11. Chapter Eleven #2
No. He saved me. A life for a life. I have a debt to pay.
I growled at my inner turmoil. The Gaolin male with the sword in his back gurgled a cough behind me.
I would feel no conflict about killing him.
My body rose and fell with the Orynian’s heavy breaths. I leaned down so that my face was a mere breath away from his.
“I will spare you now for saving my life, but if you so much as cross my path again I will not hesitate to slit your throat,” I warned through gritted teeth.
Keeping my blades in their positions, I maneuvered myself off him and backed away. Even with his large frame, he seemed non-threatening. His eyes were soft, and his body was surprisingly relaxed despite the situation.
I lowered my blades, still eyeing him with suspicion, before deeming him not enough of a concern at that moment.
I turned and approached the other male on the ground, still bleeding, to finish him so he wouldn’t come back for me later.
Fae were difficult to kill, but we were mortal after all.
If one were to lose their head, heart, or enough blood, they wouldn’t be able to heal. Especially during the Trial.
I bent down to inspect the barely conscious male, leaning back on my heels, careful to avoid stepping in his blood. I watched him struggle against his labored breathing.
“Our bodies don’t heal as quickly here.” I turned my head to look at the shirtless male now sitting with his forearms resting on his bent knees as he continued. “It has to do with the nullification.”
“I know. I’m pretty sure the Gods want us to be easily killed.”
I set down one of my daggers and pulled up the hem of my shirt, exposing my torso.
My skin was already turning a bluish tint from where the male’s thighs had crushed my sides.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Oryn male’s cheeks turn a shade of red behind me as he looked away.
One side of my mouth turned up in an amused grin.
I wouldn’t have expected someone who looked like him to blush at the sight of a little skin, especially seeing how much he exposed himself.
The male next to me groaned, and I let my shirt fall as I grabbed for my dagger, the other one already trained at the vein pulsing in his neck.
“If only I had the time,” I mocked his previous words. I leaned down so my head was next to his, my lips brushing his ear as I spoke. “Nothing personal. Just increasing my chances of survival .”
With his own words thrown back at him, his eyes widened just before my blade sliced across his throat, blood gushing out of the wound.
I replaced my three daggers before I stood and turned, removing the sword from his chest and walking back to the other male.
I held the sword out to him as he stood, and he hesitantly took it.
I held his stare for a moment and he nodded once in understanding—a truce.
He reached for my arm as I began to walk toward my discarded bow. “So look, um…” He dropped his arm and rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact.
“Kya.”
“Kya. I’m Njall.” He glanced at me and grinned. “So look, Kya , I was thinking that we could help each other out.”
Does he think I’m an idiot?
“And what makes you think I need your help, Njall ,” I said with a raised brow. If he noticed my mocking tone, he didn’t show it.
“I’m going to be honest, I just want to get out of this place alive.
And with my mind intact. Obviously, you can handle yourself, but it’s also evident that my presence could be beneficial to you.
” His hands gestured to the other males as he spoke, and I bristled in irritation at his truth.
Without my abilities, I couldn’t easily evade attacks here.
I leaned away slightly and my eyes locked with his, distrusting of his motives.
“And how exactly do you expect my presence to be beneficial to you ?” I wasn’t ignorant to the ways of males.
Njall leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I’m betting that you’re decent at deciphering riddles, Roav.” He smirked.
“What led you to think that?” I wasn’t going to confirm the title, but I sure-as-shit wanted to know where he got that information.
“Well, you’re from Morah, aren’t you?” He shifted on his feet.
“You know who I am?” I asked more defensively than I intended.
“No one knows who any of you are, or even how many,” he huffed. I gave him a suspicious look as he continued, “Your blades. They’re from Ilrek.” He gestured to my daggers with a gentle smile.
I raised an eyebrow, still not understanding.
“Those blades were forged by a blacksmith I know. I recognized his signature on the hilt when you held it to my throat.” His hand touched the nick on his neck. “No one in Ilrek, besides a Roav, would be that skilled with a dagger.”
I couldn’t help the small swell of pride in my chest at the compliment. I nodded my head in admission.
“How do you know the blacksmith?” I asked.
