Something told me that Carnelian wouldn’t bother to continue that practice. What would happen to these people when he took over?
I shook my head, banishing the thought. It wasn’t my problem.
Amatista and I looked to one another, a giddy laugh escaping us as we turned back to see the mist retreating deeper into the forest.
“We made it,” I breathed out, elated. I was exhausted after the combined exertion of the obstacle course and the forest. My muscles screamed at me, aching fiercely. I could only imagine how much worse off the other ladies were.
“Not yet.” Amatista reminded me with a wry smile, arching an amethyst eyebrow. “We still need to get back to the palace.”
I sighed, allowing myself a moment to moan petulantly. Amatista laughed, falling into me as her ankle gave way. I shook my head, bringing her arm over my shoulder to help steady her.
“Alright, we just need to get across the city.” I nodded resolutely. “We can manage that just fine.”
“Speak for yourself.” She laughed slightly before sobering. “Thank you, Jac. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you.”
“You would have figured out a way,” I assured her, but she shook her head.
“I can tell you don’t trust easily, which is wise for a member of court,” she replied seriously, her eyes searching. “But I’m glad you trusted me today. I promise I will not betray that trust. Not through this competition, and not after.”
I was left slightly speechless and could only cover with a weak quip.
“Well, you don’t want to win anyway, so…” I teased, and she huffed, rolling her eyes, but a smile appeared on her face regardless.
“We’d better get moving. I may not care about the rankings, but if you’re going to win, you need to make good time,” she said firmly, her hand flapping as she directed me onward.
I stepped forward, taking us toward the exit, but I couldn’t help but ask, “You want me to win?”
“There are precious few ladies in this competition who would be competent consorts to his Majesty. You’re one of them, and since we’re now friends,obviously I want you to win,” she said it so plainly that I was left blinking in surprise.
Friends were a dangerous thing to be gathering, but I couldn’t seem to help myself. So many years hiding from my past had left me with only the other street rats for company. Even then, none of us trusted one another, always aware that we’d turn on each other in a heartbeat to survive. Ula was the only exception, having taken me on as something of a protege.
Oblivious to my thoughts, Amatista continued, “Plus, you two clearly have chemistry. It makes sense.”
“Wait, what?” I asked, tilting my head in confusion.
“You and High King Azurill, obviously.” She rolled her purple eyes at me.
“We havechemistry?” I didn’t know what to think about the insinuation. I could admit to myself alone that I struggled to remember who and what he was with him. Something about him was magnetic, and I found myself flirting even beyond what was expected of me for my mission. Dangerous ground to tread, but one my feet kept walking me down, nonetheless.
“Of course you do!” She laughed incredulously, drawing eyes from the few people lingering by the buildings nearby as we exited the forest. We were officially free of that demonic wood and back in the city.
Dragging our tired bodies through the streets of Theiapolis garnered a lot of stares and whispers. Everyone knew who we were and what we were doing there. The gossip about the Diamond Queen Competition had to be all over the city. With all the events going on, there was no way to ignore it.
Thankfully, that meant no one really bothered us. A few smiled or cheered us on, and we thanked them with bobbed heads and exhausted smiles, but that was it. I was instead left to think over the idea of havingchemistry,of all things, with the man responsible for my family’s end.
That was a thought I wanted nothing to do with, but the city offered a number of distractions, thank Erodite. We passed bars and shops, houses and apartments, but more importantly, our path took us by the main Gem Market, and I looked around wildly for any glimpse I could get.
It was said to be the best market in the realm, with gems and potions of all kinds, plus any and all materials you could need to brew your own. And other assorted goods, of course, but everyone knew the real draw. Elves from all over Gemaria came here to shop for a reason.
Which is why spotting a human slinking inside the entrance had me blinking in shock. Their rounded ears gave them away immediately, despitethe way he tried to use his dark, wavy, shoulder-length hair to cover them up. He was clearly trying not to stand out, but unfortunately for him, even among the beautiful Elves of the city, one couldn’t help but notice the handsome man.
I’d heard rumors from a few people that a couple of the stalls here sold relics under the table to humans. It was incredibly illegal, and if they were caught, they would pay with their lives. Apparently, the risk was worth it to them for the amount of coin a human would pay to be able to access magic.
I couldn’t even blame them. If I were able to access gems or potions more easily, my life would be infinitely better. But poor as I was, there was little chance of me getting my hands on the magic I supposedly had full right to access.
It was men like Azurill who kept magic so inaccessible to women like me. Stealing was my only option, so I wasn’t about to throw stones at the humans for doing what they could to get by. They couldn’t wield gems or any element, nor could they access the forces of nature or the bounty of colors.
They were magicless. A result of them being transplants to our world. They didn’t belong here, and yet, magic had found a way to correct that imbalance. The humans in Adamah, at least the ones who were free, could wield those relics with just as devastating an effect as any Fae or Elf.
