Chapter 59
The final Grensea game is upon us!
Come to the great hall dressed in your finest traveling or warrior attire, and bring the item that belongs to the one you've lost.
May the best House win!
Sana gripped Rhyel's bracelet with heat traveling up her spine as she read the card left on the bed beside her where Rhyel should have been.
After spending such an amazing day and night with Rhyel, waking up without him beside her, replaced by an invitation to participate in the last game of the tournament, was not what she expected nor what she wanted.
Anger rose within her like a kettle ready to boil that he was taken from her without warning.
And she wanted him back.
Now.
Little flame, what's wrong? Where's Rhyel?
Sune flew into the room and settled on her shoulder.
"He was taken." Sana sneered, holding up the card to him. "For this game I'm supposed to play."
I see and Rhyel's warrior charm was taken from him for this? He must be absolutely fuming.
"Yes and I'm quite disturbed by it as well," she huffed. "What kind of game involves removing his charm and kidnapping him from our bed?"
A stupid one.
Sune smirked.
But I'm quite surprised you're so...fired up about this.
Sune said as he flew to the bridge of her nose.
There's something different about you.
He murmured with his black beady eyes gazing into hers as if he was searching for something.
What happened with you and Rhyel last night, hm?
A blushed scorched Sana's cheeks as Rhyel's sweet tender kisses flooded her mind and the warmth of his body pressed against hers tingled over his skin. "We... had a lovely day together and we had dinner at the Poccanam shrine where he..." she bit her lip, looking away from Sune. "He kissed me."
Ah, I see.
A golden shimmer coated Sune's wings as he chuckled softly.
That would explain why your aura is in such a fiery state.
"Yes, I-I feel an ache for him somehow," Sana said, rubbing a hand over heart. "Is... is this normal?"
Of course, little flame. You have feelings for him.
Sune fluttered to the top of her head.
And you should let that feeling guide you today.
"I suppose you're right," Sana said, throwing off her blankets and padding across the room with her stomach in knots as she threw open the wardrobe to search for her traveling clothes.
She didn't like this.
Rhyel said the last game could be an obstacle course, but what if she couldn't do this? She didn't come here expecting to get involved in the games. She wasn't skilled enough to compete for anything.
Holding up Rhyel's bracelet, she rubbed her thumb over the scales braided into the leather and a wave of anger swept through her veins.
But she hated that they took his warrior's charm more than her apprehension to play this game.
Gritting her teeth, Sana clenched his bracelet to her chest as a warm burning flame simmered in her belly.
Sune was right.
She'd let this feeling guide her and return Rhyel's warrior's charm to his wrist no matter what obstacle she had to endure.
A soft knock rapped against her door, pulling her from her rankled thoughts. "Come in," she called as Eula, Kezi and Zena stepped into her room with a look of unease marring their expressions.
"My Lady." They bowed.
"I'm sure you're aware of the last game of the tournament," Zena said, straightening. "We've come to get you prepared and make sure you're okay."
"I'm not happy, but I'm fine," Sana said, frowning as Eula laid out her training leathers on her bed, but the fabric was made of slick woven leather with a high neck collar and the shoulders were capped as if it was armor. "What outfit is that?"
"I modified your training leathers on the off chance you'd need to wear something with a little more armor," Zena said, shaking her head as she slid her hands to her hips.
"The armor is light but it's sturdy enough for whatever obstacle course Rivo has conjured up and Rhyel would have my neck if you were doing this challenge in anything less than that. "
"So it is an obstacle course," Sana murmured, trailing her fingers over the grooves in the leather before looking back at Zena. "Do you think I can do this?"
A smile tugged at Zena's lips. "Without a doubt, my Lady."
Sana nodded, squeezing Rhyel's bracelet. "I'm going to find him," she said, biting her lip. "But I hope you'll forgive me if I don't win this game."
Zena shook her head. "You will do the best you can no matter what happens," she said, stepping toward her and placing her hands on her shoulders.
"I'm already proud of you for not shying away from this challenge.
" Zena grinned. "And I can't say that I've seen you with that fire in your eyes before either.
