Kamo was the last to leave the arena, again escorted by the guards in black uniform, and Phabian carried on their conversation.
“You ready for today?” he asked. “The physical challenge can be, well, challenging,” he said with a laugh.
“This is the challenge I feel most prepared for,” Kamo said. “It’s the one after this that I’m more concerned about.”
“The final challenge? That one is more for the people’s entertainment, I think.”
“I guess I hadn’t thought of it that way, but what else could it be?” Kamo replied.
Some minutes passed before they heard Elesun’s shout.
“Challengers, you may enter.”
The guards stepped aside, and Kamo turned back around to look into the arena. An obstacle course had appeared on the once empty arena floor. There was a climbing wall, a balancing beam, a track. A pond looked as if it had magically emerged from the ground, and there were rings to cross above it.
“Well,” she heard Phabian behind her, “this certainly seems milder than most years. There’s got to be a twist.”
All ten of the competitors entered the arena cautiously.
“Welcome back, warriors!” Serenne shouted. “You will run the course, beginning with the climbing wall, followed by the balancing beam, the track, and the pond. You will do this continually until I tell you that you may stop.”
Kamo silently thanked Sheelo for her education in working without sleep.
“Not only will you be running the course, you will be running from me.”
He hurled a fireball at the challengers. Kamo ducked and ran at the rock wall with Fiona just ahead of her. She started climbing and was halfway up when a flame whizzed past her ear into the wall near her left hand.
“You may dodge and duck,” Elesun shouted, “you may shield yourself with your magic, but you must keep moving. If you stop for any reason, you will be disqualified and escorted from the arena.”
Kamo climbed over the wall’s edge and ran down the sloping ground to the balance beam. Fiona was ahead of her, and Phabian passed her before she got to the beam. Fiona moved quickly with nimble limbs. Phabian slowed when he got to the beam, extending his arms to balance. Elesun threw another fireball right in front of him. Phabian stumbled but didn’t fall. Another shot exploded near the rock wall.
“Don’t worry,” Elesun shouted again, “I won’t keep this up the whole time. It’s just a bit of motivation to get you started, and then if I see anyone in need of more motivation, I will happily oblige.”
Kamo was on the track now, with Fiona much farther ahead. Phabian was quick, but Fiona was uncatchable. As Kamo finished running the length of the arena, Fiona reached the pond and began to swing across the bars above it. Kamo could tell that her arms weren’t as toned, and she struggled to get to the edge of the pond. Phabian, on the other hand, was quick at the pond and almost caught up to Fiona by the time they started at the rock wall again. Kamo crossed the pond quickly and started on the wall just behind Phabian and Fiona. The other challengers galloped loudly behind her. Elesun sent a fireball to the track, to her right, and the youngest elf tripped and fell when he was startled by the flames.
Get up. You can get up from a fall.
As if the elf had heard her, he stood from the ground and continued to run. Sweat dripped on his brow, and exhaustion was written across his face.
Her palms sweat as she climbed the wall, and she was breathing harder. At the very top, she lost her grip for just a moment and paused to regain her hand hold. A flame landed next to her right foot. She pulled herself over the wall and ran to the beam. She could only vaguely see where the other competitors were now. Fiona and Phabian were on each other’s heels in front of her. She could hear Raz and Gilna struggling at the wall. Secora and Romi were both finishing the track. She couldn’t see the youngest elf who had fallen from the beam or the tall elf woman.
“Cassie, you disappoint me,” Elesun shouted from the stands, “you may exit the arena.”
“One down,” Kamo whispered as she jumped down from the beam.
The minutes flew by almost without a single interruption from Elesun’s motivating magic. Kamo looked up occasionally to see more spectators entering the arena stands.
“Valiant effort, Olan, you are excused,” Elesun shouted again, and Kamo watched the youngest elf drop from the swinging bars into the puddle. He sat there for a moment and caught his breath before following Cassie out of the arena.
Two down.
