Chapter 46
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
PHOENIX
“Where on earth did you disappear yesterday?”
It’s Vera’s voice, somewhere far away. I sigh and roll over, pulling my duvet over my head. A moment later, the weight of it is suddenly gone. I shiver when the cool air wraps around my body.
Groaning, I pull my knees to my chest and roll into a ball. There’s too much light, I can’t open my eyes. I hate the cold.
“Rise and shine, soldier girl.” Vera’s voice again. “Where were you yesterday afternoon and evening?”
Finally, I manage to peel one of my eyes open. Vera stands next to my bed with her arms crossed over her chest. The look on her face tells me she’s annoyed. Well, that makes the two of us.
I roll over and turn my back on her. She can go fuck herself. I’m so tired and sleepy. I need at least an extra twenty minutes.
“Phoenix, we were supposed to go over the plan on how you can win the first trial.” When I open my eyes again, Vera stands on the other side of the bed.
Damn this woman. Who speaks so loud so early in the morning?
! “This is not a damn game! You’re about to enter into a deadly challenge, you refuse to kill a dragon, and don’t even bother showing up to brainstorm alternatives. ”
Anger rising within me chases the last dregs of sleep away. My eyes are wide open when I roll away from Vera and jump to my feet. Jax lounges on his bed by the wall with his arms crossed behind his back.
The look he gives me is disapproving.
“As I said, there’s nothing either of you can do here. It’s on me to survive once I face the dragon.” I glare at Vera. “And waking me up earlier than necessary is definitely not going to help me win.”
Her nostrils flare, and she presses her lips into a tight line. “If you’d been here last night and had gone to bed at a decent time—”
I cut her off. “You’re my patron, not my mother to set a curfew—”
She cuts me off. “I wouldn’t have to act as your mother if you wouldn’t run off to gods know where without telling anyone where you are.
You damn well know that Caligos are dangerous, they already sent an assassin before the trials even began.
And yet, you have no sense of personal safety.
If they managed to assassinate the Ezkai General, what do you think they can do to you? !”
“I wasn’t in any danger. I can protect myself,” I say, throwing my arms up.
“That’s exactly what Kitajo believed before he was murdered in front of his whole fucking government.”
We stare at each other for a long while. I don’t need to read Vera’s emotions to recognize the pain that fills her eyes.
Jax clears his throat.
“Phoenix, I think what Vera is trying to say here is that we were worried when you disappeared last night without saying anything,” he says calmly. “With danger lurking around every corner, it’s only natural to be worried about the safety of our chosen champion, don’t you agree?”
I sigh, and some of my irritation evaporates.
“Fine, I get it,” I say. “But next time, choose a different way to communicate that rather than waking me in the morning with a damn argument.”
Vera clicks her tongue. “Will try my best. You still haven’t answered my question—where have you been?”
My heart skips a beat right before I open my mouth to lie.
“After you guys left me alone, I felt very restless and anxious. So, I went for a walk in the forest to shake some of it off. I came across a beautiful mountain river, so I decided to meditate. I lost track of time, as you have seen happen often during my training with Oka Oya.”
Vera nods. “Going for a walk in the forest you’re not familiar with is reckless. Next time take one of us with you.”
“I will.”
“We know you have a taste for danger, but we can be good company, too,” Jax says and his eyes glitter.
I narrow my eyes at him. Thankfully, Vera doesn’t pick up on the tension between us, or maybe she simply doesn’t care.
“Now that we got that out of the way, let’s talk important stuff,” Vera says. “The trial starts in two hours. You need to get dressed and get some food before we head to the location where it’ll take place.”
I sit down on the edge of my bed and nod.
“While you were meditating, Jax made himself useful again,” Vera says.
He winks at me. “You’re welcome, darling.”
I roll my eyes.
To me, Vera says, “He snooped around and came across a stash of Kond powder that the monks keep around for safety. This powder is super rare, and it’s the only thing that can kill a dragon’s fire.”
I frown. “How?”
“The dragon must inhale the powder. Through their airways, the powder gets into the fire production glands and blocks them for a short time. While a dragon without its fire is still lethal, it’s much more easy to manage, and even kill.
” Vera glances at Jax over her shoulder.
“I was surprised to find out monks have it. It’s a forbidden substance, and can only be found on the black market because of the danger it poses to a dragon’s well-being. They’re already rare as it is.”
“I overheard them say it’s for the safety of the audience while they watch the trial,” Jax says. “Just in case the dragons get aggressive towards the spectators.”
Vera nods. “That makes sense. They must take precautionary measures.”
I reach a hand towards Vera, and she puts the small linen pouch in my palm. It’s light as a feather.
“So, what do you want me to do with it?”
“Take it with you into the trial, of course,” Jax says, his voice light.
“As a protective measure, just in case you find yourself in a pickle because you’re so adamant about not slaying a dragon.
Can you imagine, though, how cool it would be if you were Ezkai General Phoenix Wildarrow, the Slayer of Dragons? ”
“Shut up,” Vera and I both snap at the same time.
Jax presses his lips into a thin line and mimics locking them with a key and throwing it away. The dramatics.
I turn to Vera. “But won’t the Ezkai and the rest question where and how I got the powder that’s supposed to be illegal if I use it?”
Vera shakes her head. “There are no rules that forbid the participants from seeking out whatever measures are necessary to help them win this trial, as long as it doesn’t involve other people.”
I purse my lips. “Okay. Thank you, Jax. This is very helpful.”
Jax beams at me, as if he’s a child who just got the most delicious candy. “You’re welcome.”
I raise an eyebrow, but don’t comment on his excitement. Sometimes, he confuses me. Especially recently. If I didn’t know better, I’d believe he truly cares about me winning, and not only getting rid of Daegel so he can get whatever Daegel has of his.
“Alright, then,” Vera says, and rubs her palms. “Let’s do this. Let’s win this damn trial, Phoenix.”