Page 46 of House of the Iron Reaper

I glance at Ronan, and his eyes soften.

“That’s a nice thought,” he says quietly.

We sit in silence for a long while, and I find I am in no hurry to leave. Even after Ronan’s arm falls from my shoulder, we lean against each other, arm to arm, and look out over the desert.

“Thank you,” Ronan breaks the silence with a low voice. Against his chest, his hand splays and scrunches.

Chapter 17

Novalie

“If this is an attempt on my life,” I wheeze. “I would rather you simply stab me and be done with it.”

Aythora smirks, and yells, “Two more laps!”

Deimos is draped across my shoulders as I jog in a wide circle around Dragon’s Vale. Deyanara is two steps ahead of me, carrying Ronan.

“I’ve heard of tortoises before, living on the beach,” Ronan bleats from where he is slung across Deyanara’s back. “But I had no idea I would see one here in Coalsburgh.”

“What… are you… trying to say?” I puff angrily.

“I’m saying you’re slow!” Ronan cackles. To my immediate fury, Deyanara laughs too, and speeds up.

Every breath I take does not seem like enough, and every muscle in my body screams at me, but I push on. My eyes are fixed on Deyanara’s back, ignoring Ronan bouncing with each of her steps. I would rather die than fall before she does.

We have only just finished the final lap when a Baidu arrives, standing tall in the doorway. He taps his chin.

“Shit!” I breathe.

I look at Deyanara, maskless, but she has already collapsed in the sand, limbs spread and breathing hard. With the last inch of energy I have, I fling a sweaty cloth over her head, covering her face. Unable to speak, she gives me a shaky thumbs up.

“I bring a message for Aythora of House Obsidian, Novalie of House Glass, Deimos of House Copper, Ronan of Swordstead, and the Iron Reaper,” the Baidu declares.

Ronan pushes himself up to sitting, his usually pale face turned a glowing shade of red. Deimos manages to prop up his torso on his elbows, but no more. Deyanara remains flat on the ground. My pride coming before my exhaustion, I force myself up to my feet, legs swaying dangerously beneath me.

“We are all present,” Aythora tells the Baidu. “Proceed.”

“The order of the Rites has been decided,” the Baidu continues.

Everyone straightens a little at that. The Rites take place over several months, with each fight spaced a moon cycle apart. The order of everyone’s fights is picked at random, with each of the House Elder’s plucking a name from a bowl. The one who fights last has the advantage of time over those before them, plus the experience of watching their fights. Fighting first is the worst place to be.

The Baidu clears his throat.

“The first to fight, one moon cycle from today, is Ronan of Swordstead.”

I wince. Except Deyanara, Ronan has had the least time to train. But when I look over at him, his amber eye is alight with eagerness. Even his blind, milky eye seems brighter.

“Understood,” he says with a nod.

“See me after training, Ni Ronan,” Aythora tells him. “I will have you ready in time.”

All heads turn to the Baidu.

“The second to fight, two moon cycles from today, is Deimos of House Copper,” he says.

Deimos’s shoulders sag, but he gives a firm nod.

“My thanks, Fa Baidu,” he says, even as his hands shake.