by J. M. Kearl
Now it was my turn to go. Papa patted me on the back and then nodded toward the opening. “You will do great. Go.”
I jogged onto the arena floor and my head swiveled as the cheers erupted. Raising my sword high, the crowd grew louder. I could totally get used to this. Competitors aren’t allowed to see their opponent beforehand, and as the tournament progressed it changed based off the winners and losers.
So as I stood there in the intoxication of the roar of the crowd, I had no idea who I would face. The doors on the opposite end pulled inward and my opponent emerged. Once he cleared from the shadows, the dark blond hair, tanned skin and brown eyes struck me. I was about to fight Aramis.
Chapter 27
Madison waited in the center for us to join her to go over the rules. I slowly walked. I’d known he would fight but I didn’t think it would be against me. Madison had probably done this on purpose. She knew Lora was my good friend. I clenched my jaw; it doesn’t matter. Win.
“Hey, Princess,” Aramis said a small smile curling at the side of his mouth.
Madison shot Aramis a glare. “No talking. We’re not here to make nice. Save that for later. Now,” she looked between the both of us. “No dark magic. Fight until your opponent surrenders or is no longer capable of fighting back or until I stop you. Understood?”
“Yes,” I said in a calm, even voice but on the inside nervousness crashed around in my gut.
My vision narrowed as we both stepped back. Tunnel Vision I’d heard people say before. The crowd quieted in my mind as I focused on winning. I wouldn’t allow anything, not Lora, not Aramis’s and my new friendship, nothing would get in my way.
Madison vanished and the thrum of magic in me soared. I threw up my shield and at once launched a ball of energy at him. He dove and it exploded on the wall behind him. With lightning speed he was in front of me, sword crashing down. I blocked it and sent my magic into my weapon; white light grew and blasted him back when our swords hit again. Aramis launched through the air like a rag doll and rolled several times.
Without pause he was back at me, magic flying, swords ringing, hitting so hard once it reverberated up my arm with a zing.
Snow swirled around us as I pelted him with a blizzard. It didn’t faze him as much as I thought it would, so I switched to fire. His shield held up remarkably well as flames blazed around him.
Catching our breath, the two of us circled each other. What he didn’t know was that my magic wouldn’t run out like other magic-born, like he would.
“You’re powerful,” he said through heavy breaths. “Amazingly so.”
“You’re alright,” I teased.
I threw a magical rope; it wrapped around his legs and then I charged. Cling, clang, ping, clashing swords, the rope had barely slowed him down. One really hard whack sent my weapon flying. Taking advantage, he swung, I dodged but his blade sliced into my thigh.
I slammed my hand over the deep wound and blood flowed out between my fingers. Dragon’s fire that hurts.
Aramis’s eyes fell to the blood dripping onto the arena floor. Entranced for only a moment but it was long enough for me to make a move. I grabbed my dagger, with a magical assist I flipped over his head, and sliced, cutting into the outside of his wrist so he’d drop his sword.
With blood oozing down my leg, and over his hand, we watched for the other’s next move.
The crowd began to chant, “Princess! Princess! Princess!”
I had to win. I let my magic build, my skin warmed, lightning zipped from my hands. Massive blueish white bolts slammed into Aramis’s shield, pushing him back, until he hit the wall. I gritted my teeth as the magic grew to a level I almost couldn’t control. Hold, hold!
“I surrender!” Aramis shouted.
I clamped my hands, stopping the flow of magic and Aramis dropped to his knees. The crowd boomed and chanted, “Princess! Princess! Princess!”
Madison appeared next to me and raised my fist into the air.
As I limped out of the arena, I caught my parents waving at me from above. Victory!
Chapter 28
After taking a shot of healing potion that my Papa gave me the moment I exited the arena, Legacy, Taz, Zyacus, and Aric crashed into the room.
“That was amazing!” Legacy squealed.
“Wahoo!” Taz howled. Reaching me first, he squeezed my shoulders and shook me. “You’re Tournament Champion!”