Just as in practice, whenever Kamo caught a glimpse of Fiona, she looked as though she hadn’t broken a sweat. Phabian was glistening, but he didn’t seem to slow at all. Raz, Gilna, and Secora looked a little worse for wear. Romi looked as though she would drop at any moment. Kamo watched her stumble on the track, and Elesun’s fire was right behind her.
“Aargh,” she cried, brushing the backs of her legs. She twirled in a circle, and her legs had black smudges where her tunic had burned away.
“Romi, you may exit.”
She gave a little pout and limped out the door.
Three.
Kamo had run the track at least ten times. She was concentrating on her climb when she heard Elesun instruct another competitor to leave. As she reached the top, she looked down to see the tall, broad-backed man brushing ash off of his shoulder.
Four.
Kamo crossed the beam, Phabian and Fiona were on the track. Gilna was crossing the pond. She reached her left hand and missed the bar. She was hanging, and Kamo waited for Elesun’s shouts.
Five.
Kamo ran the track and reached the pond. Her arms were exhausted. There were five bars to cross. She held the first, the second. Her right arm slipped and caught hold of the second bar again. She saw the fire aimed at her head and instinctively released the bar with her left hand to cover her face. Water trickled on her head before she saw it. The pond had risen with her arm and acted as a shield to cover her face. She dropped the water as quickly as she could and let go of the bars to fall to the water below. She scrambled to her feet and began the bars again. She chanced a look at the stands. Gobi, Rolin, and Serenne looked panicked. She looked at Elesun. He was staring at her.
“A close recovery, Miss Linema,” he shouted, “you may stay.”
He continued to stare at her as she climbed the wall. She could feel his eyes until she heard a splash from the puddle and knew that someone had fallen just as she had.
Get up. I did.
“Secora, you may go.”
Six.
It was Fiona, Phabian, and Raz. Fiona and Phabian were on the track. Kamo had just seen Raz join her on the wall. She was nearing the top when she felt the familiar tickle of flames at her feet. Concentrating on her grip and the rock beneath her, she climbed.
“Interesting tactic, Erasmus, but unfortunately, it is not your job to act as motivation for your competition,” Elesun shouted. “You are disqualified and dismissed.”
Raz looked as though he would argue, but Elesun sent a flaming white ball at his head.
“Fine,” Raz shouted as he jumped from the wall.
Two left. Just Fiona and Phabian.
She crossed the beam. Ran the track. Crossed the pond. Climbed. Ran. Crossed. Her legs ached, and her arms screamed for rest. Fiona had slowed and now looked as though she was on a leisurely stroll, but she was still moving. Phabian only paused at the beam. Kamo didn’t see how he could keep going. Sweat drenched his tunic.
“You are all doing very well,” Elesun called. “We will now reverse direction. You will turn, cross the beam and the pond in the other direction, and climb down the wall. There will, however, be no need to run backward.”
Elesun’s instruction earned a quiet chuckle from the crowds in the stands.
Kamo was in the middle of the beam and tried to turn quickly. She swayed as her weight transferred between her feet but righted herself and jumped down. Phabian had been crossing the pond. It would be harder for him to switch
without stopping. Fiona had been running the track. She changed directions easily.
As Kamo climbed down the wall, she caught a glimpse of Fiona at the top.
“I guess you’re not doing too badly after all,” Fiona called to her, slightly breathless. “Who did you train with?”
Kamo smiled for the first time since the challenge began.
“His name is Sheelo,” she cried. “If you think Elesun is motivating, you should see Sheelo’s choice of punishment.”
Fiona laughed. “I’m not sure I’ve heard a worse punishment than being lit on fire, but I guess I’ll have to take your word for it.”
Kamo reached the bottom and headed for the pond. Fiona was on her heels. As she got on the first bar, Fiona spoke again.
“That was some impressive magic last time you were over the pond,” she said, “I’ve never seen nature’s magic. Well, until yesterday.”
Kamo almost lost her grip. “You saw that?” she whispered.
“I was at the top of the wall,” Fiona said, “it was like the water just came to your aid.”
