Page 60 of The Heartless Archer

“There will be something that you have to retrieve in this task, which will further ease your way into future tasks. I cannot tell you how or what that special item is. You all will have to find out for yourselves. There is only one item provided, not more, once a person has retrieved it the task is over and you will receive your ratings in front of the crowd. If you somehow sabotage another participant you will be immediately restricted from the task and gather no points. All clear?”

The four of them nodded, even if reluctantly, the man went.“Well, then please gather in a row, I wish you all good luck.”

Noora stood on the far right, Pika next to her, followed by Kekoa—who threw her a wink and devilish smile—and lastly, Sören, who looked a little green in his face.

Noora tried to catch Raphael’s gaze but he stoically ignored her as he went for the handles of the pompous wooden door and dragged them open with a low creak.

Noora focused on her breathing, her chest rising rhythmically.

Her eyes focused in front of her, her shoulders straightening, whatever would come at her next, she would win this. For Lulva, for herself. For a life that could only be better than whatever she was having now.

Then the doors finally opened.

Chapter 24

Noora

The soft pink light of dawn was the first thing that greeted her eyes, blinding her focus for a moment and drowning her in dangerous confusion. The doors led down a few stone steps and onto a patch of grass that expanded into a circle, stretched so far that the distance turned blurry in her vision. The arena had no roof letting in a cold breeze of autumn air and rustling the blades of grass on the ground. In the center of the circle a tower was built out of gray stone, so high, Noora wondered if one could overlook the kingdom from above. The tower ended in an open sort of balcony, revealing four chairs occupied graciously by the jury. Noora’s eyes instantly snagged on the biggest chair, silver ornaments bustling the rim of it and forming a beautiful snowflake on the top, diamonds glittering against it like drops of dew.

Nikolai sat upon the chair, looking as mighty as any king, dressed in the ceremonial uniform of pale blue, silver medals adorning the left side of his chest for the gods knew what. His golden hair looked tossed by the wind, only tamed by the unearthly-looking crown upon his head.

The polished silver imitated glass, catching the light of the rose sky and reflecting the colour inside it.

For a moment Noora felt enchanted by the light play in the material until her gaze flew to Nikolai’s face and she met the colour of jade.

From the distance, it was impossible to tell if he was staring exactly at her or in her general direction.

“What is he doing here?” Pika whispered beside her and she followed his gaze to see the man who was sitting on the far left, the queen occupying the seat between him and Nikolai.

Her blood froze inside her veins before it melted and started to cook like she was held over a burning fire.

The man sitting on the chair had skin the colour of bronze, arms that looked as thick as steady branches, muscles and veins trailing up his naked chest and arms. Black ink was carved into his granite skin, intricate designs that were common for the Sosye but Noora knew these kinds of circles. He was a high chief.

His hair was as dark as night,braided behind his back in the same way his medium-length beard was, hiding most of his face beside his long nose and soulless eyes.

They put a high chief of Sosye on the jury, Kekoa was nothing beside this man because Noora knew if a high chief came only metres close to her he would kill her.

It was their instinct to kill, the moment they smelled a witch’s blood.

Someone pushed at her back and she stumbled down the steps only noticing now that the other participants were trailing over the patch of grass and then the noise came crashing in.

She had not noticed before but all around the sides of the arena, they built stands that were filled to the brim by cheering people, the sounds rising and rising until the voices blurred into a homogenous sound, buzzing constantly in her ear. She could see nothing but the high chief on the chair, see nothing but the way the muscles bunched under his arms. He would not even need a weapon, his rough hands were big enough to wrap around her throat entirely and it would only take one small squeeze of his fingers and her neck would be broken.

She could not tell if he was looking at her but it almost felt like he was, sensing that his prey was very near and ready to be attacked. It felt like she could hear him pull his lips back and growl at her. And for the first time in her life, Noora felt something very close to fear.

“Noora!”

Her head snapped to the left where Pika stood with wide eyes, gesturing towards the ground. And that was when she saw.

She did indeed hear a growling but it was not the high chief all those metres away but four snow-coloured wolves, crowding steps away from the four participants. Their snouts were open, muzzle back and revealing their sharp incisors.

There was one wolf for every participant and if Noora had to guess, they just stepped into their territory and the wolves did not look all too joyous about it.

Her hand went for her hip, to grab her knife but she came up empty, forgetting that she was not allowed to carry any weapons with her.

Had they lost their minds? How were they supposed to fight one of the most dangerous predators residing in Oy Frossen without any weapons?

One of the four animals howled and without a second of hesitance the pack pounced.

---