by Candy Crum
Jackson nodded. She watched his eyes as they momentarily looked her over. At that moment, she knew exactly how to get to him. By using her charm. He was like any other eighteen-year-old boy.
"Good. Jackson, I'd like for you to go to class."
He nodded once, slowly turning to walk away, but not before looking back at her one last time. Once he was out of earshot, she turned her attention to Amos.
"And what about you? I think all you Boulevard students feel like you have something to prove. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing, but blending in isn't bad either. I don't have time right now to deal with this. But I will deal with this—”
Amos didn't wait for her to finish, interrupting her mid-sentence. "That bastard has no respect for anyone. He and his secret group of assholes are all the same. I don't expect him or any of the rest of them to like me, but I do expect them to respect me. I didn't know any magic before the Founder and Hannah returned.”
Talia had to work hard to keep from punching the little bastard in the face. She wished he'd shut his mouth, but he only continued, forcing her to bite harder on her tongue.
“I fought for the right to be here, just like a lot of my friends did.” He nodded down the hall in the direction Jackson had just walked. “That bitch didn’t do shit. I'm tired of us getting bullied by them. It shouldn't be happening anymore."
Talia was stunned to silence. She was filled with a terrible mix of volatile emotion. Something between annoyance and anger at being interrupted, surprise that the little jerk had the balls to do it, and rage that the man standing before her was part of the reason why her father was dead.
It was one thing to walk around in the city realizing that everyone, or at least most everyone, had played some part. There was an anonymity to it because she had no idea who had done what. But it was another thing entirely to know details and put a face to her terrible imagination.
This little shit just fucked up and said the wrong thing on the wrong day to the wrong person.
"Hmm. This is definitely a conversation worth having," she said, doing her best to keep her voice level. "I believe I can help you find a solution to your problem. Why don't you stay after school today? Come to my office this evening, and we’ll discuss things further. I want to see exactly what we can do about the situation in our great Academy."
Amos nodded. "Finally, someone that wants to do something. Everyone else just keeps preaching to ignore it, turn the other way."
Talia laughed. "Oh, I can assure you that I'm not one of those who just stand by and let things happen as they may. I absolutely plan to do something."
She dismissed him, sending him off to class. She quickly went upstairs and dropped things off in her office before leaving again, heading toward the secret place in the Academy that her father had described to her in detail, but no one else knew existed.
If things were to go her way, she would need to prepare.
Arryn took a deep breath as she approached the Versuch grounds. To the western side of the tribal houses was the pit. The ground was bare, completely void of any plant—not even a blade of grass. Above, the limbs of the trees seemed to avoid growing over the area, allowing the sun to shine down on the soil there.
The crowd had grown. Everyone from their small village as well as from the other two small, druid communities in the Dark Forest were there. She could feel the tremors in her hands growing stronger.
She hadn’t even been able to take part in Laurel’s Versuch, though it sounded like hers had been very private and quickly thrown together. She’d never seen one quite like this. It occurred to her that was more than likely because of who she was—more so, where she came from.
“How are you feeling?” Nika, her first opponent, asked.
Like all druids, Nika was tall and lean. She was only a couple inches shy of six feet, and unlike most of the other females in the tribe, her hair was shoulder length. She always wore it in a tight braid that started at her forehead and was tied off at the start of her neck.
All druids had green eyes, though they varied in color. Hers were dark and lightened to a frightful whitish-green when she cast. Her face was beautiful, but her expressions were always fearsome like she was ready for battle at any moment. She was a warrior by nature, possibly the best one in the entire tribe.
“That good, huh?” Nika said when Arryn took too long to answer.
“Nervous. Very nervous,” Arryn replied. “Or scared shitless. Depends on how you want to word it.”
“Come. I’ll walk with you. We’ll go in together,” Nika said, throwing her arm around Arryn’s shoulder and walking alongside her. The crowd parted, allowing them to step through, and Nika led Arryn to the center of the pit. “They don’t exist. Got it?”
