I drop Crystal’s hand and sprint the rest of the way, my entire being is screaming.
Not Flurry!
Sin’s men part and back away as I scramble on my knees next to Flurry’s still frame. No, not still. He’s breathing. Gasping, struggling for breath.
“What happened?” I look at Blizzard who holds Flurry’s head in his hands.
“Watchmen got him, just under the ribs,” he says. His eyes are bloodshot and his chin trembles, on the edge of losing it. Every fighter here knows “under the ribs” is never good. I grab one of Flurry’s bloody hands as Crystal drops to her knees on my other side. There is so much blood. He has no tunic on to soak it up, so it just runs down his sides. I turn to Shard. I don’t even get a chance to say anything before he shakes his head at me. I hold his gaze and read the hopelessness in his eyes. Another person I cared about was going to die.
Flurry coughs.
“You’re alright, brother,” Ice says. He has a firm hold of Flurry’s other hand.
“No, I’m not,” Flurry says and lets out a short laugh, which turns into a coughing fit. Crystal is crying again. I gesture to Avalanche and jerk my head at her. I hope he comforts her.
Flurry looks up at me. “You got him. You…got Slay,” he gasps, expression contorting in pain.
“You bet I did,” I say, my vision becoming blurry.
“Then we won,” he says and closes his eyes with a tired smile. It takes a moment to understand he’s talking about the tournament. It seems so long ago.
“We kicked ass. Top fighter and top ranking,” Blizzard says. Tears drip down his face, onto the gritty ground of the dome.
“No need to—,” he says and rolls, clutching the area just under his heart, “look so sad.” The wave of pain passes and Ice rolls him onto his back again. “I always wanted to win the tournament.”
“We did it. You did it.” Shard crouches down and grips Flurry’s shoulder.
“Just one more thing,” he says. His words are slurring now. I feel a traitorous tear trek its way down my face. I have no right to cry when Flurry is being so strong in his last moments. I grip his hand as though I can hold him here somehow.
“What?” I ask in a thick voice. I don’t think anyone else can speak.
Flurry looks up at me again and though he is on his deathbed his cheeks blush. “A kiss.”
“Why didn’t you just say so,” Sin says, pushing through the circle of men around us. Ice glares up at him, until Flurry laughs. It gives the rest of us the permission to do so, though the sound is forced. It makes the moment all the more heartbreaking.
“Someone…a bit prettier,” Flurry gasps. He twitches a finger in my direction and whispers, “Frost.”
I smile at him with trembling lips. The men are laughing softly at Sin’s spluttering denials behind me. I shuffle forward and take his head in both of my hands. A couple of tears splash onto his bloodied, sweat-streaked face. His head is dead weight in my hands. He no longer has the strength to lift it himself. Shivers wrack his body and his eyes keep sliding off me as though he’s having trouble focusing.
I lean over and touch my lips to his and pull back. He sighs and the sound rattles in his chest. I see him fading. I want to reach into his eyes and pull the light back into them, but I don’t know where it’s disappearing to.
I press a last sobbing kiss to his forehead.
He’s gone.
Blizzard hugs Flurry’s body fiercely, muttering words I can’t hear. Ice is shouting while Shard tries his best to comfort him. I hug myself, not bothering to hide my tears. A large hand rests on my shoulders and I look up at Avalanche. He opens his arms and I fling myself into them. He picks me up and hugs me tightly as I sob into his shoulder. I feel his tears landing on my head. Flurry is gone. Sweet Flurry, who had somehow been dragged into this life when he shouldn’t have been. He never had a chance to be a husband, or to be a father.
Avalanche starts to put me down. I wonder why until I see Jovan, his personal guard, and Malir are nearing. While we were occupied with Flurry, they’ve cleared a beam away from one of the doors.
Sin and his men are already in a line. Our grieving group joins them. There are two men who were with Slay still down the other end - the only survivors of their group. One of them Hale’s, and the second is the man who left Sin’s group. Jovan approaches them.
“What’s he doing?” Shard whispers.
Hale’s man attacks. Jovan’s sword is there before my eyes can process the action, and then the man’s head is sailing through the air.
“Fuck,” Shard says. He hardly ever curses.
The remaining man from Tricks’ barracks drops his weapon and puts up his hands. Two guards grab his arms and drag him in front of our line. Jovan circles the man slowly and holds his palms out. Startled, I remember the crowd. They are roaring, screaming for the man’s death. The people from the Outer Rings who have watched this man fight over and over again are doing the same. They laugh and throw rubbish from their perches. Jovan looks up at me and raises an eyebrow. I look away from him. The man’s scream hardly sounds before he, too, is dead.
