13. Poisoned
Poisoned
Scarlet
R ose and I compare our answers for the foreign dignitary clue in hushed tones.
I shake my head. "I guessed Andalucia, but it must be wrong."
Rose frowns. "I said Meria, though now I'm not sure. Neither of us got it right."
"True, but we figured out it was the woman in green."
Rose nods. "At least we got that part. And we were observing everyone else."
I glance around apprehensively. "Who do you think will be the biggest threats?"
Rose considers. "The woman with throwing knives. And the man meditating in the corner."
"The knife thrower is skilled, but the meditating man..." I pause. "He seems too calm. I wonder what he's really thinking."
Rose hums in agreement. “Same. The quiet ones are often the most dangerous."
“Well that eliminates you then.”
I choke on my laugh after seeing the look she sends my way.
Before we can continue, a stocky man with cropped brown hair steps forward confidently. He cries out and collapses to the floor, foaming at the mouth.
Poison.
I exchange an uneasy look with Rose. This is serious—we are truly fighting for our lives. Our alliance is needed to survive, but can I trust her? Only one of us can win.
Rose speaks first. "We'll watch each other's backs. Work together as far as we can, then split the winnings."
Her words ease my tension, but I can't fully trust her yet. "Agreed. But cross me, and you'll regret it."
"Likewise," Rose says coolly. "I have no interest in dying here. Do we understand each other?"
"We do," I say firmly. We shake on our renewed, if tentative, alliance. Together we have a better chance of survival, but only one of us can walk away the victor.
As the man continues to writhe in agony on the floor, I hesitate only for a moment before rushing to his side.
"I can help," I tell the shocked onlookers. "Please move."
Rose grabs my arm. "Scarlet, what are you doing? Helping him won't gain you any points."
I shake my head. "I’m not worried about points. I can't just let him die. Not when I might be able to save him."
Rose releases my arm with a frown. "Suit yourself." She sits back down, watching me closely.
I turn my attention to the poisoned man. His face is contorted in pain, his breathing labored. This isn't good. I take his arm to check his pulse. It's rapid and thinning. Panic rises in my chest, but I force it down. I need to stay focused.
"We need to purge the poison from his system," I say firmly. "I need boiled water and find me ginger root if you have any. I need it to be pure. Hurry!"
Several servants rush to get the items I request and return in mere moments. My hands tremble as I pour the hot ginger water into a bowl. Desperate to help the man, I hold his head up and force the liquid down. His body convulses violently as he gulps it down, while the other contestants watch with intense eyes.
What if this doesn’t work? What if I make it worse?
Suddenly, his body relaxes and his breathing returns to normal—with relief. I exhale the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
I watch as a castle healer strides into the room, a long red cloak billowing behind him. He kneels on the floor beside the man and runs his fingers lightly over his arm. After a few moments of observation, he looks up at me with surprise in his eyes.
"You did this?" he asks, his tone neutral.
My heart skips a beat. Is he accusing me of poisoning him? I nod slowly, feeling a bit embarrassed by the attention. "It's... I-I had to help him."
The healer's face softens into a smile. "You did a good job. If you hadn't acted quickly, he wouldn't have survived."
Relief washes over me. He’s not accusing me; he’s thanking me. My hands finally stop trembling.
He pats my shoulder in gratitude before turning his attention back to the man on the ground. I watch in silence as they continue their work, grateful that he is going to be alright.
Sitting back on my heels, I let out a sigh of relief. Rose approaches me, her expression calculating. "That was foolish," she hisses. "You gained no points and drew attention to yourself."
I watch Rose warily, my stomach sinking. Her cold indifference shocks me more than I expected. I thought she might be angry, but this level of callousness? It's an unsettling reminder that many other members of the guild are much more ruthless than me.
I stand up slowly, meeting her gaze. "Maybe," I mumble, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I couldn't just let him die when I had the knowledge to save him."
Rose shakes her head, her eyes narrowing. "Well, don't expect me to risk myself for the sake of others. Each person is on their own here." With that, she returns to her seat, eyeing the other contestants warily.
The healer finishes his work, and the castle staff takes the man away. The crowd soon disperses, leaving the room eerily silent. I remain standing in the middle of the room, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. Pride in helping someone in need battles with the shame I feel from Rose's heartlessness. I can't let myself become like her. I refuse to fall into that way of thinking.
Needing a moment, I sink into a nearby chair, my hands still trembling from the adrenaline. The weight of what just happened presses down on me. We're truly fighting for our lives, and not everyone will play fair. The room feels colder, emptier without the others, but I need this solitude to gather my thoughts.
I look around, my eyes settling on the remnants of the meal we never got to finish. My stomach churns, the food now unappetizing. The enormity of the situation hits me again—this isn't just a game. It's survival, and people like Rose will do whatever it takes to win.
Leaning back, I close my eyes for a moment, trying to steady my racing thoughts. The reality of the tournament and its dangers looms larger than ever. Rose's words echo in my mind, a stark reminder of the ruthlessness I'll face.
But I can't let that change me. I won't let fear or the cruelty of others dictate my actions. I take a deep breath, drawing strength from within. I have to stay true to myself, no matter what
Unexpectedly, I feel a presence behind me and jump slightly before turning around to see who it is. A tall figure with dark skin and bright green eyes regards me curiously, a faint smile playing on his lips. He is dressed in the competitor leathers, with a heavy woolen cloak draped over one shoulder.
"I apologize if I startled you," he says politely, bowing his head slightly. "My name is Darius."
I smile back at him in surprise. "No need to apologize, Darius. I just thought I was alone."
Darius nods in understanding, his gaze flickering around the room before landing back on me. "It seems like we both had the same thought—helping out a fellow contestant in need."
