33. Chapter 33
My body betrayed me. The strain to keep my hands still was becoming too much as I followed closely behind my sister. A cramp formed in my lower back, but not because of lack of training, no. Now my body needed to Wield, and my magic fought for control.
What was happening to me?
“I told you before, I don’t believe in coincidences.” Ora pulled me from my thoughts as she twirled her sword. “It isn’t just happenstance we’re learning of this. The giants must be at work.”
She had to be right. Whatever these keys were, they were more important than just words in a forgotten prophecy. Dokvalon—and now these Graevicks—sought the same thing. The sudden sense of urgency hollowed my chest. A looming feeling that we were running out of time hung thick over my head.
Isn’t it interesting that this news doesn’t seem as urgent as it should to those who heard it? The ink slithered to the front of my mind, causing me to blink hard against the sudden sting.
What do you know? I spat back to the ink.
Look at the others. My head moved up to look at those who still sat on the patio, idly chatting like there was little care in the world. How can they act so calm? How can he?
Peiro turned his head in my direction but I quickly looked away before I could read the thoughts that so willingly settled on his face for me to read.
With shaky fingers, I chose a well-balanced blade from the rack and stood opposite of Ora. She hopped on her feet, testing her balance on the small pebbles that took up most of the path. The makeshift training ground ran adjacent to a larger lawn that stretched to the forest set in the distance.
I shook my head at her as I twirled the blade in my hand, testing the handle’s hold.
“We need to figure out that prophecy…quickly. All they could decipher this morning was a small portion, but we’re wasting time.
These followers seem to have a sense of what we’re looking for but we need to beat them to it. Fyom and Paige need to—”
“They’re doing all they ca—”
“THEY CAN TRY HARDER!” I roared, my anger thrumming under my skin. I shook my head and panted hard against the sudden outburst. “I’m sorry.” I coughed against the exertion of air through my lungs and throat—feeling suffocated.
Ora simply blinked at me. “I know this is upsetting.”
“I’m sorry,” I said again, waving her off as I rolled my neck to release the stiff tension. “Feeling a bit off lately.”
Ora sighed. “We’ve been at this for weeks. We’re tired. Giants, we’re tired. We can stand to be a little more irritable than normal.”
I chuckled. “Normal. When have we ever had that luxury?”
“Hmm. Good point. Well, come on, then. Give me your best moves. I’m sure Peiro teaches you all the right techniques in your private lessons.” She wiggled her eyebrows jovially.
“Are you sure you want to practice in that fine tunic? I would hate for dirt to stain the material once your ass hits the ground.” I beamed as wide as I could.
Ora winked right before she flew toward me with speed one can only master through years of lessons and training.
She brandished her sword methodically and remained light on her feet.
A swift move allowed me to dodge her attack, but I quickly gained the offense.
In the distance, feet shuffled closer with familiar voices speaking to one another.
It seemed everyone would like a show.
Ora swiped playfully, the wind of her swing fluttering against my hair, but I spun around and lightly tapped her with the flat side of the sword on the back, mimicking a death blow.
It was freeing to find a sense of thrill and momentarily forget about the struggles we faced. Here and now, we were simply sisters.
I could still feel Peiro’s eyes on me, probably judging me for not elevating my elbow to the height he preferred, but I didn’t care.
My hands and feet had gotten quicker these last few months, allowing me to become a formidable opponent.
Ora slashed and swiped, turning me on the defense and forcing me to dodge into a rolling move before popping up on my feet just in time for my sword to stop her strike at my legs.
My senses heightened when I felt a relentless stare. I allowed myself to chance a moment and find Peiro, his eyes glowing brightly, almost blinding in the sun. Instead of his captain-like scowl, there was satisfaction. My heart did a funny flutter at his smirk.
“You’ve gotten faster.” Ora beamed right before I swung at her.
“I’m sure Sir Hanovan would be happy to know I’m not a complete waste of his time afterall.” I laughed then lunged, but Ora twisted counterclockwise toward me, forcing my feet to quickly shuffle back into a defensive stance.
“Peiro must also be well pleased.” Ora’s eyes glowed with laughter.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I grinned.
Whoops and hollers of excitement came from our side. Sury yelled strings of encouragement to Ora, suggesting a move to find her target, while Uriah joked about taking bets. I chuckled at the thought, but the idea of competing sliced open an old wound that ran deep.
