Page 82 of Of Spindles and Nightfall
“It all seems petty, and cruel, and foolish.”
A darkness that was almost primal flashed across his gaze.Do you expect less from demons?
She supposed she didn’t. Carefully, she pretended to check all the weapons one more time. “Demons may be petty and cruel, but they aren’t stupid.”
Jesir only told you half the story. It’s not just about not wanting a kalator to win. The reason the trial council kept the position of kalator at all was because of the demon syndicates. They take bets on how horribly we will be treated, what we will suffer, how we will die.He looked up at the crowd.You can see them up there now, taking bets.
She followed his gaze and saw demons moving among the stands, up and down, writing down bets, money exchanging hands. Were they betting right now whether Aryana and Pohan would succeed at their task? Gods, and when she thought demons could sink no lower.
And then there are these.Pohan tapped his wrist where a black symbol had also been inked into his skin.They magically collect every experience that we go through in the trials. Every instance of fear, pain, and death. The syndicates then sell our experiences off to be used as weapons. Who doesn’t want to make their worst enemiesexperience some of the most horrifying pain and deaths imaginable? They wouldn’t dare do such a thing to the champions. But for us? They make a fortune.
She stared at the upside down crown inked into her skin. At the time, she’d thought they were just mocking her, trying to be cruel. Turned out it would be used to inflict all the torture, pain and even death that she would experience onto others. That was the legacy she’d leave behind if she died.
She ducked as if to check the ties on her boots. “And the champions? Why are they so eager to go along?”
The champions, if they win the trials, get a cut of the money their kalator generates. If they don’t win, it goes to any beneficiaries they choose. The amount is so significant that a couple of nations require the money instead go straight to their kingdom’s coffers.
It was all about money in the end. Money and cruelty. Glancing up at the spectators far above, her head wagged from side to side. She wasn’t exactly surprised.
Pohan glared up at the crowds, his entire form rigid, and fire blazed in his eyes.One day, this rotted out alliance of demon kingdoms will get what is coming to them.
She glanced at his torn wings and already ragged state. It would be highly unlikely that he’d live long enough to be able to enact the vengeance he desired.
“Let’s head back,” she said.
They walked to the rim of their island and stopped.
“Shit,” she murmured.
Some demon had gone around and knocked out the floor between them and the edge of the pit. There’d be no running across.
Jump.
“W-what?” She coughed into her arm to cover her look of surprise.
Jump and I will catch you and swing you the remainder of the distance.
“That’s your plan?”
Do you have a better idea?
“Why did you even bring me?”
He extended his wings.I know my abilities, and I won’t make it weighed down by weapons. I have to have good momentum at takeoff to reach the other side. This was the only way.
“The spikes…”
Your armor, vampire.
She tugged on her clothes. “How do you—”
When you landed, I saw a flash of dragon scales.
She touched the armor through her clothes. Would it protect her from being flung full force into the metal spikes? If he threw her too hard, most likely not. If he didn’t throw her hard enough…
But it was that or stay there and not fulfill her mission. “I want the long sword, the spear, the knife, and the ax. You can have the bow, arrows and second sword.”
Fair enough. Now wait for me to climb to the top of this thing. We must time it just right.
