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The fire’s crackle takes on an eerie note, and the wind whispers through the trees like ghostly echoes. This story of the origin of our land has left me more unsettled than I was from killing someone. How is that even possible?
We huddle closer together, the darkness of the night pressing in, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that there has to be some truth to what Tulip says. This cannot just be a folktale. Something within me came alive as she was telling her story. I cannot deny that it feels right.
The ghostly presence of the Gods lingers in the air, and I find myself glancing about as if I will see them at every turn. The knowledge that they may no longer be with us has got my defenses on high alert, and my anger toward the Patricians is at an all-time high.
“Have they been lying to us for centuries?” I whisper, my hands clenched tightly.
Tulip nods solemnly, “My family always believed so. Many of them hid every year before the Race, hoping to avoid detection and not have to make the pilgrimage. Before they passed, my grandparents hid for several years.”
I shake my head, fury rising through my body like bile. “We’ve got to put a stop to this. This is even more proof that we need to win this Race. Let’s get to Ytopie and take it down from the inside.”
Tulip’s face cracks into a wide grin, and she pumps her fist in the air, all solemnity from her storytelling gone. “Hell yeah, Lola! That’s what I was hoping to hear.”
Max has been shockingly silent. I look towards her, and she’s picking at the skin around her nailbeds, eyes downcast.
Before I can say anything to get her attention, she stands up and brushes off her pants. “Well, that’s enough fables for the evening. How either of you could believe any of that is beyond me. I’m going to take the first watch. You two get some rest.” With that, she strides to the front of the cave and leans against the opening, her eyes trained on the land beyond.
Tulip shrugs and makes her way to the makeshift cot of her pack and flora from the area. I stretch out beside her, my mind reeling with her stories. I vacillate between thoughts of the Gods themselves and the four families that banished them.
As my eyes drift closed, I could swear I feel an icy breath blowing across my face. But when I open my eyes, all I see is the winking of ice-blue stars.
Chapter 16
Zeph
Thesunbeginsitsdescent, casting a warm golden glow across the city as evening sets in. Nervously, I pace the courtyard, wearing a path in the grass beneath me. I drink greedily from the mug of ale I’ve brought with me, needing some assistance for the conversation about to unfold.
One by one, Plume, Loris, and Nimh join me in a quiet corner of the yard, away from prying ears and eyes. A motley crew of fae faces me. A Spring wielder that embodies the brightness and rebirth associated with her magic, a sharp-edged Bliksem with a ruthless streak, and a wisp of a Nereid that longs for more.
“Listen, there’s something important I need to share with all of you,” I begin, my voice apprehensive and quiet even to my own ears. Plume looks at me, her eyes filled with concern, while Loris waits expectantly for my words. Nimh, hardly someone I could consider part of my inner circle, just looks confused at her inclusion.
“For the past several months, I have been laying the groundwork to end the Race, once and for all.”
Loris grins widely, and I know he is proud of me for bringing others in to help. Nimh bounces on the balls of her feet, excitement seeping off of her in waves. However, Plume’s brow is furrowed with worry, “Do you mean to tell me you’re planning a rebellion, Zeph?” she whispers.
“We’ve been a part of this system for so long, it’s hard to imagine a world without it,” Nimh sighs. “What has been happening?”
I recount my efforts so far. In convincing Geomancers to assist me, I have made the terrain less treacherous, providing ample secluded spots for rest and fewer opportunities for rockslides. I personally weakened the shield around Ytopie in hopes that Lowlanders could enter the city proper from the arena. I even tell them about my plans to utilize wildfires to push Racers away from some areas and into others.
Loris, not one to let his contributions go unnoticed, pipes up, “Oh, and I’ve weakened the lightning grid, so if we need a distraction, I can cut that and cause some chaos.” I clap him on the shoulder, pleased at the effort he’s put in since learning about my plan last night. “I just need to convince a Tempest to help take down the connection mesh if we need it.”
“My ultimate goal,” I continue, “is to get as many Lowlanders as possible into the arena simultaneously. If we can get them all there and then reveal the truth of the Race and what happens to the winners, we can cause a massive uprising and change the way this city functions for good.”
Plume shakes her head. “This is insane, Zeph. The Race is everything to Ytopie. It is the only way to recharge the Gods and bolster their powers. Without the Race, we’d be powerless.”
I reach out and squeeze her hand, understanding her trepidation. “I know you believe that Plume. This was not an easy decision for me to come to. But we’ve seen the corruption, the manipulation. Do you really believe that the Gods need the Race?”
Loris, his expression serious, pipes up, “I’ve been with Zeph on this from the start. We’ve seen the suffering, the unfairness. It’s time to unite Krillium. Fae or human, we all can provide something to the land.”
Nimh, primarily silent through this conversation, grabs my hand in hers. “I’m in, Zeph. It’s about time someone fought for change.”
Just processing what I said moments before, Plume asks quietly, “What happens with the winners, Zeph? Don’t they go to the human village?”
I inhale sharply and shake my head.
I explain to my friends what I know about the death of the winners from overhearing it in my father’s office all those years ago. Horrified looks flash across the faces of the others, and Plume turns a sickly shade of green. “This is horrendous, Zeph.” She whispers, tears brimming in her eyes.
Loris nods grimly, “We’ve got to stop this.”