“I am?” I blinked in confusion. “I thought I’d have to fight at least another round.”
“Aramis was the finalist and Madison waited to have you fight until the very end,” Zyacus said, hitting me on the back. “You weren’t even on the roster so it was a surprise for everyone. Well except us. The crowd loved it too.”
I frowned. “So he’d fought previously and I was fresh. That’s not entirely even.”
Aric stepped up. “His other match only lasted about five seconds. He wasn’t tired.”
Zyacus wrapped his arms around me, lifting off the ground in a crushing hug. “You’re wonderful.”
We waited in the contender’s room while most of the students cleared out of the arena. “We should go find Lora and Aramis.” I peeked out the door to see if it was clear. “I want to tell him he fought well.”
I didn’t have to look far; Aramis stood with Lora talking to my parents. I hurried into the hall, waving at them.
My father beamed. “Wow, great performance tonight, my dear. All our training paid off.”
Mother wrapped me in a hug and gave my arms a squeeze. “We’re so proud of you.”
“Thank you.” I grinned and held out my hand to Aramis. “Good job tonight.”
He gripped my forearm. “Same to you.”
My friends joined and we chatted for a while the whole time my mind drifted. Tonight was the night I had to make a decision. Helios would be here to make a bargain, if he weren’t already.
I felt guilty for not telling my parents what was going on but I was scared they’d try to take my mother. She was incredibly gifted and beautiful, even if she were already married, I didn’t see that mattering to them. It was all about power. And even if that didn’t occur, they’d never allow me to make a deal to save our people, not at the cost of my freedom.
“We need to get going but we’re so glad we could be here,” Father said and hugged me tightly. “I love you. Keep up the great work.”
My mother pulled me in her arms one more time. “Yesterday, your Papa told me about the fight you had with the Wargon Trolls on day one. I wasn’t happy about it. I didn’t approve that,” she said and pulled back to look me in the eyes. “But I am glad you did well. I’ll be having a discussion with the Headmaster.”
“Although we fared well, and the challenge was actually great, I thought it was odd that you’d approve of that since we’re not seventh years. The professors acted like you knew.”
She shook her head. “I guess it doesn’t matter at this point, but I will make sure that nothing like that happens again. I love you so much. It would kill me to lose you.”
Guilt hit me like a punch. I knew it would hurt them for me to go. When I waved goodbye to them, my throat tightened. I miss them. I missed the days of my parents being able to solve everything, when my problems were much smaller.
“I’m going to see some friends. See you all later,” Aramis said and headed off.
“We should go see if they’re here,” Zyacus whispered in my ear. I nodded and our group walked the halls toward the outside.
I caught sight of the Hazelvale brothers outside a window, standing on the patio with a third light-haired male next to them.
Sweat beading on my back, I turned to my friends. It was time. “I need to go talk with someone. I’ll see you guys later.”
Before I even made it two steps Zyacus, Aric and Taz blocked my way. Lora and Legacy looked at each other confused.
“We all decided,” Zyacus said, resting a hand on his belt. “If you go, the three of us are going too.”
I didn’t need all of them risking their lives when it only needed to be me. “No, it’s too dangerous.”
Taz chortled. “That’s exactly why we’re going with you.”
My eyes filled with tears. I truly had amazing friends. I didn’t want them to join me and yet for my own selfish reasons I wanted them to come more.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Legacy said, folding her arms.
“And what’s too dangerous?” Lora added.
“It’s a lot to explain,” I said with a sigh. “I’ll tell you later but whatever you do, don’t volunteer.”
“This sounds dangerous,” Legacy said.
“Indeed.” My group of friends and I walked into the night air to make a deal with the Fae.
Firo smiled upon seeing us and bent into a shallow bow. “Highnesses, meet Helios, Prince of the Summer Court.”
