That truth might have been scarier than the impending confrontation with Iskra in her dragon form.
He wondered then how she arrived in this mess. He knew the bare details of how the minister picked a dragon from his collection each year, but he never questionedhowhe got them, never realized they were people who shifted. His parents had frowned upon asking too many questions because it would make the royal family appear as if they didn’t trust the minister or the Weather Gods themselves.
Jasyn had no plan as he reached one of the cave’s walls. He put his sword back in its sheath and prayed Slone would have mercy on him.
“I’m coming,” Jasyn whispered to himself as he found holes in the walls to propel his body upward.
He knew Iskra was still perched because it was quiet. He hoped there was no other infighting between the competitors. There was no point in killing each other, not when they could come out of this alive,together, if Jasyn got the Heart. Deep in his soul, Jasyn hoped it also meant Iskra would come out of this alive too.
He had an idea in mind, but his mind swirled with doubts about his abilities. Then, he remembered the confidence Iskra had taught him to hold.
Jasyn grit his teeth as he scaled up the wall, his legs and arms shaking with the exertion. No matter how hard his body wanted to betray him, he wouldn’t allow himself to fall. He just had to make it up to the first ledge, and then, he could rest.
With each strenuous heave upward, Jasyn continued to repeat Iskra’s name. It was all for her, he decided just then. Even if he had to die to ensure she lived through this, he would.
A blaze of heat hit his back, along with a gust of wind. Iskra was on the move, and he needed to act fast before she caused him to stumble.
He didn’t take his attention away from his current goal. He secured his left hand in a small pocket, anchored his right foot on a small bulge in the wall, and pushed himself up again. He didn’t stop his momentum. He only had to make it a bit farther, and he would be safe—at least as safe as one could be in this situation.
When he swung his leg up on the ledge, he hugged the ground beneath him and stayed there longer than he should. Rolling onto his back, he finally caught a glimpse of his surroundings again.
Iskra was on the same ledge, still much higher than him. It would take a long time to get to her spot.
Then, movement on the opposite side of the cave caught his attention. He turned his head and saw a competitor climbing up one of the ropes. She was ahead of Jasyn, but she was being reckless with her speed. She’d tire quickly, and that would put her in danger of slipping up.
He saw large shadows move, and he knew Iskra was growing antsy. She wanted another fight, so Jasyn did the dumbest thing he could think of: he yelled.
“Get on the next ledge and stay there!” With the way the competitor was rushing, it looked like she planned to bypass the next ledge to keep going without a break.
Jasyn was now standing, his body tense as he watched the competitor near the ledge. He was about to take a breath of relief, as she seemed to get there before Iskra flew down at her. Just as he relaxed, the competitor skipped over the ledge to keep climbing.
“Fuck,” he swore to himself.
No amount of training could have prepared him for this, Jasyn realized. The Undertaking was worse than a nightmare. How did his father compete countless times and win? How did he watchso many people die and come out so unfazed, or at least act like it? This would shake Jasyn’s worldview for life.
“Watch out!” Jasyn called out, naively hopeful the competitor would heed his warning and turn back to the ledge.
Instead, Iskra was flying straight towards the competitor, breathing fire. Jasyn watched the rope burn. He winced as he heard a scream, but Jasyn didn’t have a chance to check what happened to the competitor because Iskra was now heading straight for him.
Jasyn quickly pulled his sword out, but just as she neared him, she shot upward again. He expected her to rest on her perch, but she skipped past that. She dove, flew directly at him, and tilted up right before she slammed into him. She looped around again and again.
She was taunting him, he realized. He couldn’t make any progress to the next ledge if she kept at this.
He had to find another way up.
“Jasyn, you bastard!” Bron called from somewhere too close for Jasyn’s liking.
When Iskra was flying, Jasyn peeked over the side of the ledge and saw Bron on his way.
“You’re being impulsive,” Jasyn warned him.
With one last stretch, Bron was on the ledge with Jasyn. Bron’s sword was in his sheath, but Jasyn guessed that would be temporary. Jasyn had to keep moving.
Iskra was now shooting for them, and Bron crouched to cover himself. Jasyn only had his attention on Iskra and found there was no familiarity or warmth in her eyes.
“She’s not herself anymore,” Bron said, evidently noticing Jasyn’s devastation. “I’ll kill her, and this will end a lot easier.”
Jasyn closed his eyes and shook his head.
