Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“ W e need money,” Rydon said the following day as they all sat for breakfast.

Terena had wanted to separate as they had the night before, but Rydon had informed them he and Gabriol had gone around the city looking for news the night before and had not heard of anyone looking for Terena Luca or Sonah Yahn.

In fact, the only news was about the latest battles breaking out all over the eastern continent. Heylisia was fighting Ravos, but Ovenno had come to their aid. Elis, home province to Empress Adanna, had not seceded from the empire and had sent a legion to retake Tursk. They were currently embattled near the border, but Aurora sent soldiers against Elis’s army.

So basically, Emperor Solon had more important worries than Terena.

“How much do we have left?” Terena asked, sopping up some egg yolk with her bread.

“Maybe a week,” Rydon replied.

Terena shoved the bread in her mouth and sat there, thinking.

“I can juggle,” Croak said.

“Shut up, Croak. ”

“You know what?” Gabriol asked as he leaned back in his chair. “This city is huge. Let’s find some fights. Two or three of them and we’re good for some time.”

Terena nodded as she chewed.

“Good with me,” Rydon said. “Ask around, would you?”

“Aye,” Gabriol said as he flashed a grin beneath his blond beard.

“So no one’s looking for us?” Terena asked Rydon after she’d taken a swig of ale.

“Maybe some random squad,” he said with a shrug. “I can’t imagine they’d have anyone here, though. The Liodari would have killed them by now.”

“Unless they’re working with Solon,” Terena said. Sonah’s head shot up, her eyes meeting Terena’s.

“Why would you think that?” Rydon asked, leaning his forearm on the table.

“They were in Aurora,” Croak said, his glance shifting to Terena before turning back to Rydon. “We saw them—well, Daris Antonius and a couple of his men, anyway. Meeting with the duke, same as us. When was that, Ren? The spring sometime, maybe a month before all this shit.”

“And you think it means what?” Rydon asked, arching an eyebrow. “Aurora’s an enemy to Solon now. If anything, Daris Antonius and Lakonia would be allied with Aurora.”

Terena shot Croak a look, but quickly dropped to her plate. “Something seemed off about it all. Why would he be that far north in the first place? Croak’s right. Solon was on the brink of sending his legions from Elis to Lakonia before all this happened.” Terena shifted as she warmed to the topic. “Think about it. Someone drugged Isher and… Lerek. But whoever did that, also let Isher live. And whoever that was also knew Sonah?—”

Fuck.

Terena bit the inside of her mouth.

She sensed Sonah’s panic as if it was a living thing, surrounding her and her stupid runaway mouth .

“Would need to be kept away. That’s why they made sure you were in the courtyard, right, Sonah?” Croak said loudly.

Oh, gods, I love him. Terena swallowed as she nodded, chancing a glance at Sonah. Sonah grunted her assent, the color high in her cheeks.

“That’s right, you were in the courtyard,” Terena said.

“So if she’s in the courtyard, then they can drug the princes, kill Lerek and the guards, and blame it on Sonah,” Croak finished with flair as he held his arms out.

“Why would they blame it on the poor girl?” Gabriol asked.

Croak shrugged. “She’s his Royal Taster. They think she was in on it. And she is the daughter of Duke Ovenno. Not a stretch to believe the duke is the one who started this whole shit.”

“And keeps Solon from attacking Lakonia,” Gabriol said with a nod. “That makes sense.”

“If she’s his Royal Taster, wouldn’t he have waited to drink until she arrived?”

Terena frowned and opened her mouth, but once again Croak jumped in. “Lerek didn’t always wait for Sonah to drink first. Only when others were around, right Sonah? The Tasters are all daughters of the dukes, sent to the White Palace as another way to control the royals. Stop them from moving against Solon. If he controls their kids, they won’t rebel against him. No one took the Taster thing seriously. They mostly did it for the benefit of the servants.”

No one spoke for a long time while they continued to eat.

“Well, at least that leaves us in the clear, for now,” Rydon said at last.

“Now that we’re here… why are we here?” Gabriol asked, his elbows on the table as he leaned across, glancing between Terena and Rydon.

“We’re going to steal something from the king,” Croak said with his mouth full.

The public house where the fights were held was large, like a barn, but made of stone. Two tiers overlooked the fighting pit, with people hanging out over the railings and shouting down at the spectators below. It was so loud, Terena cringed as they entered.

Terena looked over her shoulder at Croak eyeing the crowd. Next to him, Sonah clutched at her cloak but kept her head high. Terena caught her gaze and Sonah gave her a tight smile. She smiled back and turned to the fighting pit.

Ahead of them, Gabriol stopped next to a short, heavy man with a balding head already sweat soaked, his limp mustache not matching the soft skin of his large cheeks in a complementary way. Terena stopped behind Rydon, half turned to Sonah as she looked out over the room. From the look of the spectators, these fights were a great equalizer. Every class of citizen was present and pressed together.

Gabriol walked back to their group and leaned close so they could all hear over the pressing crowd.

“I’ll be fighting third after this one,” Gabriol said loudly, then pointed to Rydon. “You’re the fight after me.”