There is the thud of boots as Jovan walks up and down the line. He looks into each man’s face for several moments. He ignores me the first time and then stops during his return walk and stands right in front of me.
I tilt my head up, a bit ashamed of my tear-streaked face. His eyes flicker over my features, no doubt taking all of this in. I’m too sad to give him the defiant look I planned on. The probing blue eyes probably see this as well. Since I first met him he’d appeared to have the eerie ability to read my thoughts.
“But would they have done the same without your guidance?” he finally asks. I answer him, though it was rhetorical. I can’t watch anymore of my friends die.
“Yes,” I say. I’m speaking of the others from my own barracks. I would include Wrath, Sin and Vice also. I don’t really know about the others.
Sure enough, Jovan’s eyes come to rest on Tricks’ men. Sin shuffles beside me.
The King returns his gaze to mine and he growls, turning away.
“Please,” I breathe. He stills for a moment and then continues to his own guard. I ignore the questioning looks from Sin and Avalanche. Is he going to kill them? Will he kill me?
The crowd is booing now. And chanting my name. I don’t know what they make of his extra attention toward me. The King draws his sword. The crowd boos louder. They don’t want him to do it. Perhaps they’re not as bloodthirsty as I thought.
“No death, no death, no death!” The crowd chants. The King holds up one hand and the crowd tapers to a stop. Some of the men in the line fidget, unsettled by this display of power.
“Today we have witnessed something never seen before,” he roars. The crowd roars back. He gives them a moment before raising his hand once again.
“And as such, I will do something never done before.”
Sin draws in a sharp breath next to me. Please let them go. Jovan’s eyes flicker to mine.
“These men,” he pauses as the crowd chants my name once more, “and the women.” He concedes.
I snort and quickly hold my breath as he stops and walks in front of the line again. I realize he’s working the crowd just as we do. Ironic.
“Will be spared!” he shouts to the crowd. The dome shakes with the people’s reaction.
And for the first time today they are not chanting my name, they are chanting their King’s.
We don’t even have time to celebrate our escape from death before we’re ordered toward the gates. I look over my shoulder to make sure Crystal is safe. Shard has her. Avalanche barely restrains Blizzard as two guards drag our friend’s body away. Ice watches until we are in the tunnels under the stadium and Flurry is out of sight.
We walk through the torch-lit passageways beneath the dome and are paraded in front of the assembly. Jovan breaks off from the front of the line and returns to his throne, ignoring me. I can sense his fury. It’s understandable considering the situation I just put him in. We made a mockery of his guards and his dome. Plus, there is all the rest I’ve put him through with escaping.
We leave the dome and continue marching. I have no idea where we’re going. I can’t believe we’re alive. Nearly all of us, and more than I’d dared to hope. My throat constricts as I think of Flurry. I wish it had been someone else. One of Sin’s men. It’s a horrible thought, but true never-the-less. The sky starts to darken and my wounds begin to throb. I have several of them. I can see blood dripping off Avalanche’s fingers.
There are whispers down the line. I peer around Sin’s frame and gasp when I see where we are. Why is Jovan bringing us here? Unfortunately, I know it’s my doing. Several of the other men do, too. I can see their darting glances. I recall the King’s specific words. He’d said we would be spared, not released.
The experience of entering this castle is almost identical to the first time I arrived in the Third Sector. The portcullis is raised and then lowered behind us. We are walked up the enormous stairs and through the imposing entrance. This time I’m not led through the archway to be judged by the King, and I’m not led up the stairway to my old isolated room.
This castle appears to be slightly different in its design. It’s more comfortable and there’s more decoration. Jovan’s mother must have done it in her lifetime. It was either her, or Arla. I didn’t particularly like the thought of Arla doing it. I doubted the rest of the female assembly would either.
“You. Woman.” I look at the Watchman barking at me and lift my eyebrows. Four men surround me and Crystal is shoved toward me. She looks up with panicked eyes and I remember the others will all be terrified, not having had any prior experience with the castle. I wish I could reassure her, but I’m worried for reasons of my own.
I wave at Shard as the men are led in a different direction.
“This way,” a guard says and shoves Crystal again. I grab her hand and hold it in an iron grip.
“We’ll follow. There’s no need to push,” I say and hold his gaze until he steps back. As promised, we follow them without resistance. They halt in front of a door and swing it open.
The problems start when I try to enter the room after Crystal.
“Not you,” the lead Watchman says.
I fold my arms across my chest. “Why not?”