“Why are you helping me? Is this allowed?” she asked.
Nika smiled. “You’re pitted against me for a reason. I’m the strongest fighter here, male or female. No one can beat me. If you’re to stand a chance—which I only find fair given these unfair circumstances—you need to know what to look for.”
Arryn nodded. “You can’t pull punches. Elysia had second thoughts, so if she told you to—don’t. It’s disgraceful. I can do this. If I lose, I wanna lose honorably. If I win, I want the same.”
Nika laughed. “You have no worries at all. I have a reputation to uphold. If you win, you’ll do it honestly. Believe me—something of yours will be broken before you leave today.”
Arryn’s eyes widened. “Well, that sounds fantastic. Alright. What advice do you have for a novice and future, proud owner of a broken face?”
“You’re not just a novice. I’ve trained you before, though not as often as Cathillian has. Look for weakness in me. Study me. I’m not gonna go easy. Not even a little, but that doesn’t change the fact that everyone has a weakness. Everyone will give an opening at some point. You won’t walk out of here winning by strength alone because I'm way stronger. So, use your damn head for something else other than taking punches from me. Got it?”
Arryn swallowed hard and nodded in response.
“I’m sorry to say, kid, but you’re gonna lose. Just make sure you break something of mine—or I’ll kick your ass later for fun.”
Nika was a hardened warrior, but she was as good hearted as they come. She was only being so harsh because of the situation at hand. Not only that, but Cathillian had let it slip that Nika was very against Elysia’s request.
“I understand,” Arryn said, her expression just as serious as Nika’s. “Thanks for the tips.”
Nika touched her right fist to her chest, just over her heart, before walking to the opposite side of the pit.
“Arryn!” Elysia called out. Arryn turned her attention to the head of the crowd where the Chieftain, Elysia, and Cathillian stood. “She’s taller than you, but you’re thicker. Use that to your advantage.”
“Did you just call me a fatass?” Arryn joked. She was only a bit over five feet tall, but she weighed more than Nika—who was nearly eight inches taller—because of the difference in muscle and skeletal structure. Arryn’s body packed a lot of power into a smaller package.
Elysia’s hand involuntarily covered her face, exasperated at Arryn’s ability to joke at such a time. “No—dear. You’re heavier because you’re built differently than native druids. Use your lower height and difference of weight against her.”
“Is there going to be a fight any time today?” Nika asked.
Arryn turned back to her opponent who had a frightening smile on her face. It was obvious that friendly Nika was gone. This was warrior Nika she stared down.
Just… Don’t piss your pants, Arryn thought to herself as she tried to focus.
Nika swung her arms back and forth and moved her neck side to side, stretching out. “I’m good to go. I think she is, too.”
“Shit,” Arryn said, suddenly worried just how badly she was about to get her ass kicked. But she sure as hell didn’t plan to show Nika that. “Bring it on, hot stuff!”
The only thing that could have made the druid’s evil smile more terrifying was a set of jagged teeth. Arryn imagined Nika had them as the warrior stared her down like prey.
“Begin!” the Chieftain shouted. Immediately, the crowd erupted in shouts, everyone cheering for their favorite fighter.
Arryn cleared her mind, feeling the nature surround her. Relying heavily on magic during this fight was forbidden, though simple magic could be used. Just as no fight she encountered in the outside world would have strict rules, neither would this one, save for two.
No heavy magic.
No weapons.
Those would come later as this round was all about skill.
Nika circled Arryn as she found her calm center, the druid’s long, lean body like a deadly animal ready to strike. Arryn took the woman’s advice, studying her from head to toe. Nika favored her right side, which Arryn assumed meant that she was right handed.
While Arryn hadn’t actually planned to learn anything from studying this particular opponent, she was pleasantly surprised to figure out that helpful nugget of information.
Nika attacked first, rushing at Arryn from a few yards away. Knowing Nika’s strong side, Arryn was able to duck and lunge to her left, under the quickly approaching fist, but not missing the woman’s swift foot.
Arryn ungracefully fell to the ground on her back. She grumbled to herself, coughing from the hard landing before rolling over onto her stomach before getting back on her feet.
“Very nice, but you can’t dodge me all day, sweetheart. I have more stamina than you,” Nika said. “With honor! No matter if you win or lose. Don’t forget.”
Arryn grumbled under her breath. I’ll show you honor.
“Nika wins this round!” the Chieftain called out.
Arryn turned, her brows furrowed. “What the shit? Are you serious? I dodged that punch!”
“You were grounded for more than three seconds,” Cathillian said. “If your opponent makes any contact, and you go down for too long, you lose the round. How easy would it’ve been for her to round on you and deliver a death blow while you lay there coughing and catching your breath?”
“Gah! I call bullshit,” Arryn said, not caring at all about her language in the heat of the moment. She turned back to her opponent. She didn’t have time to argue anymore on the subject as the fight immediately commenced once again.
“Aw,” Nika said, pushing out her bottom lip. “Does everyone’s favorite little Arcadian girl have a problem with the rules? You can always forfeit.” She smiled at Arryn, that dark, evil grin that had intimidated her earlier, but not anymore.
“Never,” Arryn spat. “This is for my mother.”
Nika nodded once, then moved, but this time Arryn didn’t move to dodge. Widening her feet, she braced for the brunt of the impact.
Nika was so focused on the attack that she didn’t see Arryn’s eyes turn coal black.
Arryn flexed her upper body, her hands in tight fists as a small forcefield appeared before her. Nika didn’t have time to react as her momentum propelled her forward, fist slamming hard into the shield. The power of her strike was enough to break through the weak, novice shield and connect with the side of Arryn’s face, blood spurting from her nose.
She wasn’t sure if the bone had broken, but it certainly felt like it. She was grateful the shield had taken most of the attack, or she’d have been knocked out completely.
As the impact forced Arryn’s head down to the side, she recoiled quickly from the hit that was far less severe than she’d anticipated. She rebounded, bringing her fist upward in an uppercut, catching Nika under the chin.
As Nika stumbled backward, Arryn lifted her foot and kicked her opponent hard in the chest, sending her backward onto the ground.
“Arryn wins this round!” the Chieftain shouted after a few moments when Nika was slow to get up.
More cheers erupted among the druids watching. It seemed to her that many people were rooting for her.
“One more round!” Cathillian shouted. “If you win this—it’s yours!”
Arryn nodded, taking a step toward Cathillian. “Define if you go down for me. What about going down to the ground for strategy?”
Cathillian shook his head. “No, that’s fine. If she attacks, and you’re grounded and unable to get up quickly enough while she’s still upright, you lose. If the two of you take it to the ground and wrestle it out—well, that’s always very nice, and I wouldn't mind seeing that.” Cathillian winked, giving a smile. “As long as the fight continues, of course.”
“Good to know,” Arryn said. “Minus the pervy bits. Dick.”
Arryn sighed as she turned back to Nika who was dusting herself off.
“And this is for my father,” she said. She stood tall, rolling her head from shoulder to shoulder, her neck popping in several places.
“Ready to end this, precious?” Nika asked.
“I’m going to kick your ass for that,” Arryn said, her face deadly serious as she took the offensive, circling her opponent. Her confidence higher than ever.
Elysia watched as Arryn circled Nika, her prized fighter. She couldn’t believe Arryn had ever made contact, let alone taken her down, but she couldn’t deny the pride that she felt. Her nerves were on edge, her gut twisting as she watched, cheering for Arryn, but hoping for whichever outcome would be the best for her.
Arryn’s face turned just as dark and terrifying as Nika’s had been earlier, each woman trying their best to intimidate the other. Her eyes turned black again, but somehow even blacker than before. “I had no idea she could still use her physical magic so well,” Elysia said out loud.
“She practices. I catch her sometimes,” Cathillian said. He stepped closer to his mother. “She didn’t want anyone here to be disappointed in her for still having a connection to it instead of abandoning it completely for nature magic.”
“That’s ridiculous. She’s able to do both. She should use both. She’s special. Look at her. Have you ever seen her like that?”
Cathillian smiled. “Only when she’s pissed at me.”
Elysia threw an elbow into her son’s ribs, shaking her head at him before turning her focus back on the fight. Both women ran for each other. Nika dropped to her knees, leaning back as she slid, attempting to take Arryn to the ground again, but Arryn was ready.
She leapt forward, extending her hands as she dove over Nika, landing on the ground hands first before tumbling over once and bouncing back on her feet.
“Ha!” Cathillian shouted, throwing a fist in the air. “Taught her that just this morning!”
“Shh!” Elysia scolded before focusing her wide eyes back in on the fight.
“You’re gonna lose!” Nika shouted. “And when you do—you can kiss Arcadia goodbye. You’ll never be good enough to go back. Your father will rot there! That is—if he hasn’t already.”
The crowd went silent as the words flowed through the ears of everyone there, each person understanding the weight of their meaning. As important as family was to Arryn, it was everything to a druid.
Nothing was more sacred.
That was an insult worthy of swift consequences, and everyone there knew it, especially after what she'd gone through with them. Arryn stilled as her eyes closed and her nostrils flared. It was obvious that she was beyond pissed.
Elysia’s eyes were wide as she nervously watched to see what would happen. Would she attack recklessly? Would that make her work harder? She had no real idea what Arryn was capable of, but that was the coldest thing possible to say to her.
Especially with everything she fought for right then.
To Elysia’s side, she saw Cathillian looking around and even to the sky.
“Oh, shit,” Cathillian said. “Do you feel that?”
“Uh, oh,” Elysia replied, turning to the Chieftain. “Father, we need to stop this. Now.”
He shook his head. “Nope. Nika was way out of line. Leave it be. Let our little Arcadi
an druid teach the warrior a lesson in honor in battle.”
Elysia nodded, exhaling deeply. The last thing she wanted was another argument with her father. She’d underestimated Arryn too much. She needed to trust her for once—even if she was about to wield magic she had no control over. Just focus, Arryn. Just focus.
Thunder cracked overhead, wind whipping through the trees as thick clouds came in to darken the skies. Arryn’s eyes snapped open, and Elysia gasped as she saw her irises glowing a vibrant green, bleeding into a color that was blacker than black where they were normally white.
Nika nervously shifted her weight from one foot to the other in the pit, looking from Arryn’s terrifying eyes to the sky that was quickly darkening and over to the Chieftain. Her own eyes flashed whitish-green as she turned her attention to the sky.
It was obvious to Elysia that Nika was trying to will away what Arryn was pulling in, but it was impossible. Arryn’s emotions were too high, and she was somehow overpowering the warrior.
“Grandfather,” Cathillian said. “I can feel Nika trying to control it, but she can’t. Let me in there. I can bring Arryn back.”
The Chieftain shook his head, his eyes wide as he excitedly smiled like a kid that just got a brand-new toy. “The girl has a gift! If things get outta hand, I’ll stop it. Stand back and watch the show! This is even better than I expected! Did we bring snacks?”
Elysia and Cathillian both shot him stupefied looks.
He shrugged. “I’ll take that as a no. There’s no need to be so hostile. Who taught you manners? Certainly wasn’t me.” He turned his attention back to Nika. “Fight!”
Arryn heard the Chieftain’s command over the wind whipping around her, but it meant nothing. There was no meaning in anything. There was only the emotion she’d felt over the past few days, bubbling up in every dream, every thought.
All the fear, worry, and regret that she’d been repressing for ten years finally coming to the surface.
