Page 137 of Chaos and Destiny
“We believe we’ve found them all.”
“Perfect.”
I faced the crowd and took in the great size of my growing kingdom, tens of thousands. Every single fae was here. As one, the drums stopped and the crowd halted their cheers. I tugged on my magic and let it move through me as I started with my normal voice, letting it build. I held my hand over the charm around my neck I’d put on this morning. I needed everyone to hear my voice. This would be the greatest amount of power I had ever used, and even then, I wasn’t sure if it would be enough.
“Tonight, one winner will be announced as the champion of the Trials. Following the battle, we invite anyone who would like to join the guard to come forward for presentation. After that, I welcome you all to the castle bailey, where you will be served a feast and can celebrate with our new victor.”
I let the magic come forward.
“You will no longer remember your encounter with Morwena, the sea queen, or her selkies. Any feelings toward me that were not authentically yours prior to meeting with her are gone. Morwena killed your queen. She has poisoned your minds. I restore those to you now and order you to attend tonight’s gathering.”
I took a step backward and let the truth of what happened settle among the crowd. Pure exhaustion radiated through the void of my unjust power. Some cried out, others were silent for many moments until they all—the crowds, the pit fighters, and even the council behind me, including Inok—took a knee and bowed their heads. Finally, I had restored my kingdom. There was only one piece of the plan left. Waiting until all fae were gathered was difficult, but it was the only way.
“Let us begin anew,” I said to my people.
This time they stood and cheered. For me. For this small battle we had won. I went back to my seat and waited for the sands below to clear of fae until it was only Brax and the giant. He more than doubled Brax’s height, and I hoped I had bought him enough time to catch his breath before he began again. Unlike he had in the other fights, the giant took a knee and dipped his head to his opponent. Brax did the same.
“Finally, a fight with honor,” Inok said from beside me.
“Remind me to give you a vacation after this is all over,” I whispered.
He looked at me and glared. “Would that be before or after your stab wound is healed?”
“Still mad, then?” I asked.
“I’ll still be mad at you on your four thousandth birthday.”
“Why would anyone want to live that long?” I winked at him.
“I would. Just to be pissed at you.”
I laughed, forgetting my wound, and winced in pain.
“Make that five thousandth,” he snapped.
I shifted in my chair and smiled. “If only we didn’t have a queen to capture first,” I said under my breath.
“If only,” he answered.
The crowd roared in applause and drew my attention back to Brax. He had chosen the throwing knives this time instead of the sword. Wise, though dangerous. It was evident there would be bloodshed.
The giant swung his swords as he had done before and crouched into his ready position while Brax clapped a powder on to his hands and did the same. The giant sprung, running at Brax with his sword swinging wildly. Brax easily dodged to the side, and the giant barely stopped in time to keep himself from barreling into the side of the arena’s barrier wall.
Using that to his advantage, Brax whipped a throwing knife into the back of the giant’s knee. He wailed and spun to remove the knife, but Brax threw another, slamming it into his hand, causing him to drop one sword. He scurried forward and grabbed the giant’s discarded weapon. It was far too big for him, and he knew he couldn’t keep it, so he ran and tossed it to the far edge of the arena, knowing the giant could still retrieve it, but it would cost him.
He did just that though, running for the sword. Brax threw another knife and was short by half the distance. The problem with throwing knives was arming your opponent and disarming yourself. You had to be precise, as every throw counted.
The giant halted and ran back for the throwing knife before jogging off to get his sword. I finally realized what Brax was doing. Inok laughed beside me as he put it together as well.
Brax hadn’t missed with that knife. He was wearing the giant out. Forcing him to run back and forth. That still didn’t solve the problem with the number of weapons the giant now had in comparison to Brax. He’d thrown three knives, which meant he had only three or four left.
“Think he can do it?” Inok asked, never looking away from the fight.
“I don’t know. The giant has slowed for sure, but that’s all he has achieved so far, and he wasn’t that fast to begin with.”
The fighters circled each other once more, and I noted the three knives left in Brax’s hands. The giant, unable to keep the throwing knives and two swords, dropped the extra knives at his feet and stomped on them until they disappeared into the sand. He then looked at Brax, and his belly laugh echoed off the walls. He definitely thought he had outsmarted my soldier. I still couldn’t help but smile at the giant’s infectious laughter. He was enjoying the fight, and that was what the Trials were supposed to be.
Brax smiled with him but then turned and ran to the other end of the arena. I didn’t think he’d be able to throw far enough to hit the giant before he moved out of the way, but he did, planting a throwing knife in the giant’s shoulder.