Kamo tried not to panic. She tried to think of some explanation. “Serenne taught me,” she said finally, “he did the Ring of Fire yesterday. He’s been, well,” she made her last swing over the pond, “my tutor, of sorts.”
“He taught you well.”
Kamo jumped onto the beam, hopeful that Fiona would let that be the end of the conversation.
They had gone on in reverse order for some minutes when a flash of fire seared the beam.
“Fiona, you must pay better attention to your footing,” Elesun called, “you are safe, for now.”
They ran and climbed and balanced. At one point, Kamo could have sworn that Phabian was trying to get her attention, but she didn’t dare slow down to catch his eye.
“You may stop.”
Elesun’s voice rang clearly through the air, and Kamo dropped to the ground on the track where she had been running. Someone splashed into the pond.
“The three of you have completed the second traditional task. Congratulations!”
Kamo smiled. Her body felt heavy and limp as the guards ran up to her with water and bread.
“The final challenge will take place in one hour,” Elesun shouted, “I suggest you get as much rest and nourishment as you can until then.”
Kamo didn’t bother standing up.
One hour? How is anyone supposed to recover in one hour?
Rolin, Gobi, and Serenne rushed down from the stands.
“Are you all right?” Rolin was pushing guards out of the way to get to her. He kneeled and pressed his hand on her forehead.
“I’m fine,” she said, “just a little tired.”
“Can you believe we only have an hour?” Phabian was pushing through the guards as well, followed by Fiona.
“I guess it’s part of the mental challenge,” Kamo said. She pushed herself off the ground, and Rolin stood up and offered his hand.
“Thank you,” she said as she leaned on him.
“I knew Elesun must have something more up his sleeve,” Fiona said from behind Phabian, “They’ve never held the challenges so close together before.”
Elesun sidled up to the group.
“And we shall not do so again,” he said, “but the king was eager to speed the process for this particular festival.”
Phabian, Fiona, and Serenne bowed slightly as he spoke. Rolin, Gobi, and Kamo quickly followed.
“Miss Linema, a word, if you will be so kind as to follow me.” He beckoned her into the doorway of the side room where the competitors had waited to begin. Once there, his dark eyes turned to her.
“Is there something you would like to share with me, Miss Linema?” he whispered. He stared at her. Kamo expected to see his hungry eyes piercing hers, but without an audience, he seemed different. He seemed genuine. It was as if the macabre facade had melted into the shadows and he lifted the mask of drama. His kind eyes and soft expression calmed her mind.
“No,” she whispered back, “why would there be?”
“It’s not every day you see a Fire elf wield water instead of fire, and yet, you did.”
Kamo laughed nervously. “Oh, that?” she said, “I told Fiona, it’s just a bit of nature’s magic. Serenne has been teaching me.”
He stared at her once more. “If you insist. But I will warn you that certain members of the royal family will be in attendance tonight, and they will be far more likely to recognize your magic for what it is. I suggest you rein in this nature’s magic and focus on the Fire in your bones.”
Kamo swallowed and nodded. Elesun turned from her without another word, and Kamo watched his billowing cloak as he left the arena.
As she approached the crowd, Serenne pulled her aside.
“What did he want?” he asked.
“I think he was trying to warn me,” she said, pulling her hair out of a bun. “He saw what I did with the pond.”
“I’m afraid a lot of people saw that,” Serenne said. “What was the warning?”
Kamo shook her head and gathered her hair back into a neater, tighter bun.
“That members of the royal family would recognize that magic for what it was and that I shouldn’t try to pass it off as anything else.”
Serenne’s cheeks turned white. “He’s more knowledgeable than I thought,” he said slowly. “You would be wise to heed his warning.”
Rolin and Gobi joined them.
“Nice chat?” Gobi asked, “He didn’t happen to see you with the pond, did he?” His voice was light, and he was smiling, but he had his eyes fixed on her.
“As a matter of fact—“
“Brilliant that,” Phabian joined them as well. “Fiona said that this gentleman,” he pointed at Serenne, “has been tutoring you in nature’s magic. I must say, I wouldn’t mind some of that tutoring myself.”