He was exactly like I remembered him and resembled Firo as I suspected. Gold blond hair, pointed ears, slender but strong build. A perfect, angular face that could never be human.
“Good evening.” His voice had an otherworldly presence to it as well, like the Winter Prince. “Firo has brought me up to date with everything. I must warn you that time is something we don’t have a lot of. But a way to stop the Winter Court from completing their ritual is something we do have. If you vow to come to faerie and kill the Winter King as the prophecy says, I will ensure the ritual doesn’t come to fruition.”
I’d thought it over and Nimblewatt seemed to think their control was linked to food and drink, and people in our land would be getting desperate for both if they weren’t already with the famine. The poor folk here had scarce enough to last days let alone weeks. The Winter Court would ride in proclaiming themselves saviors, and who would believe the warning of a few who had no proof? Desperate people do desperate things.
I had no choice. I had to accept the offer.
A warm pulse of magic hung in the air. I had a feeling any deal I made with them would be bound by magic. Something neither side would be able to back out of without serious consequences. I’d heard rumors of broken deals. One woman had been immediately struck dead the moment she broke the agreement. Another one suddenly fell ill with a sickness no magic could heal. My own mother had broken a deal and her beloved horse died in her place. A young man of eighteen went back on his deal and withered to an old man with a weathered, wrinkled face and a hunched back. He lived out the rest of his days that way.
If I made a deal, I couldn’t go back on it.
“She only goes if I go,” Zyacus said.
“And I,” Aric and Taz added together.
Legacy and Lora both stayed quiet but the worry in my cousin’s eyes told me she was considering making an offer too. I hoped she didn’t. “First,” I blurted. “This is a magical deal. I need specifics. I add to the deal that our service will be fulfilled when the Winter King is dead or the Winter Court falls, and all of us will be provided a way to return to our own realm. You must state that you as a representative of Summer Court agree to these terms and that the Summer Court Fae will stop the faerie blood moon rituals, rituals of taking human brides and stealing magic, or there is no deal.”
Nausea swelled inside of me. I couldn’t help but feel this was wrong. Even if everything were true, the Winter King had to be thousands of years old, no one had ever been able to kill him. This deal could trap us all in faerie for the rest of our lives, and I wondered at how long that might be.
With a curt nod, Helios said, “We have a deal.”
The magic pulsed through me and I knew there was no backing out now.
“How can you stop the ritual?” I asked, realizing I should have inquired this sooner.
Helios smiled. “The rituals cannot take place without the agreement of all faerie courts. All of our combined magic must be present. When we withdraw there is no ritual.”
“That’s it?” Zyacus asked skeptically. “There’s no fight? No end of the world type battle? You simply don’t participate.”
“Oh there will definitely be a battle,” Helios said but didn’t look worried. “But it will happen after the blood moon has passed. This realm will be spared.”
This realm would be spared. Relief flooded me. Our people, my people wouldn’t be stolen away and murdered. My parents wouldn’t be forced to fight a war with the Fae.
“I’ll be back to collect on our bargain in eight days,” Helios said. “You know there are consequences if you flee when my end of the deal is held up.”
“I’ll be here.”
With a wave of Helios’s hand a glowing orange portal appeared, and he disappeared into it.
I looked long and hard at each of the boys. But they wouldn’t be spared. All of us would fight in a war, and holy unicorn, I should have never allowed them to vow their service. I may be prophesied to kill the Winter King but it didn’t say I would survive it.
When we walked away from the Hazelvales, they almost looked remorseful. Like a child who’s done something bad and knows they’re about to get caught. Maybe they thought the bargain we made with Helios was impossible too.
Legacy suddenly whirled on all of us and shoved me so hard, Zyacus had to catch me before I fell.
“How dare you make an unbelievable bargain like that! Your parents will never allow it. Especially when you’re taking them down with you?” She threw her hand at the boys.
I straightened, clenching my teeth and held my fists at my sides. “You don’t understand. It had to be done. My part, anyway.”
