34. Jia
On the second day of the Tournament of Houses, the Contestars were pulled out of the competition. They’d had their opportunity to show the Protectorates what they could do, and it was time for the Houses to battle for the rights of the first pick. Whoever won out of the handful of the entrees that day would be the first to choose the Contestar they wanted to protect.
Jia liked her chances.
It was midday, and the sun was high in the sky as Jia watched round after round from her spot on the wall.
Her first round that day had been a House of Weather woman, whom Jia had quickly knocked out. Her second match was a House of Alloy man, and she’d put arrows through his thigh and shoulder, both places she knew he would recover from, before he went down.
Jia’s next match was against Kaiya Whitethorn, and her stomach churned with anticipation. No matter what happened, House of Ice would place either first or second in the Tournament, under House Death, so it didn’t really matter. But she was anxious about Kaiya, for a multitude of different reasons.
Kaiya reminded her of Volla. The same charismatic confidence that exuded from Volla lived in Kaiya, too. She resented that Kaiya was here, shining brightly to the crowd who loved her, when Volla’s light had been permanently extinguished.
She knew Kaiya would recognize her, but without the music and alcohol to numb her and warm her blood, Jia didn’t know where the conversation would go.
When Lamonte called her name over the stadium, introducing her as a fighter for the House of Ice Jia met her in the middle of the lush green grass that covered the arena floor.
Kaiya looked beautiful, her skin glowing in the sun and her brown eyes sparkling. Her white braids were piled high on her head in a tight ponytail. She had the cockiest grin Jia had ever seen, and that was saying a lot because she’d been Volla Torvik’s wife.
The great, ruby encrusted goldsteel battle ax twirled in Kaiya’s hands, making the jewels glitter in the sun. “Ahh, Jia Frostguard. Fancy seeing you here. When we danced at the ball, I had no idea your skirts hid so much . . . potential.”
Kaiya looked Jia up and down slowly, and Jia’s heart thumped a little harder, making her guilt and sorrow swell. It was confusing, conflicting, and she had never been so thankful to hear Lamonte’s bellowing voice announcing their names and letting the crowd know the fight was about to begin.
“How about this, if I win, I’m taking you to my bed and making you scream my name until morning,” Kaiya said.
Jia didn’t want that. She didn’t want to go to anyone’s bed that wasn’t Volla’s. The thought made her stomach lurch. But she did love a good bet.
“THE MATCH WILL BEGIN IN THREE—”
Jia’s eyes narrowed. “If I win, what do I get?”
Kaiya shrugged, completely confident. “Boasting rights.”
“TWO—”
Jia smirked and crouched.
Kaiya mimicked her movements, rolling onto her toes.
“ONE! BEGIN!” Lamonte roared to the screaming crowd.
Jia whipped out her bow and shot two arrows at the House of Death soldier. Twirling her ax almost faster than Jia could track with her eyes, Kaiya knocked them both away, and advanced on Jia swiftly.
Right as Kaiya lunged forward with a powerful swing that could have easily cut Jia from shoulder down to navel, Jia dipped under the battleax, stuck out her foot, and tripped Kaiya. Kaiya was too lithe on her feet to get knocked down, but stumbled, then corrected her footing almost instantly.
With a surge of magick, Jia created her own battle ax, a replica of Kaiya’s, but made of pale blue ice that was hard as steel, strengthened by her magick. She should fire more arrows; she should use her magick more creatively to make Kaiya slip and slide or make ice darts or something else that would put her on the offensive . . . but she didn’t want that.
She wanted to feel the blows of this woman directly. Wanted to know how strong Kaiya was. She wanted to feel the exertion of her own efforts, and she wanted to sweat and feel the heavy blade reverberate in her limbs. She wanted to feel alive.
The effort made her breathless, but the look of surprise on Kaiya’s face was priceless, especially as she stumbled.
“I don’t know if it’s brave or ridiculous, taking me on with my own preferred weapon.” Kaiya shook her head, laughing right before she struck.
They moved back and forth, whipping their axes at each other dangerously, clashing together again and again.
They continued the dance, much to the crowd’s pleasure, but in one sharp blow, Kaiya finally smashed through the sharp edge of Jia’s ax and through the strength of her magick in a shower of ice. The force knocked her to her knee. Jia reached for her sword, like she should have done to begin with, but Kaiya jerked Jia into her. Kaiya’s chest heaved against Jia’s, as Jia felt the sharp edge of the battle ax pressed against the soft skin against the side of her neck.
It was over.
The crowd roared with delight, yelling their pleasure at seeing the House of Ice beaten by a smaller, less favored house.
Kaiya released her, grinning, soaking up the crowd’s joy. “I’ll be coming to collect on that debt tonight, Frostguard.”