by Paris Hansch
The next morning, several horses were waiting for them, and they returned to the castle in a much quicker fashion than they had left. Thankfully, it was a less-than-eventful journey, though none of them spoke to each other, except for a few curt exchanges. The servant girl was silent, too, almost annoyingly so, and she handled a horse as well as she handled a blade. She reminded Anton of a hunter watching their prey, waiting for the right moment to strike. He wasn’t about to lose sight of her, though—he yawned—or at least, he would do his best not to lose sight of her. Sleep had come easy, but it hadn’t stayed that way.
By the time they had finally arrived back at the castle in the late afternoon, their reception was nothing short of unexpected. Not only was his brother’s council waiting in the courtyard, but so was their entire household and a group of well-armed soldiers. Some of their people pressed their faces up against the glass, while others poked their heads out behind pillars, as though they expected something to happen. Anton frowned. Whatever it was, it wasn’t going to be good.
Alexander dismounted, approaching his councilors. “What is the meaning of all this?” He gestured to the onlookers.
Councilor Dallan stepped forward, bowing curtly. “My apologies, my lord. We simply wanted a moment of your time, but the news seems to have spread like wildfire. We tried to keep it quiet, but they appear to have heard, regardless.”
General Barrett gestured at the injured lieutenant who they had sent back before them. “He informed us of the terrible tragedy which befell you, which we will address… but I had to see it with my own eyes.” Barrett pointed directly at the servant girl. “A squad of my most well-trained soldiers, armed and prepared, fall to an ambush, yet out of the few survivors, this girl is one of them. There should have been no chance that she would survive,” he tilted his nose up at her, “unless she was the one who led the barbarians to you in the first place.”
All eyes fell on the servant, including Anton’s. The general wasn’t wrong, but he wasn’t exactly right, either. It was clear that she had killed the barbarian with her own strength, and though it may have been a complicated ruse, if she had been luring them into a trap, she would surely have let his sister die.
“We wish to arrest her on suspicion of treason,” said General Barrett triumphantly.
Anton wanted her gone as much as the general; they could at least agree on that. But he couldn’t quite squash the nagging feeling of indebtedness toward her, as much as he tried. If she were found guilty of treason, it would mean the death penalty. Anton glanced at his brother, who kept a blank face.
“Denied.”
“My lord—”
“Denied.”
The servant girl stepped forward, staring down the general without a word. She grabbed her right sleeve, tearing away a strip of cloth and dropping it at the general’s feet. The air around her was still, as though everyone held their breath.
Anton narrowed his eyes. Surely, she wasn’t about to do that.
The girl spoke to the general in a clear voice that was loud enough for all to hear.
“I challenge you to a duel.”
Chapter Nine
Adelia
Adelia almost tripped as she dismounted the horse and ran over to Mina. A duel? She did not just say that. No one beat the general. Adelia dug her fingernails into Mina’s arm, but Mina’s gaze was locked onto the general’s. There was no way that she was going to let her best friend go to her death.
Alexander interjected. “Absolutely not—”
Mina gestured at the cloth. “Anadrieth’s standard practice for disputes of honor is currently a duel, Alexander. If that isn’t how you want things to be done, you should change them.” She pointed to the general. “If you win, you may do whatever you like.” Her voice was strangely calm. “If I win, you’ll admit my innocence.”
General Barrett stroked his chin, and a smile formed on his face. “Standard practice it is, then. Of course, I will not back down from a challenge. And as the challenged, I decide the weapon…” he mused. “I admire your courage, girl, but it will be your undoing.”
Adelia let go of Mina’s arm. They were right. Everyone has the right to challenge an accusation, but it had never been done by a servant. Even most of their soldiers wouldn’t dare challenge their general. But it was their law, and neither she nor her brother could do anything about it now.
She’d already pointed out how unjust it was, but her brother had been more concerned about the fact that his people enjoyed the sport. But the general never lost a battle; the accused were given a chance, but they were simply thrown into the dungeons, anyway.
Adelia sighed. This was different. General Barrett despised Mina and would surely ask for her death. Alexander wouldn’t have the right to intercede like he would if she were simply arrested. This was just a quicker route to her execution. Adelia’s shoulders drooped. It seemed like no matter what happened, she would never truly have a say in the matter. If Papa were here, he would know what to do about it.
The crowd began to shift, and people began pushing and shoving each other as they headed toward the arena. Mina and the general followed them, but Adelia and her brothers lingered. Alexander seemed to be at a loss, staring blankly after the crowd, while Anton was rubbing his arms. There was an odd feeling coming from him, like he wasn’t happy about the situation, even though it was clear that Anton had never liked Mina.
Adelia shook her head, shooting a glare at her brothers, before hurrying after Mina. They weren’t her concern right now. Mina had saved her life—in more ways than one. She had always been able to count on her to be there every morning, to never judge her for what she did or said, to be by her side. Her steps fell quicker. Perhaps there was nothing she could do to stop this, but she would never let Mina face her fate alone.
Adelia caught up with her in the armory beside the arena, pulling out clothes from several chests and sizing them up. Mina leaned over the chest for a moment, and her eyes squeezed shut, her breath coming out in pants. Adelia gently put a hand on her shoulder.
