Waves of gold split by hedgerows made a quilt of farmland that ebbed and flowed against the horizon. Sheep grazed on distant verdant hills, as though the white, puffy clouds that wandered the skies had dripped onto the tall grasses. It was beautiful.
It was torture.
Eira’s heart hammered so hard her ribs rattled. She had to curl her toes to keep herself grounded in her seat. To keep herself from retching. Emotions hit a crescendo and she lunged for the door window, slamming it down and sticking her head completely out of it to gather a lungful of the smell of wheat, the sound of shepherds whistling to their dogs, and the warmth of the sun.Real. It was all real.
“Are you all right?” Alyss asked as Eira sat back down.
“I’ll be fine.”
“What was that?” Noelle asked.
The worried stares of her friends, the glances, were already flirting with unbearable. But Eira stomached them because itmeant they cared. She needed them on her side to stay strong, and sane.
“This scenery looks just like the illusion the Pillars put outside my window when they had me hostage,” Eira admitted. “For a second, it felt like I was back there, like I hadn’t really escaped.”
“You’re safe now,” Alyss reassured her. “They don’t have you.”
“They don’t,” Eira agreed. “But I’m not safe. None of us are. Before we get to the village there’s something else I need to tell you.”
“There’s always something more with you, isn’t there?” Noelle sighed and pulled some pins from her hair, allowing the braids to fall around her shoulders so she could sit more comfortably.
“Unfortunately.”
“Just once I want you to say that everything is handled and you’re at peace.”
“You wouldn’t like me if I was that boring.” She hoped. Eira braved a grin. Luckily Noelle returned it. “This morning, I was summoned to the Archives by Vi and Taavin…” Eira quickly caught them up on her brief meeting with the crown princess and Voice of Yargen, what they had offered her for the tournament and the brief glimpse it gave her into knowing that advantages would somehow be a part of it all. But she kept her focus equally on how quickly Vi and Taavin had dismissed the notion of Ulvarth being alive. Then she spent ample time explaining the dagger she’d found and what it’d said. “…so we’re on our own and Ulvarth is coming for us.”
“He’s coming foryou, at least.”
“Rude.” Alyss rolled her eyes at Noelle.
“He’s been setting up his return for decades, and the pieces are falling into place,” Eira insisted. “You saw the people havingdoubts about the flame—about their government. He’s trying to scare the populace into following him by creating problems that only he can fix. Problems beyond economics or politics, of a divine sort. He’s going to make them believe that he is a divine balm to their earthly pains.”
“Don’t be quick to judge the common people of Meru just because some in Risen have focused their ire on you.”
Eira took Noelle’s warning to be sensible and not dismissive. “I’m not. I really believe it’s a sign of a deeper problem—the Pillars have been outmaneuvering Lumeria’s government and the knights and spies that have grown complacent. Times are changing and change breeds fear and uncertainty. People are primed to be more open to hear his message. I don’t know what display Ulvarth wants to put on next, but the games are going to be the time for him to do it. The focus will be there. He’ll either want to make it his own show…or target Risen while it’s undefended.”
“Do you honestly think the three of us have any chance against them?” Alyss asked.
“Four, if we’re still counting Cullen,” Noelle clarified.
“I am still counting him.” Eira didn’t see a choice. Regardless of her history with him, Cullen was one of them and he was strong with his magic. They needed all the help they could get to keep themselves—and hopefully everyone else—safe. “And I do think we have a chance, Alyss. But even if we don’t…we must try. What other option is there? Lie down and die?”
“Well, when you put it like that.” Alyss sighed and rested her temple on Eira’s shoulder. “You know this was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Meru, right? The good kind?”
“I do. Sorry it all went sideways.” Eira looked back out the window, watching the countryside unfurl in a seemingly endless panorama.
Until, all at once, it ended.
4
Seemingly out of nowhere they arrived at a small town that butted up unnaturally against the countryside. There was the smell of fresh thatching in the air tangling with the powerful scent of lead paint. The mortar on most of the buildings was free of the grayish-green patina of age.
“Did they build all this?” Alyss asked, looking out the window. “Just for the tournament?”
“It would make sense for them to.” Noelle peered out the window as well but Eira remained with her back against the seat. After their departure from Risen she didn’t want to risk anything happening should someone see her. The streets were busy here, too. People had come to see the arrival of the competitors. “There are five nations converging on this place, spectators, competitors, assistants…it’s a lot of people.”
“There was a town here before. Warich.” Eira did her best to recall the maps and books on Meru she’d pored over during her time in the Tower of Sorcerers. Back when seeing Meru with her own eyes was a far-fetched dream. “The river that flowed in from the crescent bay of Meru through Risen almost cut the continent clean in half. Before, it ended right at this town. However, under Lumeria’s rule, the elfin extended it in recent years to Ofok far tothe west—which had already been a port city, but now no longer requires land transport to Warich to get goods on the river and finish the journey to Risen. It’s been a big boon for Meru’s expanding trade. And the trade talks were no doubt another motivator.” Now that Eira thought about it, the expansions and timing lined up.
