“Don’t be so cocky,” I hiss back. “We don’t know who he’s going to summon.”
Dayton sends another grin up at the crowd and is met with a welcoming roar. “Don’t worry. I’ve fought dozens of these matches, and not one has proven to be a challenge I cannot face.”
Still, something twists in my gut. The crowd goes quiet as the so-proclaimed Emperor steps forward in his box. Kairyn’s black cape hangs pin straight in the humid air, and my only consolation is that he must be boiling beneath all that heavy armor.
“People of the Summer Realm, you have joined us for a most spectacular match,” Kairyn’s voice, amplified by an echosphere, booms across the crowd.
I feel more than hear the wave of displeasure as Kairyn addresses the crowd. Booing him would only harm the people, with all the soldiers he has stationed among the audience. In the pulvinar beside Kairyn are numerous Spring soldiers, former members of the Queen’s Army, and several white-robed acolytes. I don’t spot Wrenley among them. I do, however, see the Nightingale gleaming in her prismatic armor. I haven’t seen her since she fled the monastery. I could have killed her with the Bow of Radiance, but I let her go instead.
I’m still not sure if that was the right call.
“My subjects!” Kairyn raises his gloved hands in the air. “I have seen how you enjoy watching your former Prince of Summer fight in the arena.”
Despite the use of the word “former,” the crowd still roars a cheer, Dayton’s name growing into a chant. Dayton soaks it in, raising both swords as a boisterous laugh bursts from his chest.
Kairyn doesn’t seem bothered by this new display of affection for Dayton. If anything, he stands straighter. Anticipation coils in my gut.What do you have planned, snake?
“I wish to please you, citizens of Summer,” Kairyn says. The owl helm tilts, the single silver streak glistening. “You have enjoyed watching one Prince of Summer fight in the arena, so why not three?”
The orb above the arena spins faster and faster until beams of light shoot from it and begin to take shape upon the sand in the form of two large fae males. One holds dual blades like Dayton, the other a shield and sword. Even if I didn’t recognize them from the mural, even if the crowd didn’t begin to chanttheir names, I would know who they are simply from the empty expression on Dayton’s face, the sound of his swords falling to the sand.
Kairyn has returned Damocles and Decimus to the arena.
“Pick up your swords, Dayton,” I breathe.
The two warriors prowl forward. They look fae and yet, they don’t. At times, their bodies are a solid illusion, but when they step into a beam of sun, they gleam entirely of light.
“Of course, we would find our little brother in the arena,” Damocles’ voice roars, an echosphere carrying it to the crowd. “It’s where he always escaped his royal duties.”
“I will give him the royal reckoning he deserves.” Decimus bangs his sword against his shield. As he does, a wave of black shadows passes through the light.
My heart sinks further. This isn’t like the Luminae Games Dayton mentioned. I would bet Kairyn has somehow corrupted the memories of his brothers into these twisted spirits.
They’re almost at us. Dayton hasn’t moved, hasn’t picked up his swords.
“Day!” I scream, pulling him to the side just as Damocles makes a running leap.
Heart in my throat, I pull us behind a huge fern, abandoning the swords for now. I keep running until we’re covered by the plants. The crowds cheer louder, Damocles’ name a chant. He must have stopped to rile the audience up.
Dayton mentioned that while he was training with Justus.Damocles was so obsessed with glory, it made him brash. He made decisions to elevate his status as a revered victor.
“Look at me, Day.” I grab his face.
He shakes his head. “Kairyn’s fucking sick for doing this.”
“It’s not them. You know it’s not. It’s just a twisted memory.”
He grits his teeth. “Everything is ruined. Even if I kill the illusions on the sand, it’ll look like I’m murdering my brothers.”
Dayton’s right. This is twisted. Far too twisted and clever for Kairyn. I wonder who came up with it … the Nightingale? It must have been. Why else would she be here if not to watch?
The plant splits and Decimus is before us with a crazed look in his eyes. He grabs me around the waist and hurls me twenty feet through the air. I scream, feet kicking, arms flailing. I landhard with a crack. Quickly, I sit up and pull my broken bow out from under me.Better my bow than my bones.
Across the sands, I see Decimus fly across the arena in a huge gale of wind. He crashes against a pillar, the stone crumbling. Dayton’s hand is outstretched, a shimmer of magic dancing from his palm.
The sand shifts, and Damocles runs toward me. His golden hair is cropped short, face menacing. He leaps and plunges the swords down, striking the sand just as I roll out of the way. I reach into my belt and pull out my short sword. I’m not as comfortable with this as my bow, but it’s all I’ve got.
With a cry, I slice it across Damocles’ calf. He hisses, red blood spurting from the wound before it turns into fractured light on the ground. I scramble up. I haven’t deterred this warrior. He lunges, striking a blow that almost cuts through my leather chest plate.