Terena looked at both of them, then over at Croak, who shrugged like he couldn’t care less.

“What about me?”

Rydon looked over at her, an auburn eyebrow arched. “What about you?”

“We need money,” she said, glancing from Rydon to Gabriol. “I’ll fight.”

Gabriol ducked his head as Rydon put a hand on her shoulder. “I know you can fight, but do we want to risk people getting curious about who you are?”

Terena looked around. He had a point. Heylisians weren’t welcomed in this kingdom, and technically, they were Heylisians. Even if she was believed to be the one who’d committed treason and murder against the empire.

Her eyes caught on Croak.

“Give me your scarf,” she said, holding out her hand.

Croak looked at her with a blank expression. “I don’t have a scarf. ”

She snapped her fingers at him and pointed to the scarf around his neck. “That scarf.”

“It’s not a scarf,” Croak said as he looked down at himself. “It’s the top sheet from my bed. I took it when we left. It’s cold out.”

“Fuck’s sake,” Rydon scoffed, and even Gabriol smothered a smile.

“Fucking weirdo, why? Save it—I don’t care. I’ll take it anyway,” she said, snatching it from his shoulders. She folded it twice, then wound it around her neck and over her head, wrapping the last bit over her mouth and tied the ends at the back.

She shoved down the cover from her mouth and nodded to Gabriol. “Better? Can you set one up for me now?”

Gabriol tilted his head. “Aye. But you know, they match the fights randomly,” Gabriol said, tilting his head.

Terena shook her head. “Doesn’t matter.”

Rydon did laugh then. Loudly. She shot him a look as Croak reached over to grab her shoulders from behind, squeezed them and gave her a shake. “That’s my sis!”

“All right,” Gabriol sighed and turned back toward the short, bald man. Terena watched with the others, not hearing a word but gauging the conversation based on Gabriol’s face. He looked up and over at her, a second’s surprise at having caught her gaze before he gave a quick nod. He turned back to speak with the man, then walked back a few seconds later.

Gabriol exhaled loudly when he reached their group. “You’re after Rydon.”

She nodded. “Thanks.”

He passed a hand over his mouth, then held it out toward her. “It’s not a fist fight. It’s knives or daggers. First cut wins.”

“All right.”

“All right?”

“Seems fine,” she answered, bouncing anxiously on her feet and looking around at the others. “Any rules?”

“Those are the rules.”

Croak made a weird, grunt noise, his lips pealed back. Terena frowned over at him before turning back to Gabriol. “Then it’ll be over quick.”

Rydon shook his head, but she saw a small smile tug at the right corner of his lips. “The arrogance of youth.”

They wandered around, stopping every once in a while to watch the fights while they waited.

Twenty minutes later, the bald man motioned Gabriol over. Rydon jerked his head for the others to follow, and they lined up near the edge of the pit, the iron bar barrier at Terena’s waist. The fighting pit was empty, the gravel on the ground decorated in sweat and blood spatter.

The fight announcer stood on the other side of Gabriol, and Terena watched as he made his way to the barrier, noticing for the first time there was a gate there. Someone pulled open the gate and the announcer stepped in.

Another man, slightly taller than Gabriol, with a scar marring his head from the right temple through to his hairline at the back of his neck, stepped into the pit. He wore a thin black shirt, his breeches cut in the style of the Offeni from across the Black Sea, wide through the thigh but fitted around the calves, with straps crisscrossing above his boots.

Gabriol stood near the gate and Croak moved to his right side while Rydon went to his left, each of them leaning in to say something to him as Gabriol shook out his arms and bounced on his feet. Terena moved to stand close to Croak, pulling Sonah along.

All around them, people were placing bets.

“He’s big, but he looks fucking stupid,” Croak was saying as he eyed Gabriol’s opponent. “Run around a bit and he’ll tire real quick. Then stab him a few times in his side.”

“Don’t get close to the barrier,” Rydon said, ignoring Croak.

“Now go get our fucking money!“ Croak yelled with a punch to Gabriol’s shoulder before he lifted both arms and hooted. The assembled gave an answering roar as Gabriol rolled his shoulders and entered the pit.

Gabriol made quick work of the man, finishing the fight a minute later after a feint to the left had the bigger man lumbering past him. Gabriol merely flicked his right hand out and caught the other fighter in the side with his dagger. The crowd groaned, and only a few cheered loudly as money exchanged hands.

Gabriol stretched out his arm to his opponent, who grasped it in a quick shake before they both turned to exit the pit. Rydon was next to fight, standing at the gate as Gabriol passed. He thumped him once on the back and Croak jumped on top of him. Gabriol stumbled and pulled Croak under his arm, dragging him back toward where Sonah and Terena waited further down near the front.

While Rydon was fighting, Terena looked around, her gaze falling on a trio with the same uniform.

Liodari .

Terena straightened, watching them a moment more while she pulled on the sheet to cover more of her head. A cheer erupted, and she turned to look at the pit. Rydon’s opponent was on the ground with Rydon atop, one knee on the man’s sternum and his dagger poised at the man’s throat. Rydon straightened and in a move so fast all Terena saw was a blur, he swiped his blade across the man’s shoulder, leaving a thin cut in its wake as he moved away from the man.

