“I know that,” Phabian said, “I’m just saying that the time has come for the Fire elves to rejoin society. We need the trade, and we need the expansion. Fire elves aren’t meant to be cooped up behind a wall. It feels like a prison.”
“Well, if you’d like any chance to get to the king, I suggest we focus on the training here,” Amiris said impatiently. Then, he turned to Kamo. “Since you’re new to the game, what do you suggest we do, Kia?”
Kamo raised her eyebrows. “Well, I think if the tutors insist we sprint, there must be a reason,” she said slowly, tucking a hair back into her bun, “let’s start there.”
Fiona shook her head. “I’m not doing that,” she said. “It’s a waste of time.”
“Suit yourself,” Phabian said, “I think it’s a great idea.”
He sprinted to one end of the arena, and Kamo followed him, along with the three other men and Romi.
“Come on, Fi,” Gilna shouted, joining Kamo. “We all know how much you love to show off, anyway. You’re the fastest competitor here.”
Fiona rolled her eyes and strolled to the line where Kamo and the others had taken their starting marks.
“We’ll go one end to the other and back again,” Phabian said.
“Go!”
Fiona raced off the line faster than Kamo thought possible. Spurred by the competition, Kamo sprinted hard and fast. She easily outran Gilna and Romi, but Fiona seemed as fast as lightning, and the men weren’t far behind her. Kamo tucked her chin, fighting to up her pace. The heat filled her lungs, but it wasn’t suffocating. It was invigorating. It got under her skin and fanned a flame, carrying her forward. Phabian wasn’t far ahead of her. She overtook Amiris, then Raz and Nadav. Phabian’s gait slackened, and Kamo slipped ahead of him. Halfway there, she touched the wall and spun on her toes to the opposite end of the arena. Fiona was only a few strides ahead. Kamo couldn’t see her face, but her whole body indicated that this was no struggle for her. It looked as if she was enjoying a leisurely stroll.
How does she move so quickly?
Her thoughts shifted to the ground, growing warmer and warmer beneath her feet. As she looked down, she saw sparks dancing behind her heels.
Completely distracted, she stopped running and turned around to find the source of the sparks.
“Raz, that’s cheating!” Phabian shouted behind her.
In a whirl of dust and flame, Raz flew past her to the finish line.
“It’s not cheating,” he shouted in return, “it’s using my resources!”
Phabian rolled his eyes.
“You’re just a sore loser,” Raz yelled, throwing his hands in the air.
Phabian jogged over to Kamo, who started running again for the finish line.
“Sorry about him,” he pointed a thumb at Raz. “He hates to lose. You’re pretty easily distracted, though. You might want to work on your focus.”
Kamo grimaced. “Yeah, thanks,” she replied.
As she reached the wall, Phabian caught her by the elbow.
“But you did really well,” his voice was encouraging, and she could tell that he wanted to bolster her confidence. “Very few elves can even come close to catching Fiona.”
Kamo looked at her. She hadn’t even broken a sweat. The other competitors were panting and bent, hands on their knees. Fiona was examining her nails, not even a hint of red in her cheeks. Kamo looked a little further up to where Gobi, Rolin, and Serenne were seated. Gobi seemed to be staring at Fiona in disbelief. Rolin was glancing from Kamo to Phabian, to Raz, and around again, but Serenne had his eyes fixed on Kamo. He stared at her hard and began to shake his head, almost imperceptibly. Kamo tilted her head and shifted her eyes to Fiona and back to Serenne again, trying to understand the subtle message. Serenne just stared back at her, rose from his seat, and headed for the exit. Gobi and Rolin followed, trying to conceal their surprise at Serenne’s unexpected departure.
“I can see why,” Kamo answered Phabian after a pause. “She’ll be impossible to beat if this challenge has anything to do with running.”
“I wouldn’t count on it,” Phabian said, laughing a little. “I think the tutors make us practice sprints to add a little more personal competition into the training sessions.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
Kamo followed Serenne and the others with her eyes. Rolin would look back occasionally as if to make sure she was on her way out as well.
“Phabian,” Fiona called, “how about some target practice next?”
A ball of flames flew past Phabian’s ear, and he and Kamo ducked just in time.
Recovering her stance, Kamo said, “I better get going. Like I said, I’m done with my practice for the day.”
Phabian stood up too and fired a shot back at Fiona. His aim was better, and his flame singed her sleeve.
“I’ll be right there,” he shouted to Fiona. Turning back to Kamo, he grinned. “What a woman, huh? Feisty. Anyway, it was nice to meet you, Kia.”
He ran toward Fiona, and they both began to duel.
Kamo made her way to the exit and chanced a glance back at the arena. It was a mess of fire and smoke, and she could hear laughter and shouting. Just as the sign had offered, she felt comfortable here. The other competitors had to feel the same.
“It looked like an intense race.”
Rolin walked up behind her, his voice warm as the air around her. She turned to face him.
"It was," Kamo said, "but I enjoyed it."
"Now that you've had a chance to meet the competition, how do you think you'll fare in the fight?" His voice was steady and calm, but Kamo could sense a sliver of apprehension.
