Born To Rule

Chapter Thirty-Two

Gravel crunched beneath my boots, the sound echoing through the deserted festival as the sun crested the eastern mountains. Soft snores whispered from the dew-covered canvas tents as I passed by, heading to the city. More specifically, the sparring yards where Balis said he and Eurok would be.

The village was just beginning to stir as merchants and tradesmen set up their carts and stands, readying for the morning rush of servants making their sunrise grocery runs. They’d close again for the games this afternoon. Eurok said everyone in the city would attend. It was hard to fathom so many congregating in one place, but then again, I hadn’t seen the arena yet. It had to be massive.

Metal clanged from the training yards. I approached, unsure which area Balis was assigned. But as I grew closer, unfamiliar voices rang from within. I should’ve turned and left. But something in their sharp tones had me pressing against the hard granite brick instead, straining to hear what they said.

“Nobody’s seen the fucking pussyfoot shifter since the first recon mission. Back then, it was just the lesser fairies getting snatched.”

I peered around the corner to lay eyes on the speaker, finding Mallack, the largest of the border clan contestants. A shiver rocked my spine. He was gargantuan, a mountain of a male with boulders for muscles that rivaled even Eurok’s.

“Shit, it’s only gotten worse since then.” It was Salve who spoke as he swung a large sword overhead and brought it down, effortlessly cleaving a wedge into the training dummy’s wooden head.

“Exactly.” Mallack ripped his ax from his dummy’s chest. “And what’s this shit about him clearing out that camp of Dogu poachers last summer?” He whirled another devastating blow, sending splinters in all directions.

My mouth went dry. There was no doubt that it was Balis they spoke of.

With the swagger of a killer, Mallack stalked away from his dummy, which lay crumpled in an unrecognizable heap.

“What of it?” Salve asked.

“You believe it?”

“Fuck, yeah. I was assigned to the cleanup detail. They kept saying it was Balis and some human woman who saved them.” Salve was perched precariously atop the shoulders of another training dummy, practicing his balance as he swung his battle sword in an array of various blocking maneuvers.

Mallack snarled. “Well, I don’t believe it. Why does he get the notoriety and the chance to compete when we’ve worked our asses off?”

Deacon’s words from last night rang through my mind. You’d best be prepared to answer for your whereabouts. Your absence hasn’t gone unnoticed.

This is what he warned us about. My questions regarding Balis’ actual whereabouts faded. It didn’t matter. I told him to leave. It wasn’t my business where he went afterwards.

“You better watch who you say that around,” Salve said. “Don’t underestimate him, Mallack. He’s the captain’s pet for a reason.”

“I don’t give a fuck who hears me. B’sides, the way I hear it, the lot of us will be gunning for him today.” He spun a pole between his hands and took a shot at a new training dummy, severing it at the neck with a single blow.

“I guess it’d be foolish not to take him out while he’s got such a large target on his back,” Salve said, his smirk darkening with cruelty.

My stomach did a sickening flip, and I took off, sprinting from my place along the wall toward the only other training yard with sound spilling from it. Without hesitation, I stormed in, my focus gazing past Balis to Eurok’s sweaty brow. I cut between them. A gust of air blew back my hair as Eurok redirected mid-swing, just missing my face. I didn’t flinch.

“Are you crazy?” Balis yelled, pulling his weapon from a strike.

I paid him no mind and raised my chin to the captain, letting him know I was there to confront him.

“What do you want, Mira?” he asked, expression deadpanned.

I stared him down, despite needing to crane my neck a ridiculous amount. “Why did you ask him to train me?”

“What?” He jerked back, surprised.

“Why would you assign your finest to mentor a human girl while we’re on the brink of war?”

“You mean the poaching?” he asked.

“Yes, the fucking poaching.” My words echoed across the stone walls. “How is it so bad that every druid warrior here today has been fighting against it, yet you assigned your best to run an errand to go find me?” My final word ground out through my teeth.

Eurok’s jaw clenched.

“Mira, what is this about?” Balis asked, cautiously placing a hand on my shoulder.

“Every contestant on that field today will be gunning for you,” I answered without removing my icy glare from the captain.

His expression remained undisturbed, making me wonder if he even heard me.

“Mira, we know,” Balis said, gently urging me away from Eurok.

I let him, half-stunned by the revelation. “What do you mean, you know?”

“I know I have a target on my back.”

I studied the fine lines of his handsome face for the slightest hesitation. There was none. “Then why are you doing this? It won’t be a fair fight.” My words were as hot as the fire coursing through my veins.

Why would anyone put themselves in that situation? Even with his ego, he had to realize he couldn’t overcome those odds.

“I’m a warrior, Mira. We train for battle, not fair fights.”

Everything in me told me to stand my ground, to unload my fury, my pleas, my…fear. But I fought off the urge and forced the swell of rage to subside. The stone in their faces conveyed unyielding cliffs. I shoved Balis, seething, and stormed out before I said something I’d regret.

How could he be so stupid?

Why would Eurok expose his top fighter to such blatant targeting? And for what? A human that can hardly wield?

Unbridled fear and rage fueled my every step to the village. I hardly knew where I headed until I reached the lodge we stayed in last night. I climbed the spiral stairs to Sidelle’s room, but she was nowhere to be found. Frustrated and unsure of my next move, I turned away—but paused when I saw her staff leaning against the shelf by the small desk in the corner.

