal: they would scope out the tunnels during the day to see if they could get more info on the creature, and at night they would strategize. When they encountered the creature that had killed the goblin, Victoria would attack only if she had no other choice.
In the meantime, they would play a bit of Berserk.
Wearing the silver jersey of their team, Victoria shook out her hands and hopped up and down to get her blood going. She stood in the center of the field, scanning the massive stadium. Above her, the audience roared. The field was covered with players of all shapes and sizes, silver jerseys against black.
A horn blew long and loud—the warning bell, telling everyone that the game would start soon. Tense, ready to go, and a little bit nervous, Victoria jogged over to Audrey. A goblin in a black and white referee’s shirt dragged a net filled with the indestructible fidgets, who rolled against the bag as if more eager to get onto the field than the players.
Her team lined up as the referee took center field, hand raised to quiet the din. His voice boomed over the stadium, impossibly loud. “Ladies and gentlemen, creatures of all ages, I welcome you to the Berserk Seasonal Kickoff! As a reminder to our players, our most important rule is, no magic! Aside from that, your only job is to win.”
The crowd roared, and he spoke in another language Victoria didn’t recognize. Maybe he was cycling through the most common ones so that as many as possible could understand him.
As he spoke, she surveyed her team. Seven ogres and three elves, plus her and Audrey. Not only were they the only humans, but they
were the only girls.
Time to represent.
The opposing team seemed to be comprised entirely of ogres lined up shoulder to shoulder, all but foaming at the mouth to begin. They thumped their chests, roared, and jostled each other as they prepared to charge. If one of them plowed into her, she might not wake up for a few days.
Fun.
In the final seconds before the starting bell, she scanned the guest box for Fyrn's trademark staff. He hated crowds, so she doubted he would have come. Still, deep in her heart, she had hoped he would anyway. There were elves she didn't recognize, and Bertha waved with a mighty smile from the top row of seats. Victoria waved back.
A familiar and utterly ridiculous hat appeared, and bit by bit, Fyrn’s beard and staff came into view. He nodded once to her and went to find a seat.
She grinned. He had come after all.
The starting horn blew. With a flourish, the referee tossed the net of fidgets onto the mossy ground and disappeared into thin air. The crowd roared. Hundreds of feet smacked the bleachers like thunder.
Both teams charged the field, everyone aiming either for one of the fidgets or for an opponent. After all, if an opponent threw in the towel and went to the wizard medic, he would be out for the rest of the game. Better to get an early lead. Two ogres rammed each other, and the ground rumbled beneath them.
An elf ran straight for Victoria, but she dodged him effortlessly. As if on cue, Edgar tackled the elf, giving her time to bolt ahead and find one of the fidgets. Even though they weren’t supposed to use magic, she didn’t consider her newly learned stealth and speed as breaking the rules. Light as a feather, she bolted across the field, scanning the grass for the telltale golden eyes of one of the green fidgets. No green, but she did spot a black one. Chasing after it, she plucked the little critter off the ground and ran toward their opponents’ goal.
“Oi!” someone shouted.
Edgar ran alongside her, the ground rumbling under his footsteps. He gestured to the fidget in Victoria’s hands.