“And don’t get mad at her for us,” Zyacus barked. “I’m a big boy, the decision is my own.”
“She didn’t even want us to go,” Taz added.
Aric’s mouth twisted into a frown. “When we met with the Hazelvales it was to get answers; we didn’t expect what became of that meeting.”
Tears fell down her cheeks. “All of you knew about this except for me!”
And there it was, the real reason for her hurt. I hadn’t told her or Lora about this choice I had to make. “I didn’t want you to feel forced into going. I knew if I told you before you’d feel obligated to go. I want you to stay. I want you to be safe,” I said softly. “The fewer people that knew the better.”
“I hate all of you!” Legacy bellowed and took off running.
I took a step to chase after her but Lora’s small hand stopped me. “Don’t. She’ll get it. I understand why you made the deal. You’re the royals, sacrifice for your people is in your blood.” A small smile formed on her face. “And Taz is just a really loyal friend.”
Taz grinned. “I am. And why didn’t you volunteer?”
Lora laughed. “Not that I’m unloyal, but my parents would die if I left to an unknown foreign land without their permission.”
“We understand, Lora.” I knew the feeling. My parents would tear apart the realms to find me. I’d leave them an explanation and hoped they accepted my choice. Both of them would have made the same decision as me. But dragon’s breath, King Enden will be raging at me for taking away his eldest son and heir. And Aric’s mother, Kyria, with her temper, could threaten a war.
Chapter 29
After spending all morning asking the cats if they’d seen Atticus, and none had, I ran to my room. I hadn’t seen Legacy since the night before when she ran away angry at all of us. I was going to ask her if she wanted to help look for our cat. He’d been missing too long for me to ignore.
Before classes started, I sat on the floor with a map of the entire continent spread out. I found a piece of his hair and set it on top of the map. I chanted the location spell and waited for the hair to move. It lifted into the air, hovering above the map and stayed there. What does that mean? I’d never had that happen before. Is he not on this continent? If he were dead I don’t think it would have moved at all.
I didn’t know what else to do so I dashed out onto the sparring grounds to find my grandmother, Madison. Standing with h
er arms folded she watched two girls slam swords over and over. She turned to me, putting a hand on her hip. “What are you doing here? You should be in your first class.”
“Atticus is gone. I asked him to find out about that stupid Fae prince and it’s been over a week. I just did a location spell over the entire continent and didn’t find him.”
“It didn’t move?”
“It floated above where I’d set it down at the edge of the map.”
Madison turned her gaze back toward the fighting girls. “Cats can hide themselves from locator magic. It’s also possible someone could be hiding him. He could be around kirune which would interfere with the spell or—”
“He’s not dead is he?”
Looking at me with her rigid lavender gaze she said, “It’s a possibility. The hair lifting off the map could signify his spirit has risen. But I don’t know.”
No. “So there’s nothing I can do to find out for sure?” I asked.
“You could try a scrying spell. Have you done one before?”
“It was discussed the other day in class but we didn’t test the spell. I know I’ll need a bowl and water.”
“And something that belongs to Atticus.” Madison’s face softened. “Have there been any more incidents I need to know about?”
I shook my head hoping she didn’t hear the lie that was about to come out of my mouth. “Not since outside the academy.”
Madison whistled as the girls’ sparring match went beyond practice and blood trickled from noses and cuts. “Enough! Next up.”
The girls immediately separated and two others stepped into the sparring circle.
After a moment of silence passed between us, Madison pulled me a little further away from the students. “I had a dream.”
I swallowed hard. Madison’s prophetic dreams were never good.
She continued. “I saw you standing beside a cage of thorns with your crown inside.” She looked atop my head as if hoping to see it there. “When you took it from the cage, the vines melted and the Fae man you described appeared. He told you to put it on your head. Told you that with it would come great power. Power you can’t otherwise have.” Madison sighed. “I know that man is evil. I can feel it. Stay away from that crown, Visteal. Stay away from him.”