Page 83 of Of Spindles and Nightfall
She swallowed, looking at the bodies impaled beneath them. Yes, just right.
And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t reveal that I have a means to communicate to minds.
“If you don’t mention my armor, we have a deal,” she said.
He nodded.Await my signal.He headed for the large jutting rock in the middle of the island.
She backed up to the far edge of the plateau while Pohan climbed to the top of the stone. He pointed in the direction they were going to launch and she took a shaky breath, wiping her free sweaty palm on her clothes. It wouldn’t do if she slipped from his grasp because she was nervous.
Right then, a spark of cold ache started in her thigh. Her heart sank. Zarathos was in danger. The announcer commenced speaking words announcing the start of the champions’ portion of the trial.
She shook her head, pushing aside the sudden piercing need to be by his side. It was crucial that she focus on the here and now.
She gazed across the pit, determining where and how she could land. If she turned at the exact right angle, she should be able to wedge herself between the poles instead of impaling on them. But there would be no room for error.
Pohan opened his wings and slashed his hand through the air. Aryana took off, racing as fast as her strength allowed as she launched out over the open pit.
She raised her hand.
Pohan caught it and with a loud grunt, he swung her forward, but her sweaty palm slipped loose and sent her off course. Shit. Shit. Shit.
She twisted midair, frantically searching for a safe landing. Spikes tore through her clothes, grazing her right arm, causing a jolt of pain to shoot through her. The weapons clanked loudly.
For a moment, she lay still, breath caught in her chest. Then she looked around. Somehow, she had landed between the spikes and she'd managed to keep all the weapons on her.
Her forearm throbbed with a fiery ache. She touched it. No blood, no break. Her armor must have withstood the blow.
She let out a long breath and glanced up. Pohan had landed on the top edge above the pit, on the main floor of the arena. He nodded down at her.
Quickly, she climbed downward and hurried over to Neri. “Here.” She gave her the ax, then she moved over to where Jesir still huddled. “For you.” She held out the spear.
His eyes widened as he took it from her. “Th-thank you.”
She lifted her gaze to where Pohan waited. Grabbing onto the spikes, she made her way up. When she reached the top, she handed over the extra sword and the bow and arrows.
We made a good team, vampire. Perhaps we will try it again.With that, he shouldered his weapons and moved across the arena’s main level toward where the champions were lost in their own bloody battle for survival.
Aryana gripped the sword in her hand, sensing that familiar tug that would lead her to Zarathos. She needed to get to him before he became the demon trial’s next casualty.
Chapter 26
Zarathos
The cacophony of the crowds rang in Zarathos’s ears as ten champions fought for the right to be the next demon arch king.
He grasped the hour glass necklace he’d been handed before entering the arena. As one of the three winners, he could slow a single opponent that was within twenty feet of him for thirty seconds. Enough time for one kill. Except it wouldn’t work on another ranking champion, so Xaphoron and Tigon were off limits.
“Back me up, Tigon. Use that useless brawn to protect your prince,” Kaelroch from Terra Monstrumcommanded. The moment they entered the arena, he’d pursued Zarathos. How predictable.
Zarathos snarled at Prince Kaelroch. He dodged the initial attempts of the prince to pin him, but then his rival came in close and the two exchanged blows. A swift hit to Zarathos’s jaw sent sparks of pain and a dull warning in the back of his mind. His hand went to his hourglass. Unlike the other contestants, it was imperative that he not lose even one drop of blood.
Kaelroch shoved him to the ground. Zarathos needed to be careful. These demons had been training for years for this trial. Each of them had impressive combat skills. Which was why Zarathos had used the vampire princess to secure the sword that should always return to the owner. Except someone must have put a spell blocker on it, because it wasn’t coming, no matter how much he mentally called out to it.
He wasn’t sure whether to feel consternation or gratitude that no weapons were available at the moment. When he’d last seen the prince, Kaelroch looked as if he’d like nothing better than to split Zarathos down the middle with his mace. Like the other champions, he had likely received expert training.
He wrestled with the prince and gained the advantage. Getting under his armor, Zarathos slashed hard, ripping across Prince Kaelroch's abdomen.
Zarathos had been training as well.