Serenne bowed. “I am afraid my skills are rudimentary at best,” he replied. “Miss Linema has mastered those skills with sheer talent, not by virtue of my teaching.”
Kamo rushed to change the subject. “It was just luck on my part,” she waved her hand, “I could have slipped just as easily instead. In any case, the challenge is over. I’m sure that you and Fiona would like a chance to sit and rest before the last one, just as much as I would.”
“Come on, Phabian,” Fiona grabbed his hand, “we should go talk to Gilna and Raz. I’m sure they’ll want to whine to someone about how unfair this whole thing was. Kia,” she turned to Kamo before they left, “Good luck in the last challenge. I was wrong about you.”
“You too.”
Fiona and Phabian walked out of the arena. Rolin watched them as they walked away.
“Sort of an odd couple, don’t you think?” he said.
“They’re competitive,” Kamo said, “there’s nothing wrong with that. Anyway, I can’t be worried about them. What am I supposed to do about Elesun?”
She recounted to Gobi and Rolin what he said to her in the doorway, how his demeanor had changed.
“Why would he warn you?” Gobi asked. “Why act like a dramatic, sinister man in the spotlight, and show concern around no one else?”
“I have no idea,” Kamo said. “And if the king wants me dead, and he knows who I am, why warn me not to show the king? Why not just bring me to the king himself?”
“Perhaps his show is for the king,” Rolin said quietly. “Didn’t Pacha say to earn his trust? Didn’t she say he’s the one who would help us unravel this whole mess?”
“So his facade is to keep the king’s trust?” Gobi asked.
“Or,” Serenne said, “he is a brilliant actor, and he wears his true colors on stage and gives a very convincing performance one on one with Kamo.”
“To what end?” Kamo asked. “I don’t see how his warning could be for anything but my benefit.”
“I don’t either, as of yet, but things aren’t always as they seem. Heed Elesun’s advice, but I wouldn’t count him as a friend,” Se
renne said.
The arena stands were filling fast as they stood on the floor and talked.
“You’d better go back and get your seats,” Kamo said, “I think the king will be here soon to watch the last of it.”
Gobi hugged her. “Be careful,” he said before returning to his seat. Serenne shook her hand. He started to speak but then shook his head and left in silence.
“You’re almost finished,” Rolin said. He kissed her hand and then her forehead. “You can do it, love.”
Kamo smiled and squeezed his hand. “Thank you.”
As she watched Rolin make his way up the stands, Fiona and Phabian joined her on the arena floor once again.
“He must be one of a kind,” Fiona said, nudging her arm. “You don’t strike me as the dewy-eyed type, but he has you weak at the knees.”
Kamo blushed. “He certainly is,” she replied, “I just hope one day I can help him the same way he’s helping me today.”
“You mean, help him take on two of the world’s most powerful Fire elves in a fight for victory and honor?” Phabian said.
“Something like that.”
Kamo sat with Fiona and Phabian as guards brought them more water and bread. A short time later, a trumpet sounded, announcing the arrival of the king. He and the queen and prince entered the arena, and everyone bowed low to the earth as they walked to the center of the stands, Elesun just behind them. The king sat on the arena’s makeshift throne and gestured for Elesun to begin the challenge.
“Welcome! Welcome, my friends!” he bellowed as the crowd roared in excitement. “I am pleased to present to his highness our final three competitors: Kia house of Linema, Fiona, house of Alessi, and Phabian, house of Arani.”
The audience applauded and cheered. The royal family clapped softly, their faces set in soft smiles.
“Yes, well done to each challenger,” Elesun said. He cleared his throat. “Before we commence with the final challenge, I’m afraid we must make a slight change to its structure.” He gestured to the arena floor, and a bonfire appeared just as the gates appeared in the forest as if cloaked, just waiting to be revealed. “This was to be a stake,” Elesun continued, “Our competitors were to rescue those they care about most from the fire.”
The Last of the Sea Elves Page 26