Chapter 25 – Wasteland #2
"For you, I'd do anything," I said, heart beating raw and ragged in my chest. And then Silver Sea pulled me around a corner, and Araxis vanished from sight.
Silver Sea marched me onward as I gasped for air, struggling to catch my breath. I scrubbed furiously at my face, mind reeling. Beneath me, my legs had gone numb, my footing suddenly unsteady; I felt almost drunk.
Silver Sea continued to hold my elbow, tugging me along. "If we could have arranged more time, we would have," she said finally, as my breathing started to even out in those empty white hallways.
"That was more than I ever expected," I ground out, shoving my hair from my forehead. My fingers got tangled, and the jolt of pain was almost refreshing. "What did he – What does he mean?"
Next to me, Silver Sea was silent for a moment, her mouth flattening.
"I am not certain. He must mean to explain in the arena once you find each other.
That is optimistic: you might not even cross paths in today's hour on the sands.
There is not often much time for conversation in the Tournament.
It is why we film so much footage in the lead-up. "
"We'll find each other. We have a plan," I said blearily.
"Well, I guess you'd know. Probably a boring day footage-wise: we talked for hours and made plans for every scenario.
I'll head north to the mid-point on the outer wall, and he's going to cut north-east to meet me there.
If I'm delayed, he knows the path I'll take so he'll trek back to find me. "
She fluted out a thin breath, finally releasing my elbow.
"May the sands be kind to you, then. Come, this way.
" She curved off to the left, and we started creeping up a gentle slope in the hallway, no doubt leading us toward the arena proper.
It didn't take us long to reach the end of the tunnel, which culminated in a broad white door with a keypad to one side.
Silver Sea swiped her wristband over it, and it chimed, flashing green, before the door slid back to reveal a small staging room.
Inside was one of the armour fitters from the day before – a brin, with soft gray fur and dark stripes over her eyes – with my gear laid out on a broad table.
"Wristband," the brin said plainly, and I pulled it off and set it on the table.
"And swords." I slung those off, unthinking, and plunked them down while she verified the edge was regulation.
While the brin did her inspection, I began to pull on the black armour, sliding into place over me like a second skin.
"How bad do I look," I asked in as light a tone as I could manage. "Be honest."
Silver Sea's mouth lengthened into her approximation of a smile. "You look as if you have been weeping in a tunnel. The viewers will be very happy to see your suffering."
I snorted, trying to fight my way to something like stability. Where was my familiar mask, my easy performance? But my mind kept stuttering over Araxis's words again. Trust me, beloved, he'd said. I have a solution.
I stepped out of my boots so I could pull on the armour for my thighs. I will take care of you.
The brin handed me back my swords. I strapped the sheath over my shoulder, settling the familiar weight into place. I hope you will accept what I offer.
Silver Sea stepped up to me and pressed her hand to the top of my head. "Nearly all the participants are ready. It will be soon. Center yourself."
Beloved, Araxis had called me. And he'd said my name like it was the most precious thing in the universe.
I nodded, head swimming. You will try? he'd asked. No, he'd begged – desperate, insistent, but leaving me room to say no.
Ours is an alliance of equals, he'd said at the press conference. I do not wield authority over Sashen. He is capable of determining his own course of action. Maybe he had meant it.
The small gray room was square, except for a triangular segment at the far end. The brin tipped her head toward it. "Step onto the platform," she said, sounding bored. I went and stood, and she followed and checked the fit of my armour.
Trust me, beloved.
The brin stepped back. Silver Sea watched me with her yellow eyes. I could hear the jingling of her charms. I straightened, and then I could hear the tinkling of my own along my ears.
You must survive and we will find each other.
I could do that. I could try for him.
And if it all fell apart, maybe the last glimmer of light that faded from me would feel how he had reached for me, certain.
I'd been so afraid he hadn't cared, but that was foolish.
Of course he cared. He was steadfast, and he would see me through this – one way or another, even if that other path was at the end of his blade.
Beloved. Was there anything kinder than the promise of an easy end, if all else failed? Was there any more profound way for him to demonstrate how entirely he respected my right to chart my own path?
"Spirits willing, I will see you back here in an hour," Silver Sea said.
I nodded, rolling my shoulders and sucking in a deep breath. I raised my chin, aiming for a fraction of the nobility I knew Araxis would have the moment he hit the sands. It was the least I could do, to pretend to be worthy of him in the slightest.
"I'm going to be in so many compilation videos," I said, voice hoarse.
"Survived Against All Odds, Best-Of Mega Cut.
Most Attractive Contestants Who Cried A Lot.
Sluttiest Participants, No Ads." A shimmering energy barrier hummed to life between us, boxing me in and making the room beyond look teal.
"Oh, there will be ads," said Silver Sea. "Monetization is essential for my bottom line."
Maybe it was because of the frenetic energy thrumming in my body, but I laughed then, so hard and sudden that I almost choked on my own spit.
That would have been a way to go. Vivith would have laughed, if they were physically able.
The platform beneath me moved suddenly and Silver Sea and the dour brin vanished as I spiralled upwards and toward the blood-drenched sands of the arena.