“Any minute…” I whisper, voice trembling. I swallow, but the lump inside my throat isn't budging, no matter how many times I try to force it down. Showing weakness is not an option.
I question the Gods, wondering why me? Why would they choose me to go through these trials, be forced not to love the man I do, and to have my parents ripped away from me?
What have I done to deserve this?
What have the Realms done to deserve the games besides the war?
My eyes burn as I look up into the crystal-blue sky that is beginning to fade to a charcoal gray. The white clouds are transitioning into a midnight black. They twist and roll like the waves that crashed against the cliff sides back home. The thunder claps loudly and rumbles through the sky. My shoulders roll as I stretch my neck side to side.
Slowly. Deliberately.
My body aches. A weak feeling flushes through me as I catch my fall with my right foot, the rocks slipping underneath myfeet, threatening to throw me off balance. But I catch myself just in time for anyone to notice.
I cannot panic right now.
My dry lips part for a second, my tongue gliding along the dead skin that peels off my bottom lip as I inhale the smoky air.
Maybe I should have eaten.
Rocks begin to fall against the arena. I squint my eyes as I lock onto the cage that begins to sluggishly rise from the far edge of the stadium floor.
Damn it. It’s almost time. I know that somewhere within that structure is a divine horse, one of the four, that I must face.
The next step in the battle games that I have been thrown into.
Tossed into them without a say. They own me. The Queen, Lykia, Skie… my life now rests in their hands.
One day, their life shall rest in mine.
But until then,I’ll play their little games.
My teeth grind with the thought of riding one.
Nausea runs up my throat, burning the insides of my body, and I squeeze my eyes shut.
Thoughts flood my mind of the time I tried riding the mechanical bulls at the local pub back in hiding. Alice would hold on for seconds longer than Tilly, but I, on the other hand, would fall the minute the ride started. I cannot recall if the eyes of those who watched my every move made my stomach twist into knots, or if the sweat between my palms made it hard for me to hold on.
But if I cannot ride a fake object controlled by a man in a booth chugging a cold beer, how the hell do I expect myself to ride one of their beasts?
Damn, how I wish I could go back to before I knew the truth of everything. Now I understand, touching the stones has always been my purpose. It has always been my path. Even if I don’t want it to be. The Gods chose me.
My throat begins to beg for water while my skin soaks the sweat that sprinkles down my body like a current. The nerves have kicked in. There is no running from this.
However, thoughts of which one awaits me behind the metal bars race through my mind.
Theice, thefire, or theair, as we are nowhere near the ocean for the one thatswims.
The cage rattles as the unknown behind its bars roars, snapping me back into survival mode. I can feel the vibrations in my feet start to rattle up into my spine. My heart thuds in my chest, almost in sync with the creature's low guttural sounds that travel to my ears. My hands clench into fists repeatedly, in sync with my rapid breathing. Nerves are rushing through my veins like wildfire.
My mind is racing with thoughts of what will happen once that gate is lifted.
Will they let me die?
Do they want me to die?
The crowd above is watching me intently, their eyes glued on me. Just like those from the bar.
They swarm around me in the stands like predators ready to pounce.Hundreds of them.Most in battle gear, midnight-black, leather suits with multicolored stones along their arms. I remember them, those are the warriors of the Realm. I recall Father working with them, especially when it came to protecting Tilly and I.
