I wondered for a fleeting moment why he was so forgiving in this one instance but then decided I didn’t care so long as Ariyon was safe.
A puff of black smoke materialized before my face and turned into Yanric. He hovered between the Grim and me, and the Grim nodded. “I’ll allow your familiar to assist.”
Thank the Light.
Fighting for Queen Solana’s life was one of the most stressful things I could think of. If I lost, she died, and now I wondered if I would die too.
“Strike three blows to any part of my body, and you win your prize—her soul. If I am the first to strike three blows, she ismine.”
He growled the last words.
I’d thought Ariyon practiced his swordsmanship just to be able to fight without magic. Now I knew the real reason why and was kicking myself for not paying more attention in weapons class.
‘Simply strike him?’Yanric laughed.‘I’ve got this.’
The Grim took in a deep breath, and Queen Solana cleared her throat. I looked back at her soul body to see it blip from physical to a more spectral form, and she held my gaze. “How do I know you will truly fight for me and not just appear to and let me die?” she asked.
This woman had serious trust issues with me.
“Because I’ve known for weeks that Avis is your sister, and I haven’t told a soul,” I said, and her eyes went wide. “I will give this everything I have,” I promised her.
She nodded. “Well, please try not to screw this up.”
She said please, so I was going to take that as a win.
“Begin!” the Grim shouted. I spun in his direction, and a gasp ripped from my throat. His sword came down on my arm, slicing right through it. My physical form flickered for a moment, showcasing my spectral spirit, and then a deep throbbing pain appeared at the wound. I instinctively knew that wherever my body was, a painful gash had just appeared on my arm.
‘Holy Nightling poop, he’s fast!’Yanric flew up and out of the way as I spun to escape another swing by the Grim as well.
His speed wasn’t just fast—it was otherworldly. He moved like lightning.
“I’m going to die,” Solana moaned from behind me.
“Shut up!” I snapped at her, sensing Yanric’s next move and trying to keep the Grim’s attention. My bird and I were getting good with mental communication, and in this moment, I could sense what he was about to do.
I rushed at the Grim with a battle cry on my lips and held my sword high. He moved forward to meet me just as Yanric dropped from the sky and crashed into his neck, coming away with a small piece of flesh that instantly healed before my eyes.
The Grim smiled. “It seems we are at a tie. One to one.”
He appeared to be enjoying this.
With lightning speed, he used his proximity to kick out with his boot. It landed on my chest, sending me backward.
I crashed into the ground, and even in my not-fully-physically-here state, it hurt.
Solana held her stomach and moaned as she looked over at me. “You have no idea what we are up against, Fallon. I need to return to take care of my people. A Nightling war is coming!”
“I’m doing my best!” I growled at her.
Yanric tried another dive from the sky, but the Grim twisted out of his way. As I was getting up, I felt a small rock under my palm and grabbed it.
He said I only needed to strike him, right? I was a decent throw, probably better at it than wielding a sword.
As the Grim rushed forward to attack me again, I reeled my hand back and chucked the rock right at his chest. It slammed into the meat under his neck, and he skidded to a stop, giving me a slow grin. He looked impressed.
“I’ll allow it,” he mused.
I couldn’t get past that this seemed like it was some form of entertainment for him.
