“I’ll do my best.” Eira gave a half-hearted shrug and barely resisted the urge to point out that a lot of the trouble she had gotten into was as a result of working for Deneya and the court. Deneya had known exactly the sort of person Eira was when she invited her to be a shadow.
“You know, I’ve only ever met one other woman who is half as good at getting into trouble as you are.” The sentiment sounded like it should be an insult—Deneya’s expression was certainly severe—but there was a genuine fondness in her voice,an almost reluctant appreciation for something that Eira had no knowledge of. Nostalgia, even.
“We’ll keep an eye on her—make sure she stays in line,” Alyss offered. Eira shot her friend a slightly annoyed look. Alyss grinned slyly.
Deneya’s focus shifted to Alyss. “You’re the only one of the group who seems to have any sense—”
“Excuse me?” Noelle tried to interrupt Deneya, who wouldn’t allow her.
“—I’ll count on you to keep the rest of them in line.”
Alyss nodded and Deneya went to move along, but something made her hesitate. Her gaze drifted back to Eira one final time. It softened slightly, almost mirroring the encouraging woman who had first trained her in the secret halls of the Solaris castle. Eira was certain she imagined it.
“If you run into any trouble—ifanyof you run into trouble,” Deneya added as if she hadn’t initially been speaking to Eira alone, “you can come to me personally any time. I will help you. We’re still on the same side.”
They all gave their thanks and appreciation. Even Eira, reluctantly. She didn’t want to give any reason for Deneya to be suspicious of her. But the truth was, that trust had been broken, there was no path that Eira could see to salvaging it now. No amount of remorse or apology could change how Eira felt about Deneya, the Court of Shadows, and the royals that governed them. There was no way she would go to them unless she absolutely had to—unless the fate of the kingdoms hung in the balance.
“Eira,” Cullen whispered from her right.
Eira had missed when he had worked his way so close to her while Noelle and Alyss were engaged in some kind of playful debate. She could tell from Cullen’s expression that he saw right through her. For a brief second, in her mind, they were back inthe narrow passageway that led to the Court of Shadows. She was opening up to him. He knew all of her insecurities and would reassure her. Then…he was going to push her against the wall and—Eira put a prompt stop to the fantasy.
“You didn’t seem like you were expecting to see her… Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she murmured in reply, looking ahead.
“You don’t seem like you’re on good terms with Deneya anymore.”
“Things are tense.” It was still so easy to talk to him. Too easy. The temptation of having someone to lean on would be ever-present with him around. “But it’ll be all right. I gathered from our brief exchange right now that we have a professional truce.”For now. At least until one of them got in the way of the other. “At least we share a common enemy still. And that makes us friends.”
“Eira, please be careful.” He shifted to face her a bit more. His knuckles brushed hers and Eira tensed.
Her eyes drifted back behind them, where the Qwint competitors had already lined up. A woman with emerald eyes and corkscrew auburn hair laughed lightly, flashing a brilliant smile to one of her companions. The sunlight seemed to favor her, picking up strands of gold and black running throughout her curls. Everything about her had life and movement and seemed to radiate joy.
She would be well suited for Cullen, Eira tried to insist to herself.
“You shouldn’t stand so close to me,” she said softly. “Your bride might see.”
“Eira…” He never got to finish that sentiment.
With a blast of horns and a thrumming of drums so loud the earth rattled, the great doors before them that led into the arena were slowly cranked open. They groaned as chains with links thesize of people pulled them inward. All her focus was forward, to the sunlight that blinded them to what lay beyond the end of a dark tunnel.
The front flag bearer for Meru’s contingent started forward to a lively tune struck up by the band behind them. Even well before any eyes were laid upon them, the flower bearers tossed petals into the air. The procession began to march forward.
Eira stood a little taller, squaring her shoulders. She inhaled deeply and set her jaw. Ice coated her fingers; her flesh steamed as her magic hit the hot, afternoon air.
“Are we going in showing off a bit?” Noelle asked eagerly. Sparks popped over her head, tongues of flame dancing in her hair. “Giving them all a tease of what they’re in for?”
“That’s one way to look at it. I’m going in ready for battle,” Eira said in reply.
“Battle?” Cullen echoed.
Eira forced a smile, as if she were being coy, as if it were all a metaphor and life and death didn’t actually hang in the balance. “Of course. We are here for the glory of Solaris. I want victory or nothing.”
7
The tunnel through the coliseum was longer than she expected. Halfway between the Champion Village and the opening to the arena was a four-way intersection. Another tunnel circled the arena within the thick walls of the structure, far underneath spectator stands. In the absence of natural light, torches lined the walls and gave just enough light to cut through the gloom of the interior of the coliseum. There were a few doors along this second, interior hallway, but nothing else notable. It was impossible to make out what else lay beyond the curve of the pathways.
The music from the bands echoed off the ceiling, creating a pulsing, thrumming beat that she felt between her ribs. It was impossible to speak, especially when they began to approach the archway at the far end and the sounds of the bands that played beyond mixed with the booming music. Like a wave crashing upon them, it all reached a crescendo as the roar of the crowd could be heard for the first time.