I approached with cautious steps, my gaze drawn to the intricate, swirling designs adorning its sides, and the radiant, uncut manastone crowning its peak.

Sidelle’d been granting me small bits of power for training, but there was still an enormous amount left within. I sensed it luring me like that initial encounter in the stone forest. The only difference being how accustomed I’d grown to it.

If I had any chance of saving Balis, I had to replenish my core and absorb as much as I could withstand. My healing mana had been developing nicely. Maybe, if I could heal him from a distance, I could keep him alive, save him.

It was a ludicrous plan. I’d never done it before, and surely they had rules against this sort of thing. Still, it was the only one I had and no less reckless than sending the best warrior to a certain death. This was my only chance—his only chance.

My touch encircled the manastone, and I focused on the warmth that radiated against my hand, asking the mana to wind around that cold, hollow core within me.

“Just enough to protect my friend in that arena today,” I said, assuring myself.

My palms stung as the heat intensified, but I refused to pull away, rushing the power to flood my veins and find my core. My heart leapt at the sudden slam of a door and the echoing footsteps ascending the stairs, catching me off guard. Whoever it was, if they reached the top, they’d have a full view of what I was doing. I concentrated harder, willing the mana to come to me faster.

Faster.

Pulling with all my might, ice laced through my power-filled veins as a nearly imperceptible crack sounded from between my hands. Sharp panic swept over. Trembling, I got to my feet, replacing the staff against the bookshelf.

The molten heat of mana swelled in my chest, satisfying proof that it worked. But it did little to stave off the cold sweat on my brow at having cracked the stone. I brushed aside those concerns—there was no time to dwell on them now. My best option was to ignore it, or my whole plan would be derailed.

Rushing, I pulled my choker from the lead-lined bag Agatha had made me on Sidelle’s request and wrapped its silk ribbon low around my neck, tucking it under my tunic.

“Mira?” Audible surprise tinged Sidelle’s tone when she reached the landing. “I didn’t know you were here. I thought you’d be at the training arenas with Eurok and Balis.”

“Oh, I am—I mean, I was. Forgot my blades.”

A curious flicker crossed her expression. Shame churned in my gut as she nodded, seeming to accept my bullshit excuse.

“But I’m good.” I patted them at my side. “Got them right here.”

I attempted to rush past her, making for the stairs, but she stopped me with a gentle hand on my shoulder.

“Are you okay?”

My guilt surged as her soft, concerned eyes scanned over my face.

“Yeah, fine. I’m… worried, I guess.” At least that part was true.

Sidelle nodded in understanding and released her hold. “Did everything go alright between you and Balis last night?”

“Yeah, it did.” My strained smile wavered. “But look, I gotta go. I’ll meet you there later, okay?”

“Oh, good. Well, okay. See you there.”

She nodded, and I sped down the stairs and out the door.

The city streets thickened with excited patrons waiting to enter the arena. I remembered Eurok mentioning friends and family of the contestants had reserved seating, so I followed the long line, using alleyways to cut ahead. I slipped into what seemed like the midpoint of the line, veering into an alley that appeared to ascend toward the next hill, likely leading me closer to the front.

At the edge of the corner, shifting gravel at my back stole my attention. Cold, large hands wrapped around my waist, tugging me against a dark doorframe. Like the swipe of a cobra, I unsheathed my dagger and spun, the sleek point of my blade making contact with the tender skin of my attacker’s throat.

“Whoa, now,” a familiar voice cooed. “You’ll want to be careful with that.”

Deep, oaken eyes peered down at me over a black cloth mask. His hood covered his hair, but I knew beneath it lay short, sandy brown locks.

I nearly choked on my gasp. “Atreus?”

He pulled down his mask, revealing a wickedly delighted smile that made my breakfast curdle in my stomach. Fuck. What kind of day am I having?

“What are you doing here?” I asked, reeling to dredge up that false and vile side of me I used at the castle. I flashed an intrigued smile. “Did you sneak away?”

“I had to see you,” he said.

It was obvious he meant for this to be some grand gesture—one a more foolish woman may have swooned at his feet over. I craved to sever each of those loathsome fingers clutching my waist and sprint to Balis.

“Don’t worry,” he smirked, “no one will notice I’m gone.”

“But, how? Do you have guards with you? This feels so dangerous,” I said, feigning concern. Truthfully, I was interested in how many were in his company.

“No need for guards.”

My brows pinched. Noticing my confusion, he reached into his cloak and withdrew a smooth white stone, very much like the one I just cracked.

“I don’t understand,” I said, dancing between my fake elation and true terror. “What is that?”

“This allows me to travel from place to place at will. It’s a manastone that possesses the power of these druids’ god.”

My eyes grew round. He’s using Erezos’ mana to veil from province to province. “Is it safe?”

“I’ve been practicing.” He dipped his chin, drawing my attention away from the stone, to his face. “Meet me here after the games. I’ll show you a much better time than these animals ever could.”

Words left me. I gave a stunned nod, and he replaced his mask, none the wiser to the trepidation wracking through my body. Then he ducked down the alley and was gone. Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.