A violent shiver flushes down my spine. As I turn to face him, he is already gone. Within seconds.
The troubled screams of the men reverberate through our chamber, bouncing off the shadowy walls with a haunting persistence. Fire flickers with each painful plea from the men as if their last moments are singing in the wind, gusting through the tunnel and into the room. The fearsome roars of the dragons outside and crackling of their fire bellows through and pierces our dormitory, the deafening echoes causing my ears to throb in pain.
I can hear those who watch, cheer, which sickens me. They take joy in watching men fight in a battle they don’t stand a chance to win. The tunnel glows with a blazing red hue, flames dancing through as the room we're in starts to heat up like an oven. The guards twist their bodies, shielding their heads, while the guard at the entrance shouts, “take cover!”
In an instant, I throw myself to the ground next to some of the men, clenching my eyes shut as the room begins to boil. My hands cover my head as I bury my face into my arms.It’s scorchingas the room fills with fire. I can hear the crackling and popping sounds, but also sounds of men screaming and wincing in pain. My chest heaves, sucking in the hot air. Every second, my lips shake, and I make myself deeply exhale.
The thud of boots hitting against the ground and the clinking of armor grows louder, resonating through the air filled with a deadly silence. I slowly lower my trembling arms and squint through the smoke-filled haze, my eyes burning but I force themwide, checking if the flames have finally vanished. My heart pounds as I search for any lingering embers or flames that might still dance across the ceiling, but all I see is ash trickling down like snow.
But as my eyes frantically scan the room, I catch sight of the charred bones, sizzling smoke and swirling ash, in the archway entrance. The guard,scorched alive.I notice the other men who wait to fight, their cheeks burned by the fire, boils along their arms as their suits are charred from the flames.
Even though they groan in agony, they still grip their daggers, waiting to fight.
I envy their strength, and I pray to their Gods here that I can be strong like the men around me. I will make myself strong. As I watch them stand to their feet, I do as well, dusting off the ash that has fallen on my shoulders, when movement comes from the doorway.
A man, his suit ripped apart almost into shreds, supports another. His arm is wrapped around the other's shoulder as they limp through the doorway. The sight of his silverish hair makes my heart pause, but as they walk through, I realize it isn't Theon.
My breath seizes inside me as another guard takes position, grabbing the scroll the other guard must have thrown to the side, knowing he was going to be burned alive. “The first round has concluded, and the survivors are currently making their way back.”
Two have walked through. Unsure if the one might survive due to his charcoaled skin that covers his left side. If he is a Royal, he could heal in the water of Vitaei. Another walks through, his raven skin untouched. His suit is still perfectly put together. Dryden walks up to him, gripping his shoulder, a proud grin spreading along his lips.
Three. I have only seen three men walk through. Where the hell are Kaine and Theon? I also have yet to see Skydance. Which, if he burned, he deserved it.
My knee bounces, and I raise my trembling hand to my lips as I frantically scan the doorway.Come on. Where are you two?
Another limps in. It's the man with the auburn beard—his thigh is scorched, and I catch sight of the muscle and bone that sticks through his fresh wound.
“Take these men to the Pyre sanctuary for healing.” The guard barks orders at a few of the other guards who stand attention.
As those who need healing begin to leave, the guard yanks the scroll open to read the names of those who will fight next.Wait. No.I weave my way through the crowd, forcing my way past men whose broad, rigid bodies barely budge as I maneuver around them.
“Are there any more survivors!” My cry echoes in the chamber. I stand firm with a heaving chest in the center of the rows of the guards. The men who wait for their names stand behind me, whispering to each other.
I know Koen watches from afar. He can have his eyes glued to me all he wants, but this isn’t about him, this is about Theon and Kaine. They cannot be dead. I will not survive without them.
The guard grunts as if disturbed by my question. “Those who survived walk through the tunnel. If there are any other survivors, they might not have the ability to walk, which means they will die anyway.”
My eyes burn, the ground filled with powders of ash as I stride forward. “Let me go look. Before you call more names. I need to see for myself if any others survived.”
“That’s not how this works.” He picks up the scroll, hiding his face from me.
“I don't give a damn if this isn't how you do things,” I declare, storming up to him with a defiant blaze in my eyes. “I'm headingout there right now. It doesn't matter if I'm not part of this group to fight or not, you cannot stop me from leaving.”
The guard steps to the side, his hand gesturing out for me to pass as the bones rattle against the ground from his boot kicking them on accident. “Your death wish, not mine,woman.”
My lips form a wicked grin, and I feel a burning desire to drag his body out there to fight with us, to let him burn. But as I go up to him, I feel the stone begin to scorch my arm. As if it's forcing me to not engage with his comment. I clench my jaw. “You’ll see me here soon, when I walk back through that tunnel…untouched.”
Chapter 24
“The map is only seen with a hunter's eye. The blade is the map. The stones are the key, and the blood is the answer.” - Book of Azure
TO HELL WITH THIS PLACE. It can all burn.
I refuse to follow their damn rules any longer.
A deep, rumbling growl emerges from my throat.
I have never felt the rage I feel right now. I cannot imagine myself surviving in this place without them.