His words hang in the air, and I can feel my face flush as he studies me. He seems to sense my discomfort and smiles reassuringly.
"I don't mean to embarrass you, merely to express my admiration for what you did," Darius says kindly. "It's not often that I see selflessness in a situation like this. There were plenty of people here with the knowledge to save him. But they didn't. Most figured it was one less person to have to defeat later. You saw the value of another life."
"Thank you," I mumble, feeling a little more at ease now that the conversation has shifted away from me.
Darius chuckles softly. "You know, you were alone in the middle of the room after everyone else had left. I was worried you may have gone into shock."
He pauses, then adds with a mischievous grin, "Plus, I wanted to meet the person who had the courage to challenge Rose."
"You know Rose?" I ask, curiosity piqued.
Darius nods. "We've crossed paths before. She has a... reputation." His expression darkens briefly before brightening again. "But enough about Rose. Tell me, what's your name?"
I hesitate, unsure how much to reveal. But this man has approached me out of genuine curiosity and gratitude, not malice.
"I'm Scarlet," I say finally.
Darius smiles warmly. "A beautiful name for a brave woman." His tone is genuine, and it makes me blush slightly
"Thank you," I mumble shyly, tucking a strand of my golden hair behind my ear.
Darius laughs delightedly. His gaze is kind and open. "You are truly unique. May I sit with you?"
I laugh. "You've known me all of two seconds and already I'm so special? I think not. We can sit though. I have nowhere else to be. Tell me about yourself since you already seem to know so much about me."
He sits across from me, a smirk on his face. "I see what you did there. Very nice deflection. About me? I've traveled far and wide, from the icy tundra of Nordfjor to the deserts of Aswad."
"What was Nordfjor like?" I ask, curious to learn more.
He grins. "Beautiful and deadly. The landscape seems crafted by giants, with mountains towering over vast glacial valleys."
"It sounds breathtaking."
"It was. But the cold could kill a man in minutes if he wasn't careful. It has it’s beauty though. I'll never forget staring up at the God's Lights dancing across the sky, every color imaginable."
I sigh wistfully. "I've never seen the Lights. Were they as spectacular as the stories say?"
"More so!" Darius exclaims. "Pinks and greens and blues swirling together in waves of light, shifting before your very eyes."
"Incredible." I pause. "You mentioned deserts as well?"
Darius' face lights up. "The deserts of Aswad! Sand as far as the eye could see, spreading out beneath a sea of stars. I spent nights camping beneath the dunes, listening to the wind create its own songs as it blew through the canyons."
"It sounds beautiful in its own raw way"
"It is. And the cities! Markets filled with spices from every corner of the world. Women in veils of gold thread, men debating philosophy over tiny cups of strong black coffee."
I chuckle. "You paint a vivid picture."
Darius smiles warmly. "Traveling opens your eyes to the rich variety of human experience. No matter where we're from, we all seek love, comfort, and meaning."
"Wise words." I hesitate before speaking again. "You must have many interesting stories to tell."
Darius nods. "More than I could ever share in a single night! But I'd be happy to tell you more if you're willing to listen."
"I am," I say gently. "I have a feeling sleep will evade me tonight anyways."
He laughs, delight dancing in his eyes. "In that case, my friend, prepare yourself. For I have stories enough to last through the night... and the dawn to come afterwards."
With a smile, I settle in to listen as Darius begins to speak once more, painting pictures with his words of places I have never seen and may never visit—but which now, thanks to him, I can imagine vividly in my mind's eye. His gift of storytelling breathes life and hope into this dark tournament, reminding me of the infinite variety and beauty that exists beyond these castle walls.
As we talk, I realize something—sitting here with Darius, I feel acceptance and kindness. Something I rarely feel from another person. There’s always an agenda. A spark of hope that there are still good people in the world, even in places like this forms.
Darius listens attentively as I speak, his easy smile and warm gaze putting me at ease. But he presses me to share more about myself.
"What of your past? Your family?" he asks gently.
I pause, unsure of how much to reveal. "There's not much to tell," I say evasively. "I grew up on a country estate."
Darius seems unconvinced. "Come now, there must be more interesting tales. Your childhood, your dreams."
I struggle to come up with plausible stories that hide my true past.
"I learned to treat wounds and mix remedies from an old friend," I say, letting a bit of wistfulness creep into my voice. Truly it was a skill that everyone in Fairy Godmother’s guild had to learn. "As a girl, I dreamed of seeing the world."
Darius nods encouragingly. "A noble ambition. What else?"
I cast about for something more to share that avoids revealing too much.
"I spent hours working in my family's gardens," I say, a genuine smile spreading across my face as I recall pleasant memories. "The scent of the flowers and earth comfort me."
Darius returns my smile warmly. "That sounds lovely."
We fall silent for a moment until Darius speaks again. "You seem hesitant to share much about your life." His voice holds no judgment, merely curiosity.
I sigh and look him in the eyes. "I've had to keep many secrets to survive this long," I say honestly. "Trust does not come easily to me."
Darius nods in understanding. "Some wounds leave deep scars," he says quietly. "But know this—you will always find true refuge in a heart open to mercy and grace. Whatever your past holds, that is all that matters now."
His kind words move me deeply. I take a long breath and feel some of the tightness in my chest loosen.
"Thank you, Darius," I say softly. "Your words give me hope"
The tension finally breaks as Darius laughs delightedly. "And that, my friend, is all I ever wish for!"
Darius rises to his feet, extending a hand to help me up. "I bid you good day, Scarlet," he says with a bow. He raises my hand to his lips and presses a gentle kiss there. "May the gods bless you in these trials.."
“The same for you, Darius. And thank you... for everything."
He inclines his head, a twinkle in his eye. "The pleasure was all mine." With that, he strides from the hall, his cloak billowing behind him