" She looked over at Eula and Kezi whose faces were shining with adoration.
"It's nice to have a Lady so determined to see our Alpha safe, don't you agree? "
Eula and Kezi's eyes shimmered in a gold hue as they nodded.
"It's what we all hope for," Kezi said, sighing as she clasped her hands together.
"Yes, and for that, you've already won in my eyes," Eula said with a proud grin tugging at her lips.
"Thank you," Sana said as the flame simmering in her gut burned brighter at their pride and faith in her. "That means so much."
"Come now, let's get you ready," Zena said, squeezing her shoulders. "I know you weren't expecting anything like this, but in true Darcanos fashion, this is an excellent debut for you."
Sana laughed softly. "Yes, it would seem so. I just thought I'd be doing a debut in warrior leathers at home with the people of Darcanos."
"Ah, there will be a day for that," Zena said as she guided her to the bathroom. "Just think of this as practice. Nothing more."
Sana nodded, taking a deep breath. "I will. Thank you."
Eula filled the bath with a few oils and spread her hands over the water to warm it with her gifts of fire.
"I've added rosemary and eucalyptus oils for energy and alertness today," Eula said, turning to Sana. "I'll prepare your tea and a hearty bowl of porridge for you as well."
"Thank you."
Sana sighed once Eula left, leaving her in the warm soothing scents of the bath. Shrugging off her clothes, she stepped into the bubbling water and rested her head on the cushioned curl of the bathtub.
Everything will be fine, little flame.
"I know," she said, rubbing her thumb over the band of her ring, listening to the soft gentle hum to calm her nerves as she thought of Rhyel and how worried and angry he must've been to wake up without her. "I just want to find him."
Sana pressed her hand over the hilt of her dagger, squeezing it for comfort as she walked with Zena into the great hall. She was the only Lady participating in the game dressed as if she were going into battle and she was keenly aware of the stares and whispers from the nobles around her.
"Don't pay them any mind," Zena said, wrapping her arm around her as they walked to the podium with the Darcanos wolf etched into the glass.
Loic's eyes grew wide and a smile broke across his face as they approached. "My Lady." He beamed. "You make a fine warrior."
Sana smoothed a hand over her long plaited braid and a sheepish smile tugged at her lips. "Thank you, Loic."
"I thought we were playing a simple game." Aneera laughed from the podium next to them. "Not going into battle."
Her wife-kin and the nobles gathered in the hall broke out into laughter with her. Sana's jaw tightened as the fire burning in her gut rose to life again at the mockery Aneera made of her while Loic and Zena growled low beside her.
"Of course Lady Sana is dressed like a warrior," Lady Elalia said, causing a hush to sweep through the great hall as she walked through the crowd dressed in black leathers and armor much more extravagant than Sana's.
Elalia smiled as she approached Sana and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. "She's a woman of Darcanos now and we always come to a challenge prepared for battle, right?"
A low purr rumbled through Sana's veins as she nodded to Elalia. "That's right, my Lady."
"And it's a wonderful sight to see you in your leathers, Lady Elalia," Loic said, bowing to her. "It's been a long time."
Elalia laughed, patting Loic's shoulders. "It sure has, my old friend."
"Alright! Now that everyone has arrived," Rivo said, taking the stage dressed in flowing robes of green and gold with his thick black locs tied back from his face while his green eyes glowed with excitement.
"The Lords from the top four Houses have been kidnapped!
And it's up to their partners, Ladies or, in House Lightbourne's case, their sibling, to find them and return the item they left behind. "
Sana looked down the line of women standing beside the glass podiums of their respective Houses.
Aneera for House Issian, Lyra for House Lightbourne, and Lady Elalia for House Grensea.
A laugh nearly escaped her lips at the competition.
It looked more like a game for sibling rivalry than four Houses competing for the trophy.
"However, in order to find the Lords, you Ladies will have to go through an obstacle course made up of three puzzles tailored to your individual abilities and one final puzzle.
" Rivo grinned, rubbing his hands together.
"You'll find out what that last one entails once you get there.
