AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Until him. The blue-eyed guard in front of me.
I doubt I will ever be able to fully trust any Caligo guard, but maybe I can try to not assume the worst of all of them based on the ones I have met.
“I don’t see a friendship ever forming between us, but maybe we can start off being allies of sorts,” I tell him while starting to dig into my food, not wanting to waste it even though my belly is still full from the meal Visha made for me.
“I am not one to sit and braid hair, though yours looks particularly nice this morning.” He turns his head and gives me a small pointed look. “Visha wishes you a good day and good luck in the competition.”
My smile widens as he turns back to gaze ahead, but I spot his expression as it slightly softens.
With a seed of trust, I sit down and eat another delicious meal, knowing I will not be offered good food like this often.
Once I’m finished, I thank him, and he gets rid of my tray before we head up into the palace above.
Just before we come to the arena, he slows down. “Good luck today. They might try to push you. Be on your guard at all times.”
His warning is not needed, but this time it is appreciated, knowing he means it. I thank him once more as we turn into the open arena, and he freezes.
There is already a commotion, with groups of people either laughing toward the little display or frowning in disgust.
We move a little closer, and I get a better look at my handiwork.
The guards are all wearing the women’s flimsy clothing I acquired around Haddon’s common room and are all tied up in precarious positions. Still in slumber and unaware of their predicament, they’re positioning themselves a little more provocatively as they reach toward one another in what I can only assume is a search for warmth.
The guard beside me dips his head as he moves closer to me. “Remind me never to get on your bad side,” he whispers with amusement in his tone.
My answering smile is all the reply he needs as he shakes his head and leaves me with one more “Good luck.”
One of the higher-ranking guards pushes his way through the growing crowd and freezes with horror when he finds his precious guards wrapped around one another.
Quickly snapping out of his frozen state, he moves swiftly and kicks the guards awake. They rouse with a grunt, bleary eyes, and a slow growing panic that is quickly followed by revulsion once they realize what they are wearing and where they are.
The guard who woke them calls on some of the other guards to drag them out of here. The looks of chagrin from each of them as they are yanked and shoved out of the arena, their heads bowed in shame, is worth the lack of sleep and every aching muscle from moving their bulky bodies around.
Once they are gone, the guard calls for order as Alderic and a group arrives.
My stomach drops as I realize the lieutenant will be watching the second trial today. They take their place in front of the shadowed stage.
I glance around, catching a few looks from the competitors, some with disgust and abhorrence in their eyes, but many with a glint of respect. Some even nod to me in greeting, making me wonder if I should be worried with this newfound regard.
Oryn and Nevan arrive just as Alderic takes to the small dais. Oryn glances around and spots me, quickly making his way over.
“Welcome. I hope you all are well rested and ready for another trial,” Alderic starts. “You will be paired up again, but this time based on how well you did in the last trial. This trial will test your level of skill with weapons. Try not to kill your opponent, but everything else goes.”
I ignore the rest of Alderic’s speech to check Oryn for any of the injuries he had the last time I saw him. But there are no cuts or bruises anywhere on him.
“You look much better than the last time I saw you,” I tell him as more of a question than a statement.
He glances down at his body with a frown. “Oh, I had a healer look after me.”
“Good,” I tell him and mean it. I consider him a friend and would not like to see him in any pain.
Taking a deep breath, I prepare myself before I break the news to him about Veles.
“I managed to achieve our little goal last night,” I tell him.
Oryn’s eyes widen as he turns to me. I keep my head faced forward so as not to draw any attention to us.
“And?” he asks, the impatience in his voice evident.
