“No?”
I shake my head, my mouth turned down.
“Watch this.” I jump as she flies quickly, stopping right in front of me.
In the blink of an eye she disappears into a thicker trail of gold which swirls around my dagger, then disappears. For a moment nothing happens, but thenthe blade of the dagger lights up gold, as if it’s lit from within. I tighten my grip, and my hand swipes out, again and again in intricate patterns. The dagger is guiding my hand, and I’m simply a vessel.
I’m swiping at air, but then the magic guides me forward, forcing me to take a step. But somehow, it’s not awkward. Somehow, I move as one with the dagger, until I’m standing in front of Raef. I raise my eyebrows, scared of what’s happening, yet not resisting it.
My hand lashes out, and he quickly deflects with his sword. He looks shocked, but entertained at the same time. He smiles wide as I take a swipe at him again.
Kezra is putting on a show, that much is clear.
Suddenly, Raef and I are going at it in a beautiful, lyrical dance of clashing metal. But I only have a dagger and he has a sword. And I’m faster. Somehow, with his whole lifetime of training, I’m besting him. My hand moves so fast and intuitively that he can’t keep up. With one hard, final jab right at the base of the flat side of his sword, just above his hand, it rattles the whole thing, and he drops it. Then my hand flies to his throat, and I smile in victory. I know Kezra isn’t going to hurt him. I can feel it. But I do, however, see a brief flash of fear cross his eyes. It’s quickly replaced with a smile as the swirling gold escapes my dagger, and my hand finally drops.
“This is such bullshit,” Raef curses, watching Kezra reform into herself again.
“To envy another is to curse everything that you are, Raef,” Kezra says in a melodic voice.
He rolls his eyes.
“Kezra, that was... incredible.” I say in awe.
“You did well,” she says proudly.
“You picked the wrong person, though.” I look down, trying to ignore the gore all around me. “I’m not a killer. Or a warrior.”
“Such is why I chose the way I did. You will not abuse this gift. But when the time comes, you will need it. And you will kill. We all must make sacrifices to right the wrongs of our past.”
I don’t answer her. I look away, catching Daegan’s eyes. He looks at me with a gentleness that seems out of place after what just transpired.
“Wait, where’d Phaedra go?” Raef interjects.
We all look around, realizing at once that she’s disappeared.
“She couldn’t have gone far…” I muse.
“Ah. There she is.” Raef approaches the horses, finding her cowering behind them.
“You look like you were about to take off. You’ve got more bravery than I gave you credit for,” Raef is telling her as we catch up. “Unfortunately, we can’t let you do that.”
She’s scared, but trying to hold herself steady. “Why?” I whisper.
“I just want to go home. I don’t know why you’re messing around with these…” Her gaze drifts from one person to the next. “People. But I don’t want any part of it. You’re a fool. You had Adrian wrapped around your finger, and you ruined it. For what?” She looks around in disgust.
“I knew it,” I say. “You were in love with Adrian, weren’t you?” I shake my head, disappointed.
“He deserved better. You were a sloppy, pathetic drunk who didn’t even deserve him.”
I nod my head slowly. I should be angrier, but she’s not wrong. At least, not about me. The old, drunk me might have punched her in the face, but her words don’t get to me. I feel sadness at her betrayal, but I’ll get past it. There’s more at stake here.
“I’ve heard enough,” Daegan says, stepping forward with his sword drawn.
“Daegan!” I yell, making him pause.
“What? She’s a danger to our mission, and I’m not going to let her insult you like that. And I’m not going to let a single one of us get locked up in that fucking dungeon again.”
“We’re not going to kill her,” I tell him, putting a firm hand on his forearm.
