Page 35 of Thief of Hearts

Had Zain done that intentionally?

I ran to the stadium and was met by an attendant at the gate. “I’m one of the competitors.”

With a sneering look, the attendant said, “Yes, everyone knows who you are.”

“I’ll help her.” Another attendant had stepped forward, and he looked to be barely fifteen years old. “Follow me.”

We walked into the bowels of the stadium and I heard the crowd roaring overhead.

“They are running five heats with about twenty competitors in each one.”

What if I’d missed my heat? This would be over before it had even begun.

“You’re in the fifth heat,” he said, as if I’d spoken my question aloud. “The top five finishers from each heat will compete against each other in one final race where someone will win. It seems unfair that you’ll have to run one race and, if you finish well, turn around and do it again fifteen minutes later. But they’re very serious about adhering to their schedule.”

“What heat are they on now?” I asked.

“The second.”

Relief calmed my racing heartbeat. I hadn’t missed anything.

“We don’t have a women’s changing room. Would you prefer to go to the men’s room or wait somewhere private?”

“Somewhere private.” It would give me the chance to think about the race and imagine myself winning. I had always found that to be motivating and helpful.

The young attendant took me to a room that was not much larger than a closet. “I will return once the fourth heat ends and take you to the field.”

“Thank you,” I said. I also planned on listening closely so that I would know when it was time to race. Then I could make my own way if he didn’t come back.

Given how long the cheering lasted, they were doing more than just one lap around the stadium. By my calculation it sounded like they did four.

I tried to focus on the sounds of the race but instead kept returning to the dream I’d had. Had it been a dream? Or had Invara actually appeared to me?

Why would she care if I won this tournament? It seemed a silly thing for a goddess to involve herself in.

Was it real? Or just my imagination?

I couldn’t dismiss it entirely, given that I knew someone who had routinely spoken to her own goddess.

Or maybe Lia had filled my head with so much nonsense that my dreams believed I had the same gift.

Lia had said she had a feeling about Invara and me. What if she had been right?

The second heat ended, then the third, and the fourth. I stood up, ready to find my own way, but the attendant was there to escort me.

I noticed that his face had turned a bright pink and I wondered if he had stood out in the sun too long.

“You were . . . That is, you need to . . . For the race you should . . .” He couldn’t finish any of his sentences. He obviously wanted to tell me something but couldn’t bring himself to do so. He pivoted on his foot and practically ran away.

Because he was moving so quickly, it only took us a few minutes to make our way through the halls under the stadium. I had to shield my eyes when we stepped out into the light because it was so bright.

When my eyes finally adjusted, I realized that every competitor around me was stark naked.

Chapter Twelve

A sense of dread spread throughout my body.

They did their events naked.