At first I wanted to cower, relent, and tell her she could win…
You do not kneel, not even to blood. A bolt of energy shot through me, almost sending me to the ground. Abruptly the rage that had been momentarily snuffed out came rushing back into my veins.
The sword in my hand suddenly felt light, and I was able to twirl it faster. I changed tactics every so often to keep Ora’s feet unbalanced, causing her to trip every once in a while. Sweat dripped down my brow the more we sparred, and I was surprisingly impressed with how swiftly Ora moved.
She laughed, her teeth bright against the sweat and dust that accumulated on her golden skin. Each time we found ourselves near a deadlock, one would out maneuver the other just enough to spin out of or dodge the attack. Attacks and counterbalances.
Our swords became locked and Ora stepped into my space. “I’ve been thinking…”
I countered her next move. “Yes?” I huffed, trying to keep my focus.
She kept her voice lowered to where only I could hear.
“There’s something awfully symbolic to these keys.
” Ora dodged and slid to her right. “We need to figure out the significance, yes”—she stumbled, allowing me to swipe again to remain on the offense—“because what if what Uriah told us is true about there being a connection to the Ancient One?”
“Your point?” I spun, barely missing her sword, earning me a slight nick to the hand.
“Well,” she began, her breathing growing ragged, “if the Ancient One is their goal…what if we find a way to rid it—altogether? Level the playing field, since Dokvalon is already nipping at our heels.”
I stopped dead in my tracks, the air swooshing from my lungs. “What?” I tracked her movements as she lowered her sword slightly, ready for our next maneuvers.
“Before Uriah came here, Sury and I were thinking—”
Do you hear that? the ink interjected, drowning out Ora’s words. She and her lover were discussing what should be done with the person you love. The one you want to protect…
“Wait. You and Sury?”
“Well, yes.” Ora blinked at me like I had simply asked her if there was a sun above us.
She swiped at me again, but I parried just in time, nicking her fingers in the process.
She stumbled back a step. “What if these keys might unlock something greater? Maybe it can rid us of the threat the Ancient One possesses.”
Do you hear how she talks about someone you care for? Love, even? How callus and detached she is, as if she were talking about lint on her shirt versus a living, breathing person…
A frenzy took shape. “A theory?” I spat loudly and swung again. My sword clanged with hers a little harder, more deliberate. The force of it whipped strands of hair around our faces and sent sweat spraying to the ground.
“Well, of course, it’s just a theory. Without those runes, we don’t know what this all means, really—”
“You’re finding a theory to get rid of it,” I repeated again, my brain failing to process what I was hearing.
There’s nothing to process. Your sister wants to take away the one thing that has ever brought you happiness. She wants to keep you under her thumb and in her shadow. She wants to keep outshining you and can’t handle that you have found your own pillar to stand on…
“Yes,” Ora huffed, twirling on her feet. My sword dipped and pushed hers back. “What aren’t you understanding? We could avoid a war, save—”
“BUT WE DON’T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD DO TO HIM!” I screamed, pointing in Peiro’s direction. I refused to look at him because even the thought of losing him would cause the control I was desperately keeping intact to finally crack.
“When were you going to tell me?” I swiped violently now, driving her back. “After you and Sury finished with your theory? Or after you took away the one thing that’s mine?”
Ora’s eyes widened as she continued to block every swipe I threw her way. My hands stung from the continued impact but I didn’t feel it as lividity hummed closer toward mania. The thought of her betraying me sank deep into my heart and soul.
“What? Are you even listening? That’s not at all what I’m saying!” Ora screeched back, dodging my next move. “Even Fyom—”
“So you’ve been talking to everyone, have you? About the Ancient One, have you? How to get rid of the very one who saved you!” I shouted.
“Ophelia, find your center,” Peiro yelled, much closer than before.
“I HAVE MY CENTER!” My voice deepened to a roar as I bellowed back toward him.
“She might have a point. Listen to her,” he urged softly.
He couldn’t be serious. How could he say such a thing? My head whipped in his direction, finding his gaze so full of sorrow, which only angered me more.
“No, she does not!” I raged, my breathing becoming a struggle, my vision graying at the edges.
“Do you not hear yourself?” Ora swiped again, twirling in a way that put me on the defense as she forced me back step by step. “He saved me, not it! The mere presence of it is even doing something to you! Admit it!”