43. Diar
Diar
We made an odd group: a Paragon, a fugitive, and a prince. Moments ago, we’d nearly caused a bloodbath in the throne room. Now, we’d either prove to the world that Siotha belonged to me, or that those who doubted me were right.
My fingers danced on Siotha’s grip. I didn’t often feel nervous. I set my sights on a goal and pursued it.
When the reins of my fate fell into another’s hands, I felt helpless. What would this Paragon ask of me?
The crowds parted for the imposing man in the black-horned helmet. Their eyes trailed across Ferris and me, curious about the pair in the Paragon’s company. Ferris smiled at them and winked at the young women.
What was it like to have confidence and charisma come so easily? The Paragons I’d met so far had possessed both qualities.
I had neither.
Twisting branches rose from the lake and wound around a gazebo. Water rushed beneath the transparent platforms, and schools of colorful fish surged through the waterborne roots. The Paragon stopped at the edge of the gazebo, looking out across the lake.
He pulled his helmet off. I’d expected a terrifying visage beneath the steel, but his features were anything but.
The Paragon wore his thick black hair short, braided tightly, and swept to one side. Topaz eyes gleaned like beacons from his rich brown skin, and his smile rose to meet them. His strong nose and heavy jaw were undeniably manly, but they made him look noble. Kind.
He extended his hand. “Agendra. Paragon of Terishal.”
“Diar, daughter of Tsuyan,” I said, accepting his hand.
Powerful fingers wrapped around mine and yanked down. My arm muscles screamed as he nearly pulled me to my knees before releasing me.
A warm memory stirred in the back of my thoughts. Akemi had emulated that greeting after his trip to Terishal. I’d fallen to my knees, and he’d laughed.
Agendra did the same to Ferris, gripping his hand and yanking. The prince nearly careened forward onto his face.
“Ahaha.” Ferris shook his wrist. “I forgot how you people like to greet each other.”
The hint of a smile curled Agendra’s lips, but he pressed them into a line.
“Siotha’s primary form is a bow.” Raising a hand, he curled his fingers into a fist. Thunder boomed beneath our feet as pillars of stone shot up from the lake.
Waves spun outward where the rocks emerged. “Let’s see how good your aim is.”
I leaned out from the gazebo, watching the three stone pillars rise ten paces above the water. Their tops shattered and spun, reforging into flat circles resembling archery targets. Akemi had given me a test like this before. I could do this.
Taking a breath, I drew a spectral arrow from Siotha’s quiver and knocked it to the string.
Akemi’s voice guided my movements. ‘Feet shoulder-width apart. Let the left food lead. Draw with three fingers. Don't pinch the arrow. And, Diar?’
I drew the arrow back.
‘Take a damn breath. Have patience. Aim.’
Breathing in, I aimed at the closest target and let the arrow fly.
The icy arrow struck the stone target off-center and shattered into a thousand shards.
Ferris whistled. “One point for our lady Paragon.”
Agendra’s face was unreadable. “The second is more difficult.”
My fingers twitched impatiently. I was no good with the bow—I preferred the sword. Fast, aggressive, agile. Swallowing, I forced myself to breathe and drew another arrow.
‘Why do I need to learn the bow, anyway?’ I’d asked as a child.
‘You're too reckless," Akemi had said. ‘Shatterblades are disciplined. Calm. We do not charge into battles we cannot win.’
Turning the bow toward the second target, I let the arrow fly. Ice shattered and scattered across the lake’s surface as the arrow struck the target’s edge.
“Two points!” Ferris grinned.
Gasps and clapping sounded behind me. I spun around.
A crowd gathered at the back of the gazebo and the surrounding platforms. Men and women both, watching.
Agendra nodded. “One more.”
Drawing an arrow, I turned toward the last target. It stood at the limits of a longbow’s range. I’d only managed to strike such a far target once before.
‘I think the bow suits you, anyhow.’ Akemi had said.
‘Why?’
‘You are still my little sister, Diar. I’d prefer you to stand behind me, on the battlefield.’
My fingers quivered as I pointed the bow toward the furthest target. Ferris' smile vanished when he noticed. His eyes found mine, but I broke our gaze.
Seeing his face reminded me of the people who’d charged into our manor and taken the only thing I’d had away.
I couldn’t fail here. I had to find them.
Breathing, I relaxed my stance and steadied my hands. Murmurs broke out behind me.
Agendra watched, expressionless.
Something shifted within me. I felt the ice surging within the bow, the waters lapping beneath the platform. A still, endless sea had stretched beneath a stormy sky when Ferris’ hand brushed mine.
I breathed in the ocean’s scent and fired.
The arrow flew above the lake, spreading mist in its wake. A line of ice streaked across the water, freezing the waves. With a loud crack, the stone target shattered when the arrow struck it, raining ice and rock into the sea.
