Page 57 of Stolen Magic of the Deep

“Perhaps your majesty can ensure Sarah understands how to use that gift fully—to cover herself as her opponent is.”

Orion acknowledges Zevrin’s words by simply looking in my direction and giving a slight nod, which I can only interpret as, Show them what you already know.

With that, I wave my hands in a delicate fashion around my torso. The glow is soft and expands into a bright gleam as I transform my upper half from just enough scales to cover my chest, to now scales covering my entire back, hips, and upper chest, while still leaving my neck and arms exposed. It resembles a corset, but is fully made of scales.

After I transformed that first night, plus my own private practice sessions in my room, I learned I can command a single scale on me all the way to covering my entire body. I would never need to actually do that, but it was a nice trick to know. Almost like testing the boundaries of this magic and how much I can actually do now.

I didn’t catch what Zevrin’s face looked like before or even after I shifted, because my face was solely locked on Orion. From the dais, he smiles. And not his usual smile, but a knowing smile. As if he never doubted my abilities and knew I would catch on easily. I wonder what else he knows about me that I'm still unsure of . . .

Being pulled from my thoughts, Zevrin’s voice rings through the space, “Well, is that not something! Your majesty, her abilities are exquisite.”

Orion gives a subtle wave, like the moment was never in question. Not for him.

With this, Zevrin removes himself from in front of us and is replaced by the Pearlguard, holding two daggers in each hand. They resemble the ones I've been training with, but the hilts are a different color.

They have the same coral design, but the blades appear to be forged from the same Xhiphate metal Nyxalene told me about. They take on a faint amber sheen when tilted into the light filtering down from above, and their sharpness is apparent even before the weapons are placed in my hands.

I would think any metal would have the same results above, on land, and become rusty after being exposed to salty waters for too long. I tried asking Nyxalene how that was possible, but got no response. She didn't seem inclined to want to entertain human questionings. Though the questions still ring in my ears.

What makes these so different? A different metallic compound?

Shit, the Pearlguard said something. “I’m sorry, can you repeat that?”

“Miss?”

Orion speaks before the Pearlguard can repeat his words. “He said these daggers are made to fit each of your hands. Whoever wins today’s duel gets to keep the daggers they used. And will be given a protection spell to protect them from being used on their holder.”

Amazing... More days pass, more information, and even though it's (at times) chaotic, it's becoming my favorite pastime. There's just so much to learn, on top of getting to know Orion; don't even get me started on memorizing everything!

I inspect the daggers some more. The coral handle curves to my hands, and each one has a smooth finish on them, but unlike my opponent, whose hilt is ivory-colored, mine are emerald.

Just. Like. My. Eyes.

I don’t get more time to soak up every detail on the daggers before Zevrin places himself next to Orion. “At this time, each opponent may turn and take opposite sides of the sparring ring.”

I turn and head to the side I am closest to and place myself at the edge of the ring, grasping both daggers firmly in each hand, when a Pearlguard blows into a shell.

And with that, the duel begins.

twenty-three

Sarah

Idon’t know this finling, Defymin, but I watch him. His stance is broader than mine, tail bent and arms held wide, but it’s unsteady. He lacks the natural counterbalance of a larger tail. I can see it in the way his core shifts with every adjustment, how he keeps having to correct himself with his fins.

My tail curls behind me, steady and alert. I can feel it twitching slightly from my nerves, along with the tiniest tremble in my wrists and fingertips. I try to still myself with a breath, but it’s not air I’m breathing. The ocean around me thickens with tension.

Across from me, Defymin shifts his grip. Daggers held downward, like mine, but his wrists are too stiff. Why does he hold them like that? It’s too rigid, too formal. Like he’s copying me, but copying without understanding.

It’s going to slow him down.

A shimmer of light breaks my focus. From the corner of my eye Nyxalene glides into the chamber, her silhouette unmistakable. Her sword, Virethane, shining on her back. She doesn’t look at me. She swims straight to the dais, where Orion rests on the throne.

I force my eyes to return to my opponent, and the water hums with stillness. Neither of us has moved, but Nyxalene’s movements catch my eye again. She bends toward Orion, speaking low and fast. His head snaps toward her, and his eyes go wide like he’s been given some bad news.

A sharp pain cuts through the lower half of my tail, and I suck a breath in through my teeth. Defymin struck me, a small graze, but enough to burn. Enough to grasp everyone’s attention back to us. Enough to make me angry.

My tail reacts before I do. It coils, then lashes out. The collision is quick and brutal, as my tail slams into his with enough force to send him reeling. His body twists, and for a moment, he drifts weightless, scrambling as his smaller tail fails to steady him.