Page 1 of A Kingdom so Crimson

1

My legs started to burn from squatting on the thick branch as I stayed hidden within the tree's leaves. The wind whistled past, and I used the rustling of the leaves to blend my movements into the sound. My heartbeat pounded in my ears as I waited for any signs of Darius and his men to appear.

I played this game too often, and the routine of dull arrows and repeated games had grown tiresome. At least the arrows still stung on impact, and I could slash deeper with the dagger, leaving a more significant mark.

But this time, it was a test, and I had to follow the rules exactly: strike down, draw blood with the dagger, stay silent, and, most importantly, don't get caught.

I heard a snap, pulling my focus back to the game. I quickly aimed my bow toward the sound, blending into the tree trunk. Another snap, followed by the crunch of gravel to my left, signaled that they were trying to provoke me into making a move. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a sliver of green fabric that didn't quite blend into the brush beneathme. I steadied myself on the thick branch, waiting for more movement.

Another minute passed, and my arms began to ache from holding my position, still locked and ready to strike, when the man shifted, revealing a clearer target. I instantly released my arrow, striking the man down with an anguished cry.

A smile tugged at my lips as I repositioned myself, searching for more movement among the men who began to scramble nearby to avoid being hit, knowing my precision. My arrows found two more targets, swiftly bringing them down with angry cries. Yet, there were still three men left, plus Darius, that I had to take down to pass.

I quietly slid down the tree trunk, landing softly on the plush forest floor, and paused to listen. Birds sang in the distance, insects buzzed around me, and the gentle sound of water splashing from the stream behind added to the eerily quiet atmosphere.

Setting my bow and quiver aside, I reached for my dagger. Suddenly, a rush of black came barreling toward me when a swift punch landed squarely on my jaw, sending stars dancing across my vision as I held back a groan. Before I could recover, an arm wrapped tightly around my neck, yanking me backward and pinning me to his chest. I gasped for air, trying to find my footing. Gritting my teeth, I reached for my dagger, but before I could grab it, a sharp jab to my side sent pain shooting through me, leaving me limp. That was definitely going to leave a mark.

I dug my fingers into the man's arm as he tried to drag me away, squeezing the air from my lungs and leaving my body numb. Without thought, I whipped my head back, hearing a sickening crunch as pain exploded in my skull. He grunted before loosening his grip just enough for me to yank free and kick him away.

We sprang to our feet, daggers flashing as we circled each other in a deadly quiet dance. Blood trickled down his nose, and I couldn't help but smirk. All I needed to do was draw blood with the dagger or make him scream—I preferred the former.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a blur of motion—a second man charging at me. Reacting instinctively, I launched myself at him, sliding on my knees and slicing his leg with my dagger. Blood oozed from the wound as he stumbled and fell to the ground.

Out.

He yelped instantly, throwing a lewd gesture my way, which only made me grin.

Double out.

The first man came charging at me from behind, nearly knocking me to the ground. I dodged just in time, watching him stumble to a halt. I scanned the area but couldn't sense Darius or the last man.

Pivoting quickly, I lunged at the man, now rushing to reposition himself. My fist connected solidly with his jaw, the impact sending a jolt of pain up my arm. Shaking off the sting, I flipped the dagger back toward my forearm as the man groaned—too quietly to be considered out.

He touched his swollen lip, spitting out blood, and his eyes turned feral. I grinned, shrugging mockingly to provoke his next move.

He lunged at me, his dagger slicing wildly through the air. I instinctively ducked, weaving away from his erratic strikes. Suddenly, his leg jutted out. I stumbled and collided with his fist, which hammered into my ribs, knocking the wind out of me. I held back an aching cough, clutching my stomach. Gritting my teeth, I quickly kicked his hand, sending his dagger flying. He snarled as I surged forward, blocking his next punch withmy arm, and without hesitation, I slashed my dagger across his cheek, drawing a fresh line of blood.

He cursed loudly and shoved me away, a devilish grin spreading across my lips. Without missing a beat, I sprinted toward a thicket of bushes. But before I could reach them, another man emerged from hiding and tackled me to the ground. My head slammed against the dirt, stars dancing in my vision as sharp rocks cut into my cheek.

I struggled to break free, blinking through the disorientation. Then, I saw those unmistakable golden eyes grinning down at me. Calum. My breath caught in my throat as the confusion twisted into fierce, burning anger. He straddled me, his expression infuriatingly smug, and the sight of him sparked a fire in my veins.

He winked at me with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with a playfulness that sent fury surging through me. With a silent snarl, I twisted my hips, yanking him down, and shoving him off with a kick to his chest.

We scrambled to our feet, and he swung a punch at my side that I barely dodged, the force of it grazing my side. I retaliated with a swift kick to his legs, sending him crashing to the ground with a thud.

He laughed, marking him out,if he was ever in, and lounged on the ground with his hands behind his head, giving me another infuriating wink.

Rage boiled through me, and I readied to kick Calum in the side when Darius suddenly leaped out, slicing my sleeve and staining my green top with blood. A searing pain shot through my arm, and a crushing sense of defeat settled in my chest. I clutched my arm, cradling the wound.

Calum chuckled as he got to his feet, giving me a condescending pat on the back. "Good work, El," he said, quickly sauntering over to the men watching from a distance.

"You cheated," I spat at Darius, heading for the tree where I had left my bow. Darius followed, his footsteps echoing behind me.

"You asked for something different, so I thought Calum would do the trick," he said with a smug grin. "Prepare for the unexpected, Eliah. Next time, you'll get it."

I shot him a fierce glare as I snatched up my quiver and bow, anger burning in my eyes. I stormed back to the courtyard, hearing Darius's light laughter as he patted the other men on the back. Calum was gone, which was for the best; if he'd been around, I'd have lost control and beaten him alive until he learned to stay the hell out of my evaluations.

After I ran several laps around the courtyard to burn off some steam from my surprise encounter with Calum, lunch awaited me. Darius knew how much I loathed sparring with Calum and used it to throw me off balance. Sweat dripped down my back and lined my braided coronet.

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