…A desolate wasteland. Sky blue eyes. Beautiful scales, like ice…
Adelia recoiled as images flashed through her mind. Mina’s skin was burning.
…White hair. A loving embrace. A great lake, dancing…
Adelia rubbed her head, taking a step back. What was going on?
Mina took a deep breath, giving her a smile, and the stifling atmosphere ebbed away. “How are you feeling?”
“Me?” asked Adelia.
“You’ve been really quiet since we left the outpost.”
“I’m… fine,” Adelia said. It wasn’t entirely true, but although the last day hadn’t exactly been pleasant, she wasn’t about to break down as her brother had. There were times when a proper lady must hold herself together, and this was most certainly one of them.
Mina went back to rifling through the clothes, which were a mix of spare uniforms and pieces of leather armor. “Can you see if you can find something more suitable?” She gestured at her dress. “Everything is far too big.”
“Right,” said Adelia. She pried open another chest in the corner, which appeared to be full of leftover costumes from the festival. Something white caught her eye. It was a dancer’s costume, the elegant flowing fabric designed to look like a lyrecrane in flight. Like the pendant Mina had given her, it was a symbol of good fortune.
“That’ll do. As long as it has pants.” Mina took it from her, ducking behind a folding screen to change.
Adelia fiddled with her hands. “Why?” The word slipped from her lips; she couldn’t stay quiet any longer.
“Because I’ll need the movement.”
Adelia held back a frustrated sigh. “No, why are you doing this? I know you’re not a Lanadese spy, and we could have proven it another way.” There was no response, just the rustling of clothing. “Do you even know what you’re doing?” She couldn’t help the rise in her voice. If Mina lost, she would die. If she won through skill, it
would only appear to prove the general’s point in front of everyone. Adelia waited for another moment, but Mina didn’t answer. She shoved the screen to the side. “Are you listening to me?”
Mina fell straight into her, knocking them both to the floor. Her touch seemed to connect their very minds together.
…Searing agony. New flesh, tearing bone. Freedom…
Adelia opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out. Everything was burning, the vivid scenes overwhelming her mind.
…Mountainous form. Clay scent. Shaking ground…
The room was gone, and her senses flooded with rapid, broken images. Or were they memories?
…Ethereal wings. Sudden gale. Delicate wisps…
She had never seen anything like it, but at the same time, it was familiar.
…Shrieking call. Burning plume. Falling ashes…
Energy coursed through her body from the tips of her fingers to her toes.
…Slippery scales. Monstrous surge. Dripping fangs…
Then, everything was silent, and a strange calm fell over her. Adelia blinked.
Mina was on her feet, adjusting the belt to her waist, though it was normally worn higher to accentuate the bust. Her face told the story of complete normality, but there was an overwhelming feeling of confused exhaustion surrounding her. Adelia tentatively pushed against the stone ground to get up. It was solid and real, thankfully. There had been no mistake about it; what she’d seen wasn’t of this realm, and it wasn’t a vision or a dream—it felt like memories.
“Mina,” she said slowly. “Who are you?”
Mina met her gaze. Her eyes were clouded and distant, as though she weren’t really there at all.
“I’m not sure.”
“You’re not… human, are you?” pressed Adelia. The silence was unnerving.
“I am… mortal.”
There was a knock at the door before it creaked open slightly.
“Are you ready in there?” called a voice.
Mina nodded at Adelia and headed out. “Everything will be fine.”
Adelia clutched the pendant around her neck and shivered. What she had seen—no, what she had experienced—was nothing short of terrifying. Her near-death experience earlier didn’t even come close. Whatever was going on was far greater than her, perhaps determining the balance of the entire world. The only thing she knew for sure was that the legends about which she’d read in her books—the spirit realm, the dragon gods, the four elemental guardians—were no mere myths.
Adelia entered the arena after composing herself, squinting as she stepped out into the bright sunlight. The stands were packed to the brim with people, and there was an air of unbridled excitement as the spectators jostled in their seats, vying for the best vantage point. It seemed like no one wanted to be left out, and she didn’t blame them; this unprecedented act would be the talk of Anadrieth for months. A woman against a man, a servant against a general. It would certainly be a one-of-a-kind show, and their people weren’t shy about voicing their opinions.
“Put her in her place!”
“That general’s taking it a bit far—”
“Last bets!”
“Traitor!”
“—liar.”
Adelia peered around, searching for a friendly face, as she tried to shut out their comments. Whatever rumor had gone around had clearly spun out of control, and it showed just how easily people could be influenced by a few words. Of course, no one wanted to believe that Mina had saved her life without believing that she was some sort of Lanadese assassin. They probably thought that today’s main event would be a hanging. Somehow, Adelia wasn’t as worried about Mina as she’d been before.
She ended up at the front of the arena next to Elaine and spied Anton not far from her, who was keeping a watchful eye on Mina as she stood in the middle of the arena. Alexander, on the other hand, was pacing along the sidelines, clearly distressed. The other councilors were gathered in the seats behind him, whispering to each other. She couldn’t quite see their faces, but she could imagine their collective disdain. Finally, General Barrett emerged from the other side of the armory, brandishing two heavy swords with blades that looked almost as wide as her palm.