Money exchanged hands again, and the patrons became more frenzied.

Terena looked across to the right where she’d seen the Liodari, but they were no longer there. She turned and headed toward the gate to the pit.

Rydon reached her side, his hand sliding out to grip her left arm.

“Don’t react,” he said, his voice low enough only she could hear him. She looked up at his narrowed green eyes. “Your opponent is a Liodari.”

Terena froze, and Rydon’s hand squeezed her arm. “Listen,” he whispered. “They haven’t seen you and no one knows who you are. You can leave right now and no one will care.”

Terena looked over his shoulder, seeing one of the Liodari waiting at the gate to enter. He looked neither left nor right, as if who he was to fight was of no consequence to him. It irked her .

Shouldn’t. But it did.

“I’m fine,” she said to Rydon in a hard voice and pulled her arm from his grip. “Might not finish as quickly as you two, but I’ll be back before you know it.”

Terena pulled up the sheet to cover her mouth, securing the back so it was snug to her head. She patted the sheath at her thigh and made her way through the gate and into the pit, following behind her opponent once the announcer gestured their way.

As they gained the center of the pit, the Liodari turned to face her at last. Terena smiled to see the look of surprise fly across his face before he schooled his features into an impassive mask.

Was it her size or the mask, she wondered as she unsheathed her daggers. He did the same, giving a brief nod before getting into his fighting stance. Terena returned the nod then dropped into her stance, her legs braced and hands raised slightly, daggers gripped tight.

As soon as the announcer’s bell rang out, Terena surged forward, feinting right, then left as she danced in and out of his reach. He moved with her, his blades lashing out in deadly response. Terena moved, her body reverting to the Mummer’s Dance her father had taught her all those years ago, the fluid movements designed to confuse and anger the opponent, the swift arm motions making his own jerk reflexively as she teased in and out of his line of sight.

He grunted, whether in exertion or frustration, Terena didn’t know. But she saw the change in him. His attacks became stronger, quicker, and more lethal. He spun, his sandy blond hair sticking to his forehead. His eyes narrowed and Terena moved to the side.

He stepped forward and twisted, snapping his elbow into her nose. Terena’s head snapped back, and the blood soaked the cover over her mouth. She tugged it down quickly. With no time to recover, she watched as he flipped the dagger in his right hand, catching her eye, and then slashed out with the one in his left. She barely moved in time to avoid it. He leaned forward and roared, his right arm striking out, catching the end of the bedsheet and twisting. For a second, it tightened at Terena’s throat. She reached out and tugged the other end, letting it fall forward, and stepped back to let it drop.

When it fell to the ground, she had a moment’s satisfaction at the surprise on her opponent’s face before she sprang backwards onto her hands and kicked him in the jaw as she flipped. The people roared, pressing against the pit barrier. The Liodari spat out blood and came at her in a series of moves so fast Terena stumbled back, each one harder and harder.

Her arms tired.

Buzzing built inside her chest. in her ears, slowly drowning out the crowd. Terena blinked, seeing her opponent slow, then stop as if suspended.

The Liodari’s eyes fixed on her face, his lips screwed up and his face tight with tension.

But he just… stood there.

Terena moved from where he was about to strike. All at once, he lunged forward, his jaw dropping, eyes wide as if surprised Terena wasn’t standing where he’d expected her to be. She moved then and he turned, his face flushed as he pounced forward once, twice, his arms quick—and long!—and she barely jumped back enough to miss the tip of his dagger as she dropped to her knees and rolled behind him.

Feeling a bubble of excitement, Terena sprang to her feet, only to cry out when something hot lashed her back. She stumbled a few steps.

The spectators erupted, bodies surging forward so fast Terena was sure they’d break the barrier. She took a couple of deep breaths, trying to slow her heart rate and erratic breathing. Blinking against the hissing sting at her back, she reached a hand up to find it as the Liodari came forward and clamped a hand on her shoulder.

Terena spun and saw the Liodari had raised his hands. The dagger in his right hand was red with blood.

Her blood.

Buzzing pounded in her ears, and she took a few more breaths.

“You fought well,” the man said as he sheathed the dagger. He held out his arm to her. She looked at it for a few seconds, then took it. He nodded, his lips twisted in a half smile.

He held on to her arm a moment longer than was customary and pulled her close. “What’s your name?”

“Ren,” she replied, giving him the nickname Gabriol had given the fight master.

The man tilted his head, his lips pursed. He said nothing more as he squeezed her forearm once before dropping it.

The man strode past her and Terena looked over her shoulder to see him file out with the other Liodari, both of whom were looking at her before they disappeared into the crowd.

Terena’s shoulders drooped as she made her way toward the gate. Rydon stood there with his arms folded over his chest.

Her face burned. She knew what he was going to say before he said it and it galled her she’d lost in such an idiotic way.

Never turn your back, Lorence had told them repeatedly. More than once, he’d caught her butt with the flat of his sword when she’d failed to learn the lesson.

“Let’s go drink,” Croak said, throwing his arm over Terena’s shoulders.