The men exchange glances. One of them shrugs and looks baffled. I bite back a smile. On Osolis our guard is selected for their prowess with combat, but also for their initiative and problem solving ability. These skills are clearly not a prerequisite for the Watch.
“King’s orders,” one of them finally grunts beneath his helmet. I plant my feet at his reply. Crystal needs someone with her. The four Watchmen shuffle their feet. They’ve just seen me fight. They know exactly what I am capable of.
“Frost. It’s fine. I’ll be fine,” Crystal says. “Please…I’m sick of the fighting.” I look at her and see she’s barely holding back tears. I nod and move forward to hug her.
“You shouldn’t be alone after what happened, and then Flurry, too. Are you sure you’ll be okay?” I ask.
She nods into my shoulder. “Thank you so much. For everything.”
I’m led up to the second floor. I wonder if Arla and Macy sleep in the same rooms in this castle. I travel with my escort to the end of the hallway and then up a few stairs into a short passageway. There are only two rooms down this hallway. I’m left in the closest room.
It’s much nicer than my last room. Colorful drapes soften the pillars around the bed. An alcove, layered with bright cushions is situated in one corner. Another door lies to my right, but when I tug at the handle, I find it’s locked. A tub sits behind a screen. It’s like Fiona’s with the pyope beads underneath it for heating. I spin in a slow circle taking in the tapestries, the ornate wooden furniture, the intricate stone-work. After my shoebox in the barracks, this is a dream. I love it. Is this the guest room? I never believed the room I had occupied in the Third had been the dungeon, but it did seem that way compared to this splendor. The distraction of the room doesn’t last long. I lower myself onto a polished settee at the end of the bed, muscles aching - heart included.
Flurry’s gone.
Fresh tears spill down my cheeks. The excitement of the fight is leaving. My shoulders slump as I remember every hit and kick leading up to his death. What man had landed the killing blow? If I‘d kicked someone harder would Flurry still be alive?
At least I saved Malir’s life. And rid the world of two soulless men. I know we were lucky to have only lost one man, but it doesn’t feel that way.
A knock sounds at the door, causing me to frantically scrub at my face. I frown at the entrance when it doesn’t immediately open. Another, more insistent knock echoes through the room.
I stand and circle to the door, wondering if it’s a trick. I try the latch. To my astonishment, it opens. I hadn’t even bothered to try it, sure it would be locked. Apparently I’m not a prisoner. Is this the same for the other fighters? Or is this why I’ve been separated from them?
I stand, mouth open, as a parade of women enter. Garments are laid out on the bed. The tub is filled and the beads lit underneath. The screen is opened in front. I squeak as Sadra enters and sit frozen in shock as she tends to my left arm where Slay got beneath my guard. I wait for her to recognize me, for her to match the height of the Tatuma with the height of Frost. For her to match the Tatuma’s disappearance with Frost’s appearance. She doesn’t. I think my silence is putting her off. But Olina would certainly put her at ease. Frost wouldn’t give a damn.
Sadra’s hands shake so much I wonder why she’s helping me. A stuttered thanks for saving Malir’s life answers my question. I realize my delegate friends will be here. In all the excitement it slipped my mind. Fiona, Jacquiline, Roman and the others. Will they be able to tell it’s me? My short stature on Glacium is rare in itself. I’m lucky Crystal is also here and of a similar height. It may stop them from becoming suspicious.
The servants leave in the same order which they arrived.
I swing the door closed behind them, my mouth open once more. What is all this? I look at the steam rising above the screen. Jovan ordered them to bring all of this. A whole tub of water! I can’t remember the last time I soaked in a bath. Is everyone receiving this treatment?
I intend to stay in until the water goes cold, but the water won’t go cold with the fire underneath. How is the bottom of the bath not burning me anyway? Adnan has probably told me at some point. I tend to drift off when he gets carried away with the complexities of his inventions. I groan at the situation I’m in, having to live behind the backs of my friends. I really can’t blame Jovan though. I backed him into a corner. I’ll just have to make sure I don’t slip up and do something Olina would do. Jovan’s the only person on Glacium who knows my secret, and that’s how it’s going to stay.
After painstakingly cleaning my torn palms, skinned legs, rope burn and replacing Sadra’s bandages, I get out of the water. It’s tempting to sink back into the warm depths, but one look at the filthy water deters me. I step out and wrap myself in a fur, eyeing the clean garments draped atop the bed. They will be soft, well-made and clean. I long to wear them. They’ll also set me apart if the rest of the men and Crystal have not received such treatment.