“Dirty bastard,” spat Elaine. “Full of himself, he is. Those are two-handed swords, lass. Don’t know who he’s trying to impress.”
Adelia glanced around. His men certainly weren’t taking to his display; they were calling out in disgust and shaking their heads. The general was obviously trying to put Mina at a humiliating disadvantage, but it only made him look like a conceited fool. Adelia turned back to Elaine.
“I didn’t think you’d be here.”
“Can’t a woman leave her work for a minute?”
“Well, yes, but—”
Elaine narrowed her eyes. “Didn’t think I’d be interested, did you?” She pointed a stubby finger at Mina. “That lass is something else, and you should pay close attention to this fight.”
Adelia stared at her. Elaine was never anything but practical, and she always had a reason for the things she did, even if those reasons weren’t always clear.
“What do you know?”
“Don’t know nothing. That’s why I’m here. Just a feeling I have.”
It wasn’t entirely convincing, but when Elaine didn’t want to speak about something, her jaws shut tighter than a bearion claiming its prey. Adelia gripped the wooden barricade, leaning into the arena as General Barrett reached the center, with one sword thrust out toward Mina. Their difference in height was painfully obvious.
Barrett turned his nose up, flicking his hair across his back. “White suits you,” he said. “Though it won’t stay white for long. Would you prefer the sword or the rope?”
Mina grabbed the hilt. “Neither. My fate is already determined.”
Barrett raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Enlighten me.”
Mina ignored him, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and glancing up and down at the sword. “An interesting choice of weapon. You want to show off your prowess with a difficult sword and disadvantage me at the same time. How honorable.”
General Barrett cracked his knuckles. “I don’t care what you think. I’m here to show everyone we have no mercy for traitors, and your sentence is long overdue.”
Mina smirked. “Not today, Barrett.”
They retreated ten paces, as was custom, waiting for the signal to begin. Mina let her sword trail along the ground, still sheathed. Barrett, however, tossed his sheath to the ground in a grandiose gesture, swinging the great sword around with flair. Some of the crowd whooped, others jeered.
Adelia’s eyes were glued to the scene. She knew Barrett well and had seen him train many times before. He was right-handed, which often resulted in unprotected areas on his left side, especially since he’d cracked his left rib last month, and an old injury had left him slightly deaf in his right ear. He was overconfident to a fault and would often taunt his opponents into making a mistake before finishing them off with a frightful combination of speed and strength—the skills that earned him his title.
He wouldn’t even consider the possibility of losing to a woman who apparently couldn’t even fully pick up her heavy weapon. But Mina was gripping her sword with the familiarity of an old friend. She stood tall, without a hint of nervousness. Although Adelia had had her eyes closed during the ambush, she was sure that Mina was capable of more than she seemed. Adelia shook her head.
“Even if she can fight, it’s still been two years…” she muttered. Even the best fighter wouldn’t be at their peak if they hadn’t been practicing.
Elaine scoffed. “Ain’t got nothing to do with training. Use your eyes, lass.” She tapped her temple.
Adelia frowned. “I am.”
“Not those eyes.” Elaine pulled her down by the back of her head.
Adelia stared hard at the arena, but all she could see was Alexander exchanging frantic words with his councilors. When he trudged toward his seat in the mid
dle of the arena, she knew that he had failed to convince them to stop the duel. The crowd began to quieten down, and all eyes were on their lord. He was meant to begin a duel by acknowledging the two opponents’ merits or transgressions, but he was silent. Alexander simply raised his hand.
“Begin.”
The two opponents faced each other. Neither of them moved. General Barrett spread his arms out, as though he were doing her a great service by giving her the first opportunity, but Mina hadn’t even drawn her blade, the sheath still in place as the tip of her sword rested on the gravel. He shrugged and began to close the gap, circling her. Still, she didn’t move.
General Barrett kicked off from the ground, rushing toward her. He swung with a confident stroke that would cleave any man in half. But Mina was gone. Barrett spun around to see her standing behind him, clutching her sword as it dug into the ground.
Adelia blinked. Had she missed the dodge? As General Barret swung over and over to meet only air, Adelia smiled. His irritation was rippling off of him, and she savored every moment.
Barrett’s face was twisted into a scowl, his eye twitching. He paused, scanning the ground. Adelia strained her eyes, as well. The only patterns on the gravel seemed to be his, as though Mina hadn’t even moved. She was beginning to think that Elaine was right; maybe there was something more going on.
“Running away won’t win you this battle… you’ve underestimated my stamina,” Barrett growled, coming at her with a series of heavy attacks. Mina moved effortlessly, just out of reach each time.
Adelia squinted. There was a gentle hum radiating from her, like something was simmering just below the surface. She was definitely moving, that was for sure. But no human could move that fast.
“I’m not running,” said Mina.
General Barrett grunted, sweat beginning to roll from his brow. “Then, draw your sword.”
Mina tilted her head. “I only draw my weapon when I intend to kill.”
