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We followed her through a small door at the side of the arena into a staging area built beneath the stands. The crowd noise was shockingly loud, even with no one on the playing field. Our escorts awaited us in the staging area, and I rushed toward Barion. He grinned at me and squeezed my shoulder reassuringly.
“This is your moment, Reyna,” he said, quietly enough that it was only for me. “With the Dawnguard girl gone, there is no one here who can beat you.”
I nodded and tried to swallow. I hated to disappoint Barion—but I’d have to if I wanted to be eliminated from this contest. I’d make it up to him when we were back in Daybreak. He’d understand. The dinner last night had only proven that I could not be a part of the Nightfall pack. Not now. Not ever.
“Ladies!” A short, severe-looking woman dressed in the leather armor of the Nightfall guards strode in and clapped once to get our attention. “We will be beginning shortly! I will be assigning pairs. You will step into the arena at my word. You will be using blunted swords. The people of Efra expect a show, and the King of Frasia expects a demonstration of mastery. You will be sparring to submission. I do not expect any major wounds” –she glanced around at the four of us— “though of course you all acknowledge the risks.”
Rona bared her teeth in a grin.
“Starcrest will spar Duskmoon,” the woman said, “and Daybreak will spar Nightfall.”
I didn’t have to look at Rona to know her grin had only grown larger. Despite my intentions to get eliminated, I couldn’t help the flare of excitement that burned within me. I’d finally have a chance to work out some of my aggression on Rona herself. Maybe I could beat her and then lose to Fina. That seemed like a good idea. It’d make Fina look even better too. A win-win, really.
The woman then strode out of the staging area and into the arena itself. I hurried to the doorway to peek out and watch her.
The sun was shining on the hard-packed dirt, and the stands were completely full. In the center of the stands, higher than the commoners, the king, Duchess Alana, and the four council members sat in a shaded box with servants already pouring glasses of red wine. The king looked exceedingly comfortable in his cloak with his bare feet kicked up onto the rail of the box.
“Your Highness,” the woman called, “Duchess, and all the fine citizens of Efra.” The crowd roared. “I, Rose of Nightfall, Weapons Keeper, am honored to welcome you to this trial of the King’s Choice.” Stomping joined the roaring. Rose looked around, grinning, until it died down. “Our first match-up will be the lovely Lady Adora of Starcrest, and Lady Fina of Duskmoon!”
“What?” Adora squeaked. “We’re doing this right now?”
“Right now,” Fina said. “Come on, it’ll be fine. You know how to hold a sword.”
“I assure you I do not,” Adora said meekly. Adora’s escort nearly had to shove her out of the staging area and into the arena.
Barion tugged me away from the entrance to the arