Chapter 38

E mber kept her head down as the guards escorted her past the spectators and to the pavilion. There was no wine and a soft cushion for her this time, no little treats and music, no gossip and laughter filling the air. The fae supporting Cole were done with frivolity, and the weight of their disapproval was almost tangible. This game was too important.

In stark contrast, Ashe's team on the other side of the river were enjoying themselves as much as ever. Music and laughter drifted on the breeze, and sparkles streaked high above the dark pavilion, like fireworks. Tiny boats, festooned with flowers, and only large enough for two, were sailing merrily back and forth, although the fae aboard were careful not to drift over the midway point into Cole's territory.

She passed the other water sprites on her team, all aloof creatures, so devastated at losing their captain and teammate Lissa that they could barely look at her, let alone speak to her. She had the idea that they thought they could win just as well as without her, and they left her strictly alone.

The guards escorted her to the throne where Cole waited, his bearing ramrod straight, the familiar cloud around him pulsing with energy, crackling, and hissing. The events of the day before seemed to have galvanised him. He was in fighting form, at the peak of his abilities, and he had conjured a power that was awe-inspiring.

The air was cool around her, and she, clad in a sleek white swimsuit that looked as if sewn from fish-scales, shivered as little bumps stood up on her arms. But the closer she drew to Cole, the warmer the air became until she stood bathed in heat, not that of a comforting fireplace on a chilly winter's day, but as though she were about to be burned.

Cole made a sharp gesture, and she gasped in shock, hands fluttering up to her neck to find gaping wounds. He had slashed her across the throat. She tore her fingers away, expecting to see blood, but there was nothing, and after the initial cutting sensation, she felt absolutely no pain at all.

"Gills," said Cole, watching her tentatively exploring her throat. "You'll be underwater a time. Your team will support you. Stay close."

Ember was fairly sure they'd do no such thing. If the scylla in the water didn't kill her, she could bet that one of her teammates might, just to avenge Lissa. She was on her own.

He closed his eyes, which she took for dismissal, and the guards took her away.

She and her team of water sprites marched out onto the riverbank and waited for the gong, stretching, limbering up legs and arms. Someone thrust a dagger into the belt at her side, and Swirl, shouldering aside the fae clustered all around, brought her a light spear, tipped with a deadly glittering point.

He strapped it into a holster at her back, although how she would use it when she was in the water, she had no idea.

The gong sounded, a thundering crash that first silenced the watching fae, and then as the reverberations faded, they burst into cheers. Threads of white arced overhead, criss-crossing through the air and striking the water sprites in the chest, one by one. The fae gasped and moaned as Cole's power hit them, arching their backs, their faces contorted.

Last in line, Ember clenched her fists as a beam of white light fell toward her. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting with trepidation for the agony and ecstasy of Cole's power flowing through her. Unlike the other beam, it hesitated just before it hit her, a hesitation that was long enough for her to crack an eye quizzically to see it poised, like a snake about to strike. In a rush, as though it had finally made up its mind, it dived into her, cleaving aside flesh, blood, muscle, bone, to strike at her heart.

And in that moment, she felt … nothing.

Not a damn thing.

Cole had no power over her. He might hurt her physically, but he didn't control her mind or her heart. The notion was thrilling. She arched her back and let out a cry that sounded like the others, but unlike the others, hers was a cry of triumph and release. She was free.

Almost.

As one with the others, she dived into the churning waters. Her team immediately banked left with the current, and she followed them. Ashe's team had gone right, against the flow, and she wondered why. Perhaps the ease of travelling with the water made for more danger ahead.

Tangles of weed carpeted the riverbed, and it was impossible to tell how deep the river was. The rush of the water was cool and sweet and there were a confused couple of moments when she automatically held her breath. Tentatively, she sucked in a gulp of water that fizzled through her gills, and then she was swimming properly, shooting through the water like a seal. Glee rose within her as the water both surrounded and infiltrated her. She was water. She could swim like this forever, she thought, wild and free, and —

A streak of fire whizzed past her leg, and she let out a yelp that was nothing but aggrieved bubbles. Two scylla swimming up from the watery jungle of plants below were attempting to cut her from off the main group. They swam on either side, trying to steer her toward the bank, and one aimed a green stick at her, a streak of fire shooting from its tip.