Ferris beamed at me. “Show off."
Laughter drew my gaze to the crowd. A little girl sitting on her mother’s shoulders clapped her tiny hands together, eyes glued to the flecks of frost falling from the sky.
A soldier burst from the crowd. I recognized his sky blue eyes—this was the man who’d taken us to the Archdruid.
“You did it!” He grinned beneath his helm and clapped me on the shoulder. “Ha, Sejiro isn’t going to like this.”
“Sejiro?” I asked.
“My commander,” he answered. “The general of our armies.”
I winced. Nazumi’s general would be the second most powerful lord in the city, behind the Archdruid.
Agendra placed a hand on his hammer’s pommel. “We aren’t done here. You can shoot—but can you fight?” He pulled the enormous maul from his back and clasped it in both hands.
Taluncride. The hammer of Terishal.
The guard patted me on the shoulder and retreated to safety. Ferris did the same, shrinking against the gazebos’ railing.
Stepping back, I broke Siotha over my knee, shattering it into two pieces. The ice quickly reformed into twin daggers.
“Interesting,” Agendra observed. “Ishii’s secondary form was spear. This matchup isn’t in your favor.”
It wasn’t. The maul’s long reach would outpace my daggers. I needed my sword.
Agendra lunged, bringing the maul down on my head. Throwing the daggers aside, I pulled my blade from my belt.
The weight of his strike fell upon my sword. Wincing, I staggered beneath it, barely able to keep myself upright.
Shifting my weight, I slid my sword toward the hammer’s head. He twisted, throwing the butt of his weapon toward my shoulder. We broke apart, and I darted back, barely avoiding the attack.
Agendra twisted the maul’s handle. Vines and verdant green leaves soared through the air, entwining around the weapon’s shaft as it changed. The steel of the circular maul broke, sharpened, elongated.
He took up a new stance, holding the vine-wrapped halberd with both hands.
Now he had even more reach. Great. My only hope would be to get in close.
Darting forward, I ducked under his first swing and grabbed my blade halfway down the handle. Swinging it around, I jabbed it toward the chinks in the Paragon’s armor. My blade slammed into stone. Rock formed around the exposed chainmail.
Bouncing off the armor, I ducked under his next swing and skirted around him, keeping close to his body. I jabbed at the exposed chainmail under his arm, to no avail. Stone wrapped him in its embrace, protecting him.
Agendra spun his halberd and brought the pommel down toward my head. Ducking away, I reached for the daggers I’d discarded.
Siotha answered my call—ice shot from the blades into my hands, mimicking the shape of his halberd. Dropping my blade, I grabbed the pole of ice and blocked his next strike.
Our weapons clashed, sharpened axe heads pressed together. Now all I had to do was knock it aside, and he’d be mine.
A sheet of stone erupted from the ground and struck my knee, knocking me off balance. Agendra swatted my halberd aside and brought the butt of his weapon down on my back.
My weapon spun from my grip. I fell to my hands and knees, breathing heavily.
Ferris darted to my side. He laid a hand on my back. “Are you alright?”
A metallic thud reverberated through the platform as Agendra planted his halberd at his side. “You’ve been trained well, girl. I’ll gladly take you under my wing.”
Surprised, I lifted my head. “But I—”
“Lost?” Agendra finished my thought. “I’d hope so. I have twenty years on you—I wouldn’t be much of a Paragon if I couldn’t hold my own.”
Chuckling, Ferris helped me to my feet. He retrieved my sword and offered the blade with a coy bow.
Flicking my wrist, I summoned Siotha back to my hand and slung it over my shoulder before taking the blade. I slapped him across the shins with the flat of the blade.
Wincing, Ferris danced out of my reach. "What was that for?"
"You know what you're doing."
"I haven't any idea what you mean."
Sheathing my sword, I turned toward the crowd. They watched on, silent. The sound of clinking chains drew my attention to the guard rushing toward us.
“You’ve decided, then?” He asked Agendra. “Should we inform the Archdruid?”
Agendra sighed. “Take us to him, will you? Slowly. I need time to think of what to say.”
“Worried he’ll change his mind?” Ferris asked.
“Iceborns are stubborn.” Agendra laid a hand on my shoulder. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “They’ll take Siotha only when I’m dead.”
A smile tugged at Agendra’s lips, but it couldn’t fully form. His halberd shifted back to a maul as he hung it on his back. “Stick close."
Retrieving my weapons, I followed the Paragon. “Hey,” I called, catching up with the guard. “What’s your name?”
He pressed a fist to his chest and bowed. “Keiji.”
Keiji. I’d remember it—the name of the first ordinary man who’d had my back.