“I’m a blacksmith too. I apprenticed under him, for a time, several decades ago.” Njall’s smile nearly beamed.
“I take it you’re a fire wielder, then?” It was common for blacksmiths to be fire wielders, having to work with the element in order to forge the metal. It was how I met Cade a few years back.
Njall nodded.
That explained the lack of clothing. Fire wielders ran hot, but without his fire I wondered if he’d regret his lack of clothing once night fell.
He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I figured we could work together, help each other out.” He must have sensed my lingering apprehension. “I won’t hurt you.”
“You said you only wanted to get out here alive. You don’t want to be Worthy?” I cocked my head to the side. I didn’t believe that he wasn’t interested in being powerful with the way he honed his body.
“No. I’d rather not.” He shook his head.
“Why not? Don’t you want to be spiritually enhanced and be granted powerful magic?” My curiosity got the better of me.
“I really don’t. I have no desire to become a Lord, let alone fight one. I just want to survive so I can go home and live out my life in peace.”
I didn’t expect that. I hadn’t even considered that another contestant wouldn’t want to be Worthy, to be granted such great power. But I understood it. Fighting a standing Worthy, one of the five most powerful fae in the world, was no easy task.
I had almost forgotten about the challenges. The Worthy had to continually prove themselves every century, even after their own Trials ended, until they died or were defeated. People were fools to think that being chosen was the end to this.
I eyed Njall carefully.
He wasn’t wrong that we could help each other, and without my terbis, I could use the help. I promised Malina I’d do whatever was necessary to survive.
I released a sigh. “Alright. We can work together. But remember my warning, if you ever attempt to betray me in any way.”
I would keep an eye on him. If he did anything questionable, I’d just kill him. String him up with my rope and leave him for the creatures of the forest.
I replaced my bow across my back, then walked over to the dead male and started rummaging through his pockets for anything useful. I took the matches, dried meat, and a canteen of water.
“We need to get higher to get an idea of where we are.” I turned back to Njall and motioned to the top of the hill.
Njall smiled, his arms crossed across his chest. “I’m on it. See? I can be helpful. ”
I rolled my eyes. It wasn’t like I couldn’t have climbed the damned tree myself.
He walked to the nearest tree, hoisted himself up the trunk, and climbed to the lowest branch.
My mouth fell open at the ease with which he moved up through the branches—and the impressive view I had from below.
I kept watch on the ground while he made his assent.
His large body was hidden by the leaves as he continued to the top.
I leaned against the base, propping one foot on the trunk with my knee bent, and waited for him to climb back down.
After several minutes, I heard him descending the massive tree, branches groaning under his weight.
He jumped down from the lowest branch and I could feel his body land—even without my abilities.
I pushed off the trunk and approached him as he bent down and pulled out a knife.
He brushed away fallen leaves and began carving in the dirt with the blade.
“It looks like we’re near the south side of the Woltawa Forest, here.
” He circled an area where he drew a bunch of symbols for trees.
“It ends just at the base of the mountain, on the northern end of the island. I couldn’t see a water source from the tree but from the aerial view I saw before I landed here, I noticed one cutting through here.
” He pointed to a squiggly line in the dirt map.
“I’d guess it would take us a few hours to walk there.
As long as we don’t run into trouble along the way. ”
“Let’s hope we don’t,” I said, extending a hand to Njall which he took with a smile as he stood. Not that I could actually help him up with how big he was. “I suggest we get moving. I don’t want to be wandering around at night with the nocturnal beasts out.”
“Agreed,” he replied hastily and pointed in the direction of the river.
Watching him from the corner of my eye, we walked side-by-side in silence for several minutes, taking in our surroundings and looking for threats, winding through the forest. I was grateful for the pleasant temperature.
I listened to the wind as it rustled the leaves above us and the birds’ songs as they echoed through the trees.
I loved being amongst the trees, the smell of the bark and the moss-covered ground calmed me, even in my unnerving situation.
“That was smart of you to write down the riddle. But whose blood is that?” His voice lowered to a hush as he gestured to my blood-covered arm. His face had contorted into a grimace.
“Don’t worry, it’s mine. I didn’t want to forget it. One missed word could change the entire meaning.”