She ducked, and the fire shot harmlessly over her head. She swam faster, catching up with the water sprites in her team and gesturing wildly toward the danger. Only one turned; the others ignored her. The one who had taken heed of Ember's warning drew her dagger and slashed, spilling green scylla blood.

Ember drew her spear, and to her surprise, found it moved through the water with no drag at all. It acted as if it would in the open air. She thrust, skewering the remaining scylla in the throat, and it fell away. The water sprite gave her a congratulatory look, and they both swam on.

A yawning chasm showed black ahead, and as the group made to swim over it, a crowd of beings erupted from the depths, all flowing hair and sharp teeth and dark skin wrapped in rough shark leather. Two grabbed one of Ember's teammates and hauled him, kicking and thrashing, into the maw. Another slashed at a sprite, and blood erupted forth. The creature bit into the sprite's neck and chewed, the lifeless head falling sideways. The water was churning with limbs, weapons, and blood. It was hard to see. Ember felt a grab at her arm, and she blindly jabbed with her dagger. The creature clutched at the gaping wound, and another sprite swam in and finished her.

As the current pulled them relentlessly forward, the beings fell back, seemingly disinclined to leave the safety of the abyss.

The team was smaller now, and they swam on in a pack, Ember at the heart of them. She had proved herself, and there was strength in numbers.

The water churned ahead, a fizzing and bubbling, as the river joined that of the other side. The group moved toward the bank, to put as much distance as they could between theirs and Ashe's team, a wise course of action as the rivers converged and another group of five sprites swam into view.

Neither seemed inclined to engage the others in a fight, and it became a race. Ember pulled through the water as best she could, but even with the gills that Cole gifted her, she couldn't swim as swiftly as her teammates, and fell behind.

The water sprite she had earlier warned of the scyllas fell back with her, urging her on. Ember valiantly tried, but she was becoming weary, her arms and legs straining with effort.

Suddenly there was a wild agitation in the water ahead, a swirling froth of bubbles overcoming the swimmers. Through the maelstrom there came the gleam of silver scales, and the flick of an enormous tail. Immense fish with rows of pointed teeth were darting and diving amongst the sprites, tearing at flesh, gulping dismembered limbs whole. Blood clouded the water.

Ember and her teammate paused in horror and moved swiftly toward the bank, skirting the massacre. Another from Ashe's team had escaped the slaughter and was trailing in their wake, but she was swimming with one arm, the other broken and dangling.

With nothing impeding their way, Ember and the sprite swam on until they could see thick bands of gold streaming through the water, showing them the end. They rose to the surface, suffused in light.

Ember crawled up onto the bank. Her legs could hardly support her, and she lay there for a moment or two, until her single remaining teammate helped her to her feet. She could still hear the drumming of water in her ears, and it took her a moment to realise that the sound was cheering on all sides, cheering for her, cheering for the team, and cheering for Cole.

He emerged from the pavilion, a guard on either side to steady him. As always after a competition, his face was pale, and he was weak. But he had strength enough to push the guards aside and stand on his own, his face suffused with an unholy joy. "The Kingdom of Swords is mine!"

Ember cast a glance across the river, to where Ashe's supporters stood. They were clapping too, but it was automatic and half-hearted, and several were weeping. Some expected to die, others to be demoted from their free status to that of servants. Cole wasn't known for his mercy.

Cole spoke a few words to the water sprite next to her, who blushed coquettishly and made a graceful curtsey, and then he turned to Ember, taking her chilly hands in his. "Thank you, my darling. Thank you for this."

He kissed the back of one hand, and then the other, and she closed her eyes.

The Sword would be crowned, the wrong cousin chosen, and it was all her doing.