Page 104 of The Anointed's Paladin

“Fuck,” I spat, kicking a crumbling wall beside me. It shattered with a satisfying crack, sending a spray of debris twenty feet.

Whywasn’t I long dead by now?

The thought of Cassandra winning, of returning to my former shackles, was enough to fill every nerve I had with terror.

Nidori and Talon would be freed with my death. They’d be all right. They wouldn’t join me in my enslavement.

I sank to my knees, raising my dagger to my neck. I squeezed my eyes shut, but just held it there, hand shaking.

A soft hand closed around my fist, pushing it down. “Kaine?” Nidori’s gentle voice was laced with fear.

I leaned forward, a sob coming from my chest. “I can’t go back, Nidori. I can’t be enslaved again.” I said, burying my face in her thick curls.

She took the dagger and wrapped her arms around me. “I’ll die before I let her take you,” she said fiercely. “It’s not fair. We still have a chance, Kaine.”

“You overestimate our abilities to take on those wolves,” I said, looking at her with a sad smile.

“You remain,” a voice said from my side. I jumped and swore. Cirae was there, looking at us with their large, sad, creepy eyes.

“We’ve lost,” I said bitterly.

“As things are now, perhaps.”

“I’m not really in the mood for vague, cryptic bullshit,” I snapped, and Nidori giggled nervously.

Cirae blinked their freaky blink at me. We were wasting time. I could only have seconds left before I was enslaved again. Perhaps I could convince Nidori to kill me.

“You remain,” they repeated. “Many would have guessed you would flee, one way or another. But you haven’t. Something holds you back.”

“So?” I replied. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does. To me.” They turned to look at the tower. “Many plans have been laid for this day. I have sacrificed much, waited too long to get here. I do not wish to lose.”

“I’m with you there,” said Nidori.

“Kaine. And Nidori. You are my last chance.” A smile touched their face, and they cocked their head at me. “Perhaps a desperate chance. But I’m hoping the fact you are still here shows me it is not unfounded.”

“It’s too late. We can’t get past the wolves,” I said.

“Perhaps not,” they said, “without a little…assistance.”

They waved their hand, and the direwolves crumbled to dust. Just like that.

Nidori stared at them with wide eyes. “That’s illegal.”

Gods didn't interfere in a contest of champions; not historically. I tensed, waiting for something to happen, perhaps a god-umpire to stomp out from the ruined buildings and blow a whistle.

“What is forbidden for a God? Only what they deem to be detrimental” they said. Cryptic jackass.

Still, I took a cautious step forward, hope lifting in my chest. I took Nidori’s hand, starting towards the tower. We didn’t have much time.

“Kaine,” said Cirae, holding up a hand.

I paused, glaring at them. What now?

“If Lydes appears, he will be in a temporary form. Destroying that form will expel him. Ensure you do this before trying to summon me. I will not come if he is there.”

Ugh. That sounded awful.

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