Chapter 48
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
PHOENIX
It’s too soon for me to die.
With a scream, I push myself to all fours and roll farther onto the flat boulder, right before the dragon sinks its claws into me. It lands on the hard rock instead with a heavy dunk and roars.
Swiftly, I get on my feet and into a fighting stance. The dragon turns its head to me and our gazes lock once more. I’m not standing down, and neither is the creature. We stand like this for a few heartbeats.
“I don’t want to kill you.” The words tumble out of my mouth of their own accord.
It’s true, though. Despite the threat it poses to my life, and having to do it to win the trials, I don’t want to harm this creature. The dragon cocks its head and blinks slowly, as if it can understand me.
I wish I could open my mind and heart to it so the dragon could see my intentions are true. Unfortunately, that’s not how things work.
The dragon’s jaws open to spew a white flame bolt at me. I grab the Kond powder pouch in my pocket. Right as the dragon inhales, preparing for the attack, I open the pouch and toss the powder right into its throat.
The creature chokes and screeches as if in pain. It wiggles away from me and takes off into the wind. My soul cries for it, as if by hurting the dragon I hurt myself too. It’s a weird experience.
Shit. For a moment there I really thought the creature understood me.
I’m a fool.
An arrogant enough fool to believe that I, a mere human Decarios, can find a way to win against the dragon without spilling blood, when generations of powerful fae Ezkai have all had to slay the creatures to win their place as Ezkai General.
I draw my bow and pull the string.
The dragon is flying away, so I don’t bother shooting it. Instead, I inspect the rocky clearing where multiple fights are taking place. The black rocks are covered with blood and littered with dead bodies of dragons and Ezkai.
My stomach churns.
I don’t notice I’m searching for him until I see Daegel swinging two long swords in a fight against a forest-colored dragon. Something in my chest twists. He’s moving swiftly, and each swing of his sword is calculated. But is it enough to win?
The dragon he fights has a few slashes on its leg, and one over the left eye.
My heart beats like a drum, and I ready an arrow.
The dragon strikes with its tail at Daegel’s feet and he stumbles backwards.
I inhale a sharp breath. The dragon roars, and the smoke rises from its nostrils.
Daegel’s back on his feet, but he’s not fast enough.
I act before I think about it.
The arrow whizzes through the air and hits the center of the dragon’s snout.
It screeches with pain and shakes its head.
That’s enough of a distraction for Daegel to close the distance between them.
He’s merciless when he slashes the dragon’s head off its neck with one sword, and sinks the second one right in the middle of creature’s chest.
Confusing emotions swirl inside my chest. I’m relieved Daegel lives. I’m weirdly aroused by how powerful and graceful he is in the fight. And I’m equally heartbroken to see the severed dragon’s head at his feet.
Daegel glances over his shoulder. His gaze finds me immediately, as if he knows exactly where to look for me. The dip of his chin is the only acknowledgment he offers, but it’s enough.
I feel the presence of the black dragon behind me before I hear the flap of its wings. I whirl on my heel. The creature is back, flying fast towards me.
The dragon doesn’t strike me. It circles the boulder above my head, roaring once in a while.
“I don’t want to kill you!” I scream to the wind, desperate for the dragon to understand me.
Please, please, please.
The dragon whirls around and over in the air and roars again. With a heavy heart, I draw my bow and point an arrow straight at the dragon.
“Don’t make me kill you,” I murmur and the wind rips the words out of my lips.
After making one last circle above my head, the dragon lands a few feet away from me onto the boulder. I steady my feet, grounding myself.
The dragon’s gaze is scorching hot. Yet, it doesn’t attack me.
Please, don’t make me do this, I cry out in my mind, as if the dragon could hear me. Maybe the spirits of the gods can answer my pleading and spare me from having to end the dragon’s life.
The dragon’s hot breath caresses my cheeks. All the hair at the back of my neck rises. I inhale, and draw the arrow. Our gazes lock once more.
I’m ready to strike, but I don’t. The dragon huffs and shakes its head. My heart pounds in my ears. I don’t know what’s happening, but I know that I won’t kill it.
It’s not right.
So, I lower my bow. The dragon makes a soothing sound, between a low growl and a purr. I’m so taken aback, I blink rapidly. When it repeats the noise and jerks its snout at me, it clicks.
I drop my bow to my feet.
“I mean it. I don’t want to kill you,” I say and my voice comes out calmer than I expect.
The dragon huffs, as if it truly understands what I mean. It throws its head back and roars so loud the ground under my feet trembles. Then the dragon takes off into the wind and flies away. I watch it until it disappears behind the peak of the mountain.