With a sigh, I grab my harness costume and clean as much of the blood and grit off as possible in the bath water. This done, I put it back on and immediately braid my hair and begin to pull it into a bun at the base of my neck. My hands halt. Jacquiline has seen my hair in this style. I take it out of the bun and leave my blue-black hair in a long braid down the middle of my back, a normal enough sight in the Outer Rings.
A knock sounds. I swing the heavy door open.
“Come,” the Watchman grunts. My eyebrows rise.
“Or do you not want to eat?” he asks. My stomach demands I put away my pride and follow the man. I trail after him. Three other guards surround me. Are we going to eat with the assembly? I assumed we would be fed in isolation. Isn’t Jovan afraid we might attack? Wait. I forget I’m talking of Jovan. The King is that arrogant. And that right, too. The barracks will have no wish to throw away their second chance at life.
I’m in full-Frost mode as I stroll through the stone archway. But my heart is pounding. The initial wave of consuming grief after Flurry’s death has washed through me, leaving me devastated, but still able to focus on what is coming. How will Jovan react to my capture? I recall the intensity of his gaze earlier today. Furious is an understatement, I think, but I’ve known what would face me if I returned.
Despite the guards murmured instructions, I stop when I’m in the middle of the room. I survey the seated assembly, gaze unimpressed, avoiding the table of delegates. My traitorous eyes sneak a quick look anyway. My breath catches as I see they’re looking my way like everyone else. I do manage to avoid looking at Jovan and eventually spot Avalanche in the back corner of the hall, as far from the King as possible. Suits me. I wasn’t eager for our conversation.
“That’ll be all, boys,” I call over my shoulder to the Watchmen. I grin as they linger, unsure of what to do.
The eyes of some of the assembly men are drawn to me as I saunter down the aisle. Some are impressed, some dismiss me. But just like in the Cells, I act like their attention is beneath me, regardless of their attraction. It’s the only way I can deal with the discomfort I feel.
All the surviving barrack fighters are present, Crystal, too. I was right to stay in my fighting gear. None of the others have been given new garments. A sweeping glance eases my concerns the Watchmen may have been less than welcoming towards my friends. There are no visible injuries beyond those they acquired in the dome, and they’ve been allowed to wash. Avalanche’s shoulder wound is bound. The only thing out of character is the wariness and apprehension in their expressions. I move around and hug all of them. It causes the assembly to whisper. They were most likely starving for more gossip and wished us to fight amongst each other like savages. Wealthy people who surrounded royalty were the same wherever you went, whether it was Osolis or Glacium.
Shard holds me for longer. “You saved us in there. I was too shocked to say it earlier, but thank you.”
“Were you told anything? Where did they put you all?” I ask, pulling back.
“We’re in the barracks.” He smiles. “It’s like we never left.” I snort. He loses his smile.
“The main man. The commander who was in the dome. He told us we’d be briefed tomorrow.” I hear his questioning tone and give him a loaded look. There are too many listening ears. I know I’ll eventually have to give an explanation as to why Jovan spared them. I have no idea what I’ll say. What could possibly explain the relationship the King and I had displayed?
I hear a gigantic rumble from Avalanche’s complaining stomach and glance around the seated men. The assembly is eating. I know I’m not technically a prisoner, but I am unsure about the position of the barrack members. Are we guests of some description? I glance around. There are more Watchmen than usual in the food hall, but Jovan knows he holds our lives in his hands. We have all been shown to the food hall. I assume we’re here to eat, but no one has bothered to tell us. They’re probably taking pleasure in our discomfort.
“Come with me,” I say to Avalanche and start toward the food tables. I ignore the whistles of appreciation as I pass some of the assembly men. They’re like puppies trying to bark compared to the crass comments in the pits. Avalanche lumbers beside me. We stop in front of the mountain of food. I peek up under my eyelashes at the massive man next to me. His eyes are nearly popping out of his head. I laugh at him and he grins, pushing me gently with his uninjured arm.
I walk down the table and stop in my tracks when I realize where I’m going.
I can’t eat a pear.
They’re well-known to be Olina’s favorite food. What was I thinking? I look longingly at the basket of luscious fruit before turning to get some meat. Always meat. I long for vegetables and apples. I throw the food on my dish, taking delight in watching Avalanche.
Plate loaded, I head back to the table. Avalanche doesn’t look like he’ll be leaving his current station any time soon. I stop and blink at the chest in front of me. I peek up into Sin’s deep blue eyes.
I gather my thoughts and raise an eyebrow. “What?” I ask.
He circles me, tossing the locks of hair from his forehead. “Oh, nothing.” He sighs. I give him a strange look and move around him.
“Just remembering the little promise you made,” he calls when I’m several steps away.