The House that successfully finds and returns the item to their Lord will be the overall winner of the Grensea games.
So, it doesn't matter that House Darcanos has all the points.
" Rivo laughed. "It's all to play for, Ladies.
You will decide the final outcome of these games. "
Sana gulped as her heart clenched. "Oh Gods," she whispered, curling her fingers around her dragon's breath. She didn't think the entire tournament would be riding on this!
You're going to be fine, little flame. Don't lose sight of your goal. Just focus on finding Rhyel.
Sana let out a breath and nodded as Rivo clapped his hands together. "When you're ready to begin the course, place your hand on the center of the podium and you will be taken to your first puzzle," he said, raising his arms. "Good luck and may the best House win."
Zena and Loic turned to Sana, placing their hands on her shoulders. "Don't think about anything, but the puzzle in front of you," Loic said.
"If you get stuck, just take a deep breath to clear your mind and remember why you're doing this challenge," Zena said, taking Rhyel's bracelet from her hand and tying it securely around her bicep. "Lord Rhyel needs you to bring him his warrior's charm. That's it."
"Okay." Sana nodded. "But I'm so sorry if I lose the trophy for us."
Zena and Loic smiled, shaking their heads. "Just do the best you can," Zena said, squeezing her shoulder.
"And we'll see you and Lord Rhyel on the other side," Loic said, patting her arm. "Good luck, my Lady, stay sharp in there. I'm sure there might be some game playing from your siblings."
"Yeah," Sana said, eyeing her sisters, placing their palms against the podiums and disappearing in a flash of green light to the cheers of the nobles. Out of the eyesight of the nobles, she wouldn't put it past either one of them to sabotage her chances of finding Rhyel. "I'll be mindful of that."
"Lady Sana, you're the last to enter," Rivo said, crossing his arms as worry etched his green eyes. "Is everything okay?"
Sana nodded. "I'm fine. Just preparing myself, but I'm... I'm ready."
"Alright, I promise there's nothing too strenuous or dangerous on the course," Rivo said, patting the podium. "Place your hand here when you're ready."
Looking at Loic and Zena who nodded in encouragement, Sana took a deep breath.
"Okay, here I go," she said, pressing a shaking hand against the smooth glass.
She sucked in a breath as warm green light enveloped her.
Her ring, dragon's breath and the scales on Rhyel's bracelet hummed and pulsed against her skin as a rumbling growl and a melodic cry like a chorus of twinkling bells flooded her mind.
Her vision narrowed into a tunnel through the shimmering green light, she saw through shifting walls twisting and turning until her vision focused on Rhyel sitting inside an iron barred cage drifting in the water.
He sat up straight with a hand over his heart and his azure eyes glowing in a golden hue.
Sana.
His deep husky voice rumbled through her mind as the vision winked out. Sana gasped for air as she fell to her knees on the slate floor of a cavern filled with foliage climbing up the walls of the cube-like space.
Little flame! Are you alright?
Tingles raced up and down her spine as the flame simmering in her gut swept through her veins.
"I'm fine," she said, pushing herself from the floor and gazed at the deep green leaves on the walls as if she could still see Rhyel staring back at her.
She curled her hands into fists and grit her teeth as a hazy riddle in shimmering silver appeared amongst the plants.
I inhale what you exhale
and in return for sun's tale,
I give you a gift so pure and clean.
Raise me to the sky,
If you think you can find me.
Without a thought, Sana snatched a leaf from the wall and held it up to the cloudy blue sky above her. The wall shuddered and folded in on itself as it morphed into a black door with the Darcanos wolf painted over it.
Well done!
Sune said, flapping his wings as he fluttered around her.
One puzzle down, three more to go.
Sana nodded. "I've seen where he is," she said, gripping the handle of the door. "And I will save him from that cage."
A/N: ?? So Sana is kinda hot right now - literally and figuratively.
i'm loving this wave of fight she has going on and right out the gate she got that first puzzle DONE ???????? Rivo was true to his word so far, but there's three more puzzles to go.
... Who knows what's going to happen in the obstacle course. ...