"I didn't really get to see them use magic," she replied as they walked out of the dome, "but as far as competitive spirit goes, I'd have to give the edge to Fiona or Raz."
"I suppose. Phabian is a force to be reckoned with, though," Rolin said casually.
"What do you mean?" Kamo asked. "He seemed friendly enough."
"He was holding back in the race," he replied. "It's what I would do. No use revealing my strengths to my competition before the need arises. He's calculated. I wouldn't be surprised if his friendliness was a tactic as well."
Kamo grinned. "A man can't be friendly just to be friendly? There has to be an ulterior motive?" she asked incredulously. But Rolin didn't have time to reply before Gobi and Serenne joined the conversation.
“Are you all right?” Serenne asked, taking Kamo’s hand gently in his.
“What do you mean?” she asked. “It was just a race.”
“Phabian is not to be trusted. His family has a history of questionable behavior. A few dozen times, their competitor’s conduct in the games has been despicable. They are a disgrace to the name of Arani everywhere. What did he say to you?”
That might explain the scars.
“Not much. Phabian just told me not to get discouraged and that I was easily distracted.”
“Interesting,” Serenne replied, stroking his beard. “Anything else? He’s sly. I wouldn’t put anything past him.”
“No, just that. He didn’t seem very concerned about titles, and he said he had a few things to talk about with the king if he had the opportunity after the competition.”
“No doubt he will try,” said Serenne. “His house has been power-hungry for a long time. It’s the king’s wisdom that has held them at bay. We must hurry back.”
“Why exactly are we hurrying?” Rolin asked.
“The traditional challenges start in two days. The opening ceremony is tomorrow. We have to find you a place to stay, and we have to get you registered. And I think it’s best we find a different place to train.”
“So they don’t see my strengths?” asked Kamo, with a nod to Rolin.
“There’s that,” Serenne sighed, “but I don’t like the idea of Phabian being anywhere near you before the competition begins.”
They hurried down the street, but instead of turning to Serenne’s shop, he led t
hem to a shabby hostel a little further into town.
“Why can’t we stay with you?” Gobi asked. “Surely that’s the safest place for all three of us.” He fiddled with the dagger at his waist.
“Unless you’d like to sleep next to the manure pile, I’m afraid I don’t have the room,” he answered. “The elf here is one I trust, and you should be safe for the time being.”
All four of them entered the hostel, and Serenne approached the worn, wooden bar.
“Excuse me, friend,” Serenne spoke to the barkeep to get his attention. The man turned around, setting a rag and a mug on the bar.
“Serenne!” he nearly shouted, “it’s been a while! What’s kept you away? We still have the best whiskey in Ferena, right?”
“Of course, old friend, of course!” he smiled. “The festival is always my busy time, you know that. Speaking of,” he beckoned Kamo forward with his hand, “I have a few visitors in need of accommodation, the most honorable Kia, House of Linema, and her attendants.”
The man cocked an eyebrow and grinned, then nodded at Kamo. She nodded back, hoping that nothing more was required.
“You do have the oddest acquaintances, Serenne,” he continued. “Shouldn’t she be staying nearer to the festival grounds? In the nobles’ house?”
Rolin stepped in front of Kamo and folded his arms in front of him. Gobi followed suit.
“Miss Linema felt there were too many prying eyes in the vicinity. She prefers privacy to convenience,” Rolin said.
“All right, all right, we’ve got plenty of privacy here. No need to convince me,” the man exclaimed as he turned to pull two keys from the hook on the wall.
“A hundred per room, per night, in advance,” he said, setting the keys on the bar in front of him. “The festival will be at least a week. Are you staying the whole time?”
Kamo looked at Serenne, panic dancing at the back of her throat. They hadn’t thought this through. They had no money, at least none that Fire elves would consider legal tender.
Rolin opened his satchel and rifled through it. He put several gold coins on the wooden counter and said, “ Yes, through the whole festival if you’ll have us. This ought to cover it.”
The man scooped up the coins without a second glance and pointed up the stairs.
“The last two on the left, try to keep it down,” he said, “the folks around here enjoy their peace and quiet.”
“Thank you. I can assure you we won’t be a bother.”
Rolin led them up the stairs. There were five doors along the left wall, and they entered the second to last room. It wasn’t as cozy as Serenne’s little parlor, but there was a comfortable bed and a small sitting area with a stiff couch and two wooden chairs near a fireplace.
“I can’t be the only one who’s wondering this,” Gobi said, taking a seat in one of the wooden chairs, “Rolin, where did you get the money for that?”
Rolin took the other chair, trying to act casually.
He took a deep breath. “It’s a long story, I’m afraid.” He breathed in again and closed his eyes.
“When I was young, we lived in a small village off of a port town,” he began. “We met all kinds of people. Earth and Sea elves, sailors, traders. I’d met a few Fire elves, but they never stayed long. Anyway, my family stayed there for years, and then the war started. They called my brother and me to service, and we left. We served, and we—” he cleared his throat, “I was relieved of duty when the war was over. Or, so I thought, anyway.”