I turn and search his face for the answer, genuinely confused. “What promise?”
He clutches his heart and makes a pained sound. “You don’t even remember our love pact?” I bite my cheek to contain my smile. Those closest to us are listening intently. He’s such an attention seeker. I’m quite certain I would remember a love pact. Sin is working the crowd as always. He grins as he saunters over.
“You promised me a kiss if we survived.” His voice is much louder than necessary.
Blood must drain from my face because the silken fighter’s grin grows ten-fold. “Sin, I didn’t actually think we’d survive. And I seem to recall promising we would all kiss you. Have the others made good on the bargain?” I ask. I keep my voice low, but the immediate assembly overhears and start sniggering.
“I will…collect those in due time. Are you going back on your word?” he booms dramatically. I roll my eyes and his eyes fill with glee.
He walks behind me and pushes the loose strands of hair away from my neck. He leans his mouth to my ear and whispers. “Should we give them a show, Princess?” His question is low and seductive. And completely wasted on me. I press my lips together to stop my laughter. He is unbelievable. He’s only doing this is to get the other female’s attention.
I turn to him and give him a look Willow would be proud of. I tuck away my smile when his eyes widen, noticeably startled to see me playing along. I put a finger to his mouth and trace his full upper lip and then rise up on my toes and press a whisper-soft, lingering kiss to his mouth. He groans as I move away and tries to pull me back, his eyes still closed. I grin and spin, sweeping his legs from underneath him. I hear the satisfying whoosh of breath as the air is forced from his lungs when he lands on his back.
Laughter rings through the hall. Avalanche joins me, finally done amassing food. Our group is still slapping the table when I reach them. Wrath gives me a stinging high-five.
I lean back against Blizzard’s shoulder. I’ve eaten too much. Easy to do with the wealth of food before us. Ice shares a heavy look with Blizzard and the despondent hollowness I’ve temporarily placed to one side rises up.
Ice stands. “Flurry was…a good man, all the way through. The most decent man I ever met.” He clears his throat. “He was born in the Outer Rings. Hard to be born there and turn out that way.” He draws a hand down over his face before continuing. “I was honored to know him, honored to battle by his side, and honored to be there at the end.” Crystal puts an arm around his collapsed shoulders as he sits. Flurry’s death was terrible for me, but the others have known him much longer. Blizzard is next to share a memory of Flurry. We all take a turn, tipping back brew after every memory. This brew, which I used to water down, is like honey now compared to what I’ve been drinking in the Outer Rings - It doesn’t mean it’s any less potent.
“I have a toast,” Crystal speaks, wobbling atop the bench. “To Frost. For saving our sorry arses.” She belches softly behind her hand.
“To Frost!” I cringe as they yell my fake name loudly and clink their glasses.
I hear someone mutter. “For now.” However the man’s quite justified concern over his future longevity is drowned out.
“Speech!” The chant goes up. Perhaps no one wants to think about what will happen tomorrow.
I clamber onto the bench seat, face warm. The assembly has been drinking - as is usual after dinner, but they stay far away from our table. The louder we get, the sharper their glares become. They don’t like that we’ve lost our meekness so quickly. Still, the men and women watch our tired group and listen, desperate at the same time for the promised show. No one has come to hasten us out of the hall with our growing noise, confirming my guess. Jovan has declared we are to stay on in a guest capacity…with guards.
“I don’t know what to say,” I say with a shrug. I start when I see Jovan glowering my way. I gulp and turn back to the fighters.
“I couldn’t have fought with better people today.” I make sure to tailor my words, mindful of our current company. “Every one of us contributed. If there had even been one weak link in the chain, that was us, gone.” I scan the men’s faces and suddenly grin.
“But did you see our moves?” I say to Tricks’ men. “There’s no doubt we would have kicked your ass in the group category. You never stood a chance.” Tricks’ men stand up, shouting their denials. Our barrack argues back. Crystal looks between the groups laughing. I’m so busy celebrating the chaos I’ve created that I don’t notice Fury and Vice until it’s too late. They grab my arms before I can react and I splutter and gasp as Wrath pours brew down my throat.
They sit me back on the table and I wipe the alcohol from my face and chest, still giggling. “You can give me that over the shit in the Outer Rings any day,” I say.
“What’s going to happen?” Shard asks quietly. I look around the drooping heads, my own head beginning to dip with weariness. Each of us have battled for our lives and grieved the loss of a dear friend today. I know he is asking on behalf of the others. No doubt he wants to reassure them somehow.
I shake my head, resting a hand on his lean shoulders.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “Really, I don’t.”