Rhion’s taken aback, not so much by me, but by Darian’s words. “Ainslee agreed to this?” he asks hesitantly.
Darian nods, and with only a touch more seriousness in his voice, he adds, “She knows how important it is that we win this. Maybe it won’t be me who wins, but having two people working together gives us a much better chance.”
Rhion still doesn’t look convinced, but he says, “Then come with me. Darian, you know…”
“I know,” he says.
The rest of whatever Rhion was going to say is left unsaid, and he nods instead. “Then come with me. Finley Lamond is overseeing the list. The rat bastard was promoted to Chamberlain of all Nyxthos’s command after Echo’s demise. Echo always hated him for what happened in Morvaine, but I guess he’s qualifiedenough. We’ve all made mistakes throughout the years, but Echo never forgave him for his mishandling of the logistics.”
Darian shrugs. “I like Finley. For a shadow walker, at least he’s personable. I think Echo just hated him because he was a shit sparring partner back in Valinar. He’d just let her catch him so he could go back to whatever book he was reading.”
Rhion leads us to the nearest balcony, and in an instant, enormous eagle wings sprout from his back. A few seconds later, smaller wings grow from Darian’s back as well. “The list is in the Keep of Shadows. Flying is far faster than walking, so just let me know when you’re ready for me to pick you up,” Rhion says.
I was not expecting this. At all. I’ve met Rhion and Darian a handful of times, and they seem nice enough, but they’re still Fae. They’re still the enemy, even if they’re our allies. Now, I have to let one carry me? Burn it all to ash. I guess I’m going to get that experience I was looking for, after all.
“I’m ready. Just… Just do it.”
I’ve only used the Infusion of the Vulture once, growing wings and flapping them like a House of Steel warrior would do, but… that was not what Rhion does. In a single movement, he wraps his hands around my waist and leaps off the edge of the balcony. I let out a piercing scream as his wings snap open and hold tight, turning our fall into a glide with me staring down at the city.
His legs wrap around mine, holding me horizontally. After a few minutes of absolute panic, I realize he’s laughing and that my nails have dug into his forearms hard enough that he’s bleeding.
“You could have warned me,” I say as I catch my breath.
With more than a touch of seriousness, he says, “No one’s going to warn you about anything here, Fiona. You need to know that from the start. There won’t be lessons or explanations. You don’t know nearly enough about the little things in Draenyth or about the enemies you’re going to face. It’s important for you to think about what will happen in advance, to listen and learn quickly. Otherwise, you’re going to die, but worse than that, you’re going to get Darian killed.”
That sobers me up in a hurry, and I glance at Darian, who’s grinning like a cat who just pushed a cup off a table.
“I understand,” I say and try to push back any of the lingering terror.
The wind makes my cloak flutter behind me as we soar above a city I’ve only heard about in stories. It’s beautiful and was obviously created with the view from the sky in mind, which makes sense because a dragon created it. The streets are perfect geometric rings around each House’s Keep. Those Keeps are butted up against Skycrest, the largest mountain in Nyth.
I knew all that, but what surprises me most is that here, at the heart of this war, there’s not a touch of violence. The different Houses claim loyalty to different gods. Earth and Flame are bound to Lysara. Shadows is bound to Nyxthos. Steel is allied with Adelyth rather than bound. King Rhion refused to kneel before anyone even though his wife is Adelyth’s champion.
“Is Draenyth a truly neutral city? There’s no fighting between different factions here? Even in secret?”
“None anymore,” Rhion responds. “The gods made the Pact and knew they would need a neutral ground to arrange discussions. In the first few years after the Pact, there would be minor scuffles, but what happened to the participants was far worse than dying. Now, whatever the gods decide, their followers do. That’s all there is to it. There’s no amount of anger or hatred for another faction that will overcome the fear of having to be punished for breaking the law.”
It’s so different from how Rhaskar rules the Priests. These people are being forced to follow their leaders’ laws under threat of torture, but no Priest would even consider going against Rhaskar. The very fate of humanity rests on the Order. There have been a handful of Priests who have walked away from the Order, but they came to Rhaskar and requested to be let go, to have their Marks removed.
Purpose drives the Priests. Fear drives the Godforged. It’s a clear distinction I take note of.
Rhion was right about how much faster it was to fly, and it seems like it only takes a few minutes to travel the miles from the Keep of Steel to the Keep of Shadows. Landing isn’t nearly as terrifying as taking off was, but when my feet are on solid ground, I feel much more confident.
“Now, we’re just going to go in, put both of your names on the list, and get out. The last thing we want is to get into anything with people from the House of Shadows. Or, more importantly, the Mages from Dunloch.”
Darian has a wide grin on his face, and I feel like the ground is giving way.Talking to a Mage from Dunloch?The only thing Ishould do to a Mage is separate his head from his shoulders. I’d known I’d have to occasionally deal with the Fae and Godforged, but I hadn’t expected tominglewith them.
No unsanctioned violence, no matter what. Twenty minutes ago, I couldn’t care less what laws the gods have put in place, but now I’m about to be under their rules. What did I get myself into?
That’s when I realize something that hadn’t occurred to me when I’d agreed to join the trials. I’d thought I’d spend these trials hidden away from everyone else. I’d thought I’d go unnoticed until it was time to fight. I’d expected my biggest concern to be whether I could go toe-to-toe with the Godforged. But if I have to talk to them…
“Are you okay?” Darian asks. “I know this is all new, but…”
I look at him with wide eyes as his hand moves to my arm to stabilize me. “What happens if someone finds out I’m a Priest here?” I whisper.
He just keeps smiling, though. “Well, they’ll probably take you out of Draenyth and then torture you until you give up your secrets. I would highly suggest you keep any…displaysvery private. The gods may not care about what you’re doing in Sylvantia any longer, but their champions would.”
“Then how am I going to win this thing?” I hiss, my frustration driving away the fear. “I’m no better than a human.”