His words began to sound more forced.
“I took my time getting home. I celebrated with some men in my unit, nothing too big, just a few nights in the port city before heading home. Maybe if I hadn’t, things would be different. Then again, maybe not. I don’t know.”
Kamo caught a glimpse of deep sadness in his eyes as he took another deep breath.
“As soon as I saw the gate, I knew something was wrong,” his voice broke. “The lock had been broken, and the wood was charred. I rushed inside, and… they were on the floor. Burned and bleeding and whimpering. My dad had it worse. His face and torso were bruised and purple. They had scorched his ears and his fingers were badly blistered.”
He tried to clear his throat again, but it was no use.
“My sisters weren’t in the house,” he continued in a low, breaking voice. “The only other thing there was a sack of Fire elf gold. Once my parents recovered enough, they told me what happened.”
Bile rose in Kamo’s throat as she clutched her stomach, and Serenne’s face was white, his hands trembling. Rolin rubbed his forehead with the palms of his hands.
“They were searching for me. I don’t know why,” Rolin said, “but the Fire elves were searching for me. They tortured my parents for information and ‘paid’ them for their helpfulness. I’ve held onto that gold every day of my life, praying that someday it would provide my opportunity for revenge.”
“I’m so sorry,” Serenne wailed, “I’m so sorry. I—” he reached for Rolin, and his arm brushed a vase, knocking it to the ground. It shattered, and water gushed from its broken pieces. “I’m sorry,” he said again, and he rushed to the vase, struggling to gather the pieces. Rolin walked over to help him.
“You aren’t responsible, sir,” he said, “I place no blame on you.”
Serenne nodded and said, “Still, I can’t imagine.”
They continued gathering the pieces of shattered glass while Kamo and Gobi sat still.
“I hope you never have to,” said Rolin. Then, he looked at Kamo. “I’m searching for two men among thousands. I know roughly what they look like, and that they served in the king’s army during the war. It’s not much to go on.”
Kamo shook her head. “Neither is one glance at a pair of disappearing iron gates, but here we are,” she said, gesturing to the room.
“That’s true enough, I suppose,” said Rolin.
Serenne and Rolin had gathered all the glass pieces onto the table and took a seat again. The silence was sobering.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, I,” Rolin cleared his throat again, “it’s not something I talk about.”
“I think Kamo and I can understand that,” Gobi said quietly.
Kamo nodded.
“Even now that we’re here, I don’t know how I’ll find the men I’m looking for,” Rolin said. “But that doesn’t matter right now. We need to focus on the festival and how Kamo gets access to the king and Elesun.”
Gobi shrugged. “Fine by me, I suppose,” he said.
Kamo tried to catch Rolin’s eye, but he was staring out the window, avoiding her gaze.
“Rolin’s right,” Serenne said. “The opening ceremony is tomorrow, then the traditional novice challenges to weed out any weak competitors, and then the main challenge after that,” Serenne stated as he walked to the couch and sat. “You saw a handful of elves today that will likely be your final competition.”
“What are the novice challenges?” Kamo asked, sitting next to him.
“There are two,” he replied quickly. “The first is flame control. They will present you with a series of targets that you must ignite or avoid. Unsurprisingly, this is where many competitors get eliminated. The second is physical fitness and mental acuity. Though the actual course changes from year to year, it is an obstacle course that presents physical challenges such as running, climbing, lifting heavy objects, sometimes even wielding different great weapons.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Gobi said.
“No, indeed,” Serenne replied, “it is routine for the most part.”
“And the mental acuity? How does that fit in?” Rolin asked.
“Mental stability– the task of staying focused under extreme pressure.”
Kamo felt each of them look at her.
“What kind of pressure?” she asked.
“Depends,” Serenne answered, shrugging. “I’ve seen a task where each competitor had to complete the course with severe time restraints. I�
��ve also seen more gruesome courses, where Elesun has used all manner of manipulation and fatigue to test his competitors' resolve and willpower. One year, the festival warriors, as we call them, were not allowed to rest for three days, after which they endured a long journey into a maze created by Elesun himself. He filled it with wild creatures, poisonous plants, things of that nature.”
“If that was the traditional challenge, what was the main challenge?” Gobi asked, looking as if he didn’t quite want to know the answer.
Serenne closed his eyes and sighed.
“After that challenge, only two warriors remained,” he said. “They dueled, and that has become the tradition for such a circumstance.”
“So that means,” Kamo said, standing to pace the room, “assuming I can make it through the traditional challenges, I may only have to duel one warrior?”
“Yes.”
She began to pace.
“How often has that happened?” she asked.
“Only a handful of times in the last two decades,” Serenne answered. “Usually, it is the full class of warriors who make it to the last challenge.”
Kamo reached the bed and turned to walk toward the sitting area. She tried to imagine dueling one of the warriors she had met this afternoon. Fiona would be formidable, as would Phabian. Raz hadn’t seemed as powerful, but he wasn’t afraid to bend the rules. Who were the others? Gilna? Amiris? She hadn’t paid enough attention.
The Last of the Sea Elves Page 22