Chapter Twenty-Six: Nyssa

 

A s Nyx led the trio back out into the frigid cold, Nyssa grabbed hold of Jorah’s hand once again, lacing her fingers through his, her skinnier bones exchanging heat with his meaty hands. Normally Jorah would have turned to look at her and smile at her touch, but now all he did was stare straight ahead and follow after Nyx as they crossed the snow drifts.

Nyssa was sure he was mulling over what had just happened in the Seers’ cave, about how quickly he had challenged the Seers to the contest of strength, or trial by combat, or whatever he wanted to call it. This fight would be a big deal, and she needed to make sure he was ready for it.

“Hey,” Nyssa said, snapping her fingers at Jorah as they walked. “Listen to me, okay?” Looking her way, Jorah blinked. “I know we agreed to use the challenge as a last result, but now we can only focus on making sure you win! Whatever you need from me, just say the word, yeah?”

Caught off guard by her devotion, Jorah let loose and chuckled, his laugh causing both Nyx and Bronwen to stare at him. “Man, I can always count on you, huh? Alright, then yeah, I’ll think of something for you to do to help me. But don’t worry, I’m not planning on losing. Count yourself lucky that I’m the one taking the challenge. It doesn’t matter who they throw at me, because either way I’m going to win and force those laws to disappear forever.”

Seeing his confidence back, Nyssa smiled, and the group continued along until they got back to the prison cave. The two guards standing outside yawned as Nyx approached, but promptly moved the large stone blocking the entrance to allow the trio back inside. Surprisingly, she went in with them, whether to speak to them or just Jorah she wasn’t sure. With the cave entrance wide open and the sunlight streaming in, Lowell, Finn, and Keanu covered their eyes with their hands and recoiled. Finn took a few steps back, hissing. “Are you here to take us away too? Just like you did the other three? I’ll get revenge for whatever you people did to them!”

“Relax, Finn,” Nyx said, sighing as they four entered the prison cave. “They’re all still here, alive, but we do have some news for you all.”

“News?” Lowell asked, finally able to lower his hand, his eyes squinting in the light, and stepping forward a bit.

Nyx nodded, but it was Nyssa who spoke next. “Yeah, we have a way to end to the isolation laws of the Bear Clan for good...and the responsibility rests solely on Jorah.”

“What do you mean?” Finn asked, glancing at Jorah.

Sighing, Jorah came forward, sitting on the ground, which had dried up considerably since the night before. Nyssa, Nyx, and the others followed suit, sitting in a wide circle around Jorah, giving him enough room to explain. “Well, we tried to convince the Seers to revoke the law, but ultimately Dallan decided it was a foolish idea, so I resorted to an idea I had originally. I invoked the contest of strength tradition.”

Sighing heavily, Keanu crossed his arms, but Finn and Lowell each glanced at each other, unsure of what to make of Jorah’s words. “What’s a contest of strength, again?” Finn asked.

“Oh, come on,” Nyx said. “I can understand if Lowell doesn’t know, but at least you should, Finn!” Blushing and scratching his head, Finn, mumbled something under his breath and looked away.

“So, then, want to explain it?” Lowell asked. “I’d like to know what we’re all hedging our bets on. I mean clearly it’s all on Jorah, but what does he have to do?”

“It’s pretty simple, really,” Jorah began. “The contest of strength tradition goes as far back as the beginning of our clan. As you all know, we’re led not by one shifter, but by a group of wise elders...well, at least they used to be wise, before the Vampires invaded the Blackwood.” He glanced at Bronwen briefly, who simply shrugged at the comment. “Typically, the Seers make all the laws, but of course there’s always a few who the laws greatly affect, or a few that simply don’t like the laws. So, a contest of strength was set up for any who wished to challenge the Seers. All the challenger had to do was enter a ring made in the dirt, or snow, in our case, and wrestle or fight to shove either a Seer or Seer representative out of the ring. Whoever is last in the ring wins the contest and can choose what to do with the law on hand. It’s a tradition, because typically this contest affects everyone.”

“Well, that doesn’t sound too bad,” Lowell admitted, glancing from Jorah to Nyssa. “I mean, all you need to do is overpower whoever the Seers throw at you, right? Honestly it doesn’t sound all that different from our Alpha challenges back at Gray Creek…”

Keanu grunted. “It’s not that easy.”

“He’s right,” Nyx interjected. “The ring is the most troublesome part.”

Seeing his chance to pick up where he left off, Jorah continued. “The ring is drawn to be small. Small enough to where if, let’s say, I want to shift into a bear to suddenly swipe my opponent out of the ring, I could easily step out and lose the match.”

“It’s all about who is thrown out or steps outside first,” Nyx said, glancing towards the exit, at the two guards watching them. “I remember my sisters telling me tales of matches that went on for days, simply because neither opponent could get the other one to step out of the ring.”

“One could be knocked unconscious, but if they aren’t thrown out of the ring the contest won’t end.”

“Talk about brutal…” Bronwen said. “Though it’s nothing compared to Vampire games.”

“Yeah,” Jorah said. “It’s nothing short of being downright frustrating, especially when you and your opponent are evenly matched.”

“Then I suppose you have a battle plan to win the contest?” Lowell asked. “Knowing you, I’m sure you’ve been thinking of something, at the very least.”

Jorah groaned, glancing at the floor. “Of course, I have, but like we’ve mentioned, at the end of the day I need to overpower whoever I’ll be facing. And since I probably won’t know who I’ll be wrestling out of the ring until tomorrow morning, then I can’t come up with anything concrete just yet.”

“Wait, this contest isn’t until tomorrow morning?” Finn said. “Ugh! We have to spend another entire day in this stuffy cave? I think I might just pass out from boredom.”

Everyone laughed, their chuckles bouncing off the walls. “Well, do you want to change places with me?” Jorah asked playfully. “I’m sure you’ll do fine in the contest.”

“As if!” Finn shouted, causing another chorus of laughter to ring out.

Rising to her feet, Nyx’s smile softened a bit. “Well, I need to go, but I wish you luck in the contest, Jorah.” Jorah also got to his feet, throwing her a smile. “I hope you know...that I’m sorry about how I reacted to you leaving. I’ll be rooting for you.” With that, Nyx jogged out of the cave, calling back to them. “I’ll have others bring by food for you in a bit, okay?” Then she was gone, out of sight, and the two guards rolled the large boulder back over the entrance of the cave, subjecting them all to darkness, the only remaining light being that of the two torches and of the few rays that wiggled through the cracks of the boulder.

“She really is a good person,” Nyssa commented, watching Jorah’s expression. She meant it, truly. Before now, Nyssa had trouble thinking about how Nyx would be able to move forward, knowing she’d never truly be with Jorah the way she wanted to. But the female bear shifter had just proved her wrong twice now.

“Yeah, she is,” Jorah said, sitting back down and sighing. “She’s strong, so she’ll be able to move on with her life one way or another after the outcome of my contest tomorrow.”

Grabbing his hand again, Nyssa peered into his eyes. “You mean after you win, tomorrow.”

Smiling weakly, Jorah nodded. “Yeah, after I win.”