I release a breath I was holding and pick up my bow. My knees are weak, and my hands tremble. Suddenly, I realize that the whole clearing is dead silent. I look up to find everyone’s attention on me.
Quickly, I make my way down the boulder. Getting towards the edge where the crowd is a bit harder. The rocks are laced with blood and are extremely slippery, and the copper scent makes me sick to my stomach. I manage to keep myself from retching, though.
When I finally reach the end of the clearing, a rope ladder waits for me. I climb up, every muscle in my body straining, and two Ezkai help pull me over the edge when I reach the top. I’m grateful for their support because I don’t think I can do it by myself.
I’m the last one to make it back.
“The Trial of Wisdom is officially over,” Noire announces, breaking the silence. “Congratulations to all the winners. We will mourn those we lost in today’s fight.”
I search the crowd for Vera and Jax. They stand at the edge of the crowd. Vera’s eyes shine like I’ve never seen before, and Jax is grinning from one ear to the next. I can’t help but smile at them, relief flooding me.
“Nonsense!” a voice in the crowd shouts. “This human didn’t win the trial! She hasn’t slain the dragon, proving her strength as the future ruler of Ekios. She simply let it slip away!”
The crowd parts and a familiar man wearing Ezkai leathers steps forward. Daegel’s father. They’re painfully similar. The only difference is the silver streaks lining Daegel’s father’s dark hair.
I tilt my chin up and clasp my hands behind my back.
My blood boils in my veins. I knew he didn’t approve of me from that one brief interaction we had.
But this? Humiliating me in front of everyone?
Who does he think he is to question my decision to let the dragon go, rather than spilling blood for nothing.
Chatter goes through the crowd. Daegel’s father meets my gaze. I don’t look at Daegel. I don’t want to see his reaction. He says nothing to his father, of course, and some small piece of me crumples to bits.
I would hope a man who claims to love me would stand up for me.
“I let the dragon go because it’s an honorable thing to do,” I say.
Daegel’s father arches an eyebrow. “These creatures are regal and more powerful than any damn living Ezkai. Spilling their blood for the entertainment of people is vile, and I don’t care to participate in it.
You were not there. You don’t know what transpired between me and the dragon. ”
I square my shoulders, preparing for a fight. I don’t know what’s to come next. Am I to be eliminated for my choice?
“Ezkai Reizei, the Trial of Wisdom’s rules don’t require the participants to slay the dragons they face,” Noire says, amused.
I don’t understand what he finds funny in this situation.
“They are only required to prove their strength by conquering their opponents. In what manner they choose to do so is up to each participant. Some choose to use brutal force, while others use other gifts to show off their strength.”
Ezkai Reizei glances over at Noire. A muscle in his jaw ticks.
“It’s disgusting and weak. You want us to stand and watch an Ezkai pass the trials by avoiding fighting like they are supposed to?
Avoidance is a sign of weakness. How can we let someone like this rule our country?
I call for elimination—this human doesn’t deserve to take part in these trials! ”
I’m stunned. The audacity of this man. I want to smack him in the face. What a fucking asshole—
“A true, powerful Ezkai General knows when it’s the right time to fight, and when it’s best to use other methods of winning,” Noire says.
One of the monks clears his throat. He has an old parchment paper in his hands. He recites the riddle on the invitation for everyone:
Blood earns you passage.
Brilliance earns you glory.
I fall to either blade or mind—
but only one path proves wisdom.
Show me which one you walk,
make the gods bow to your name.
Once he’s done, he looks up and says, “As you can see, the official Trial of Wisdom rules outline that Ezkai taking part have two ways to deal with a dragon, sir,” he says.
“A dragon is a Ezkai symbol, and for some great Ezkai, dragons are lifelong partners. The point of this trial is not to kill the dragon to show off your skills. The point is to find the delicate balance between the strength of a soldier and respect for nature.”
Another wave of chatter goes through the crowd. Some people cheer for me.
“Ezkai Phoenix, the honorable participant of the trials, not only obeyed and respected the rules of the Trial of Wisdom, but she also demonstrated the true power of a great Ezkai General. She won the fight against the dragon without spilling its blood. She’s the most worthy of the win.”
Now, everyone in the crowd cheers and claps. Loud. I can’t help the smile that spreads on my face.
“Your request for eliminating this young Ezkai is denied,” Noire says over the cheers.
Ezkai Reizei grinds his teeth but says nothing. When I finally glance over at Daegel, there is a tiny smirk at the corners of his lips. But his eyes are haunted.