42. Chapter 42 #2
Remaining under the forest’s protection, they prowled toward the northwest to bring them closer to the center of the arena where the volcano stood.
Vanessa had drawn a circle, labeled it one through twelve like a clock, and circled the known positions of the defenders.
They knew from previous festivals that the trifecta liked to position themselves in a triangle—one at the twelve o’clock position, another at four, and the final one at eight o’clock.
They each brought one lieutenant, positioned at six, ten, and two o’clock.
“Is it too naive to think we can sneak in through the gaps?” Yareli had asked.
Vanessa had nodded, the grim set of her lips confirming what Yareli already knew—their opponents were too fast, too observant, too strong for sneaking.
“Where’s the merit in this?” Frustration slipped into Yareli’s tone.
“The Fire Court doesn’t play fair,” Erbert had replied. He leaned on a tree, his arms crossed. It was clear that whatever had happened in previous years had left a sore spot.
“Then, it’s luck. We’re relying on luck!”
“Essentially, but there are a few ways to help bolster our ‘luck’.” Vanessa circled the twelve o’clock and four o’clock positions.
“Our best bet is to find ongoing scuffles where both the general and lieutenant are distracted. The more likely scenario, however, is that one will be distracted while the other isn’t. We’ll have to fight then.”
Yareli had thought back to Bri’s training sessions. If the Fire Court lieutenants were as skilled as Bri, she wasn’t sure they could win.
When she had voiced this, Vanessa had shaken her head, saying, “We’re not trying to beat them. We’re trying to distract them while you sneak your way up the volcano.”
Her jaw had dropped. “I’m not the fastest runner here. Erbert would be the better choice.”
“It has to be you. Erbert may be our medic, but he also has great defensive skills. In terms of battle prowess, we outclass you. You’re tiny, easy to glance over in battle. It gives you the perfect advantage.”
Offended that they had determined she was the weakest, she gritted her teeth. She knew it was true. Sure, she had some smarts for battle, but her magic skills were rudimentary at best. She was a liability, but her pride hadn’t let her accept it without pushing back once more.
“I’m not very quick.” Her argument had fallen flat. Even she had known that if she kept insisting she could fight, it would be pathetic.
“Erbert’s got a spell for you to make you lighter on your feet. We’re trusting you, Ines. Trust your own feet to take you to the finish line,” Vanessa had replied.
And that was how Yareli came into possession of everyone's gems, which were stuffed in her satchel. Vanessa took point, and Erbert and Yareli walked in the middle. Dre, perky now that the supplements had been digested, watched the back. She was wringing her bag’s strap to hell and back, the forest’s silence oppressive.
Every time the gems clinked, she flinched, but no one ambushed them.
They were heading to the eleven o’clock position, hoping their luck would hold and meet Dragon General Andre, who was fair in his judgment and less bloodthirsty than the younger generals.
Allyah would certainly not lose sight of Yareli, having been obsessed with her since the start.
The temperature dropped several degrees; the hair on her arms stood. Something was brewing. The word ripped out of Yareli’s throat before she was aware of yelling it.
“Move!”
They sprang apart as ice erupted from the ground where they had been a few seconds ago. A trap set by another team, the spears of ice gleamed with deadly intent.
Rustling sounded nearby, cut off by the sudden swoosh of something flying through the air. A single thud sounded.
Vanessa barked, “Stay down, they have an archer.”
Yareli had been lucky enough to land behind some brush; she crawled backward on her back. If only her gym teachers saw her now, doing the crab walk all students hated. Someone cursed, and an arrow shot past her.
Erbert cried out, but he yelled, “I’m fine!”
She moved faster as arrows rained on them, trapping them in place. They were sitting ducks, and she would bet their gems that the archer’s team was on their way to finish them off.
She dove, rolling behind a large trunk, and watched the trees. The arrows lulled. Then, a singular arrow flew by. The archer was to her left, but she had to confirm it. It could easily be a magic trick.
“Ines.”
The whisper came from her right. Yareli found Erbert taking cover behind a stump about two trees down.
She asked, “You okay?”
“Only a graze. I’m going to run. Find the archer; you’re the closest one to him.”
“It’s dangerous!”
“I’ve nearly died before in these challenges. I’m willing to do whatever it takes. Don’t,” he snapped.
His unspoken words hung in the air. Don’t hold me back.
He was right. They were all risking their lives, and the least she could do was respect that and do her part.
After all, she had asked the same of Augrys.
She nodded and turned her eyes to the front, ready to pinpoint the archer.
Erbert took off, twigs snapping under his feet, and arrows flew from every direction, but she kept her eyes glued toward her left.
“Come on,” she whispered. “I know you’re there.”
She raised her head, squinting to see farther, and then there it was—a small glint of magic hovering about seven trees to her left and about twelve feet up in the air. Erbert crashed into a brush, arrows piercing it.
She sent a quick prayer that he was alright and moved.
She snuck behind the trees, avoiding brush and branches until she was at the tree she was sure the archer was in.
As she started climbing, a skirmish erupted in the clearing.
The archer’s team had arrived; three enemies engaged her team.
She paused, concern stilling her hands. It seemed even, but then arrows fell on her teammates. She had to stop the archer.
“Go!” Erbert shouted, reminding her of their trust in her.
She no longer hesitated, scaling the tree.
Using low-hanging branches, she swung herself upward, making steady progress.
The archer had noticed her the moment she had landed on the lowest branch, but he hadn’t stopped his assault on her teammates.
Only when she was a few branches under him did he pause.
He was fully clothed in camouflage from head to toe, blending into the trees.
Only his bright brown eyes were visible.
She saw his hesitation as he glanced at the clearing below, where the fight continued; she threw one of the daggers strapped to her chest. It hit a branch, but it got his attention.
If he ignored her, he would pay dearly for it.
She waited for his decision. If he jumped, she’d jump with him.
If he pulled another arrow, she’d leap up to him.
He dropped to the ground, and Yareli followed, tackling him before he could reorient himself, but he wasn’t like nox creatures.
He was as ready as she had been. He hooked his legs around her waist, rolling them so he was on top.
Yareli raised her forearms, blocking his fist. She bucked her hips, throwing him off balance, and placed her hand under his left armpit.
She pushed him to the right as she wiggled out on the left.
Startled, he took a foot to his chin as she kicked from underneath him.
She drew another dagger, ramming its hilt into his forehead and knocking him unconscious.
He crumpled to the ground. She breathed hard as she patted him down, finding his yellow gem in the small pouch on his trousers.
After tying his wrists and ankles together, she hurried back to where her team was tying up the rest of the archer’s team.
“Nice work, Ines,” Vanessa said.
“You too,” she replied, surprised at how easily she had taken down the archer. Her transformation within the span of a few months was astounding. What would her mom think?
She dismissed that thought. Her mom would probably tell her magic was the devil’s work.
Izmari, her magic, and Fae would be another part of her life she would keep from her family.
After all, none of it paid the bills, and bills ruled their lives.
She had to return and fix it. Find a lucrative job and help pay for her brother’s education.
“Ines,” Dre said, beckoning her toward them where they huddled
She smiled, shook off the depressing thoughts, and joined them. She needed to stay focused.
Vanessa scanned their faces and nodded at whatever she found there, saying, “Alright, team, we’re heading straight into the predator’s den. Call in any blessings from the Great Tree your ancestors may have had, because we’re going to need them.”
“Remember, Ines,” Erbert said, “Don’t look back.”
The intensity in his tone made his words come out with a fervor that spooked her, reminding her of the crucial part she played.
She held their success, or failure, in her hands—literally.
Part of her, the sane part, wanted to yell that it was just a game; they didn’t have to undertake a nearly impossible task, but that was a lie.
Every single one of them had something to prove, something they had deemed worth their lives.
It meant something. For lost loved ones, for dignity, for escaping an abusive father, and for herself, it was to prove something.
“Bring me one of their belt pouches,” she ordered. “And stuff some bandages in your own gem pouch.”
Their strategy was subterfuge, and she was going to add one more layer of deceit.