Dryden nods his head, a silent gesture of “good luck.” As if he believes I need it.
Maybe I do.
I glance away and see Kaine and Theon striding towards me, both with braids slicked back.
“You good?” Kaine comes up to me, pausing mid way as he goes to touch my shoulder. “Do we know if someone touchesyouthey will burn? Or does it have to be by your hands?”
“Kaine, I don’t know,” I hiss, glancing around the room. “But truthfully, I don’t want to find out. My goal is not to killmore people.”
“That’s fair.” He tucks his hands into his pockets, glancing towards Theon who rips apart a large meat leg as if he hasn’t eaten in weeks. “Did you save some for the rest of us?”
Theon glares an unphased expression towards Kaine. “You might want to grab one before they are gone. I had five.”
“Damn, Theon,” I breathe out, shaking my head as I cross my arms.
“What? I need to fuel the energy inside me for the ride.” Theon rips apart the meat. “You should get one as well.” He says with a mouth full.
“I’m good. I don’t have an appetite after what happened earlier.” I swallow, glancing away and catching Koen already staring at me. Instantly, I snap my eyes away, avoiding him at all costs.
We both know the truth, while everyone else doesn’t. Will the Realms go to war if they find out I am the last Deskyiara? Or will my sister do everything in her power to kill me before that happens?
“We’ll see you in line.” Kaine gently smiles. “Show them who you are out there.”
I nod and watch the two of them head towards the round, wooden table with a few meat legs left.
My chin lifts high, closing my eyes for a split moment as my thighs radiate with pain. The hours practicing on a wooden horse, catching it on fire repeatedly, has made my legs weak and exhausted.
Gods, be with me out there.
A few men walk past me, tiptoeing around me with fear in their eyes. I remember when I entered this place, they all wanted me dead. They spat at my feet, put daggers against my back, and now, they avoid me like a plague.
I don’t mind.
They mutter under their breath, casting glances towards me as they line up to head out to the pit. My eyes roll, knowing what they think of me is not important. But riding the horse the Queen chooses for me is.
And if it is the fire horse, she either has lied to me and wants me dead, or she thinks I can do it.
Unsure which.
“Remember what I taught you.”
Koen.
“Trust me, I remember everything.” I straighten my back, checking my daggers that are across my chest and waist, securing each one tightly. “I thought we promised to avoid one another? Leave before I turn around and scorch you before you have the chance to step foot out there.”
“If one of them tries to kill you, stab it in the neck.” He clears his throat, standing right behind me, pointedly ignoring what I said.
“And if Dryden catches you near me, don’t you think he is going to run off to his sister?” My eyes lock ahead of the darktunnel where golden lights from the outside flicker in. “Go,” I violently hiss, my throat fueling with anger.
“There is so much you don’t know,” he breathes out, his breath beating against my exposed neck.
“And you had plenty of time to tell me, yet you chose not to. This is on you. Not me.”
“I was protecting you.”
“I never asked for your protection. Quit lying to yourself. As you told Florian, I can handle myself.”
“This is different.” His drops to a whisper.
