Page 82 of Terragnata and the Heir of the Earth

I winked, fighting moisture from surfacing in my eyes, the corner of my mouth quirking up. “You got it, Giannina.” And then she kissed me on each cheek, and we parted ways. As she disappeared around the corner, I prayed that hadn’t been the last time we saw each other.

A tapon my door woke me at dawn. Guards delivered what looked like a standard uniform, and Olea dressed me. Canvas trousers, fastened high at the waist, decorated with purpose-built pockets. I tucked my long-chained ring necklace into the leather corset, which sat over a loose blouse. Lastly, Olea slipped my arms through a worn leather jacket. She secured my Skøl approved blades, including a backsword, a thigh-strapped knife, and a boot shiv. Olea braided my hair in long sweeping plaits and painted kohl on my lids for “intimidation,” she said.

I cleared my throat. “Olea, I want you to watch over this for me.” I took out the clear engagement ring I’d kept in my pocket since the day Cas had given it to me. I hadn’t worn it once after my abduction, not wanting to draw more of the king’s attention by showing off his late wife’s ring. I had only kept it in my pocket, hidden, just as Ezren’s ring hung hidden around my neck.

The serving maid gasped, her eyes wide at the gem. “M’lady, where ded ye get such a stone?”

“It belonged to the late Viri Queen. Hide it in my floorboards and watch over it. And if… if I don’t make it back, sell it as covertly as you can. Make a life for yourself.”

“Why me, m’lady?” she asked, still blinking at the ring.

“Even though I know you’ve likely been directed to report on my movements, to at least the king, you’ve stood by me. You always ensure I’m prepared for whatever battle I’m walking into. I’m grateful for your kindness.”

We beamed at each other, understanding passing between us. I’d considered giving the ring to Gia, but she’d have no ideahow to sell it in the Fae lands, not in secret anyway, and I trusted Cas to take care of her.

Olea? She would be forgotten.

I slipped the jewel inside her pocket. “You can hide this later. For now, may I have a moment alone? Just to clear my head.”

Olea squeezed me, murmuring her thanks, and joined the guards outside my door waiting to escort me to the Skøl. I released the loose floorboard from under my bed, drawing out the emerald hilted dagger. I wasn’t sure if they would scold me for bringing my own weapons, but it was worth a try. So I unbuttoned my outer layer and strung the blade up on my chest, fastening it in place with the laces of my corset. I closed my jacket and gave my appearance a glance in the mirror. I looked neither Fae, nor human, nor Witch.

A tap on my door disturbed my silent consideration.

Time to go.

We wereto make our way on horseback to the competition location, a large arena close to the city called the Convallis. All the contestants came together in a long procession through Valfalla with the king and the prince at the front. The contestants were scattered throughout the line, and I brought up the rear. To my relief, I saw no sign of Gia waving me off. Cas gave me a slight nod, which I took to mean both good luck, and a sign of success in removing Gia and Jana from the palace. I didn’t see Fayzien, but to my surprise, the Rexi was there, mounting her own steed and joining the procession. She pulled her horse next to mine, and we followed the group in silence.

I rode Romeo, the beautiful gelding gifted by Cas. He was strong and proud, which gave me much needed solace andstrength as we paraded through the city. Fae onlookers and Viri subjects cheered and jeered, and all in between. I was the favorite of the king—and perhaps even of some at court—but certainly not of the people. My tricks and displays may have won me favor and the nickname ‘Creatrixi’ amongst the courtiers, which, according to Olea, was an ode to my Earth magic, but on the streets, I was a nobody who belonged to no house, and no people.

“Why did you join me?” I asked the Rexi, my voice low but audible.

She didn’t bother looking at me. “Every competitor is accompanied by a large group of their kin, representatives from their Viri House. I am your only kin here.”

Not my only kin.I pictured Jana in her cell and the faceless relations of Viturius I had yet to meet. But despite myself, my heart squeezed—it was the closest thing to maternal sentiment she’d offered since our reunion. Once more, we resumed our comfortable silence, accustomed to the weight of what hung between us.

We reached Valfalla’s gates by late morning, and while the open space and unsaturated air should have provided me comfort, my stomach only clenched tighter. I clucked Romeo into a soft canter, in unison with the rest of the procession. We rode west alongside the forest, away from the coast to our right. Within an hour, we slowed to a walk. The caravan veered left, curving around something I could not see. The queen and I arrived last, just before the guards and warriors posted at our back. I sank my heels low in the stirrups, pushing myself to stand, peering over what had become an edge. It was an enormous pit, a crater of unimaginable size—I’d never seen anything quite like it. Even Neferti exhaled beside me. The entire procession of over a hundred lined only a tiny portion of it, shoulder to shoulder, facing its center.

We all stood, waiting.

I turned to the Rexi, attempting to distract myself. “Has there ever been a male Skøl?” I asked. “In the case there is only a female heir to be wed?”

The Rexi snorted, an undignified act on her always dignified facade. “Yes, once. They all killed each other.” She snickered to herself. My face contorted at the disturbing thought, and the even more disturbing reaction from the Rexi. She shot me a look of disdain. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. I only chuckle because it is so predictable. I promise, you will come to know what I mean in time, especially once you see the civility of a queendom.”

I nearly laughed myself off my horse. Whether from the chatter of my nerves or the lack of emotional control, my mouth moved against my better judgment. “Oh, is that so? Is murdering husbands the civility you speak of? Or, perhaps you refer to the kidnapping of young girls, erasing their memories, hiding them away with strangers, allowing them to love those strangers as kin, and then killing them?Hmm?”

The Rexi’s face twisted into pure disdain. “Terragnata, as a Princess of Nebbiolo you mayneveraddress me that way,” she whispered, venom dripping from her words. “And beyond that, you have no gods damned idea what you speak of.”

“Oh, don’t I?” I hissed back. “Why don’t you educate me then?”

But before she could respond, a loud horn sounded.

The Skøl began.

PART III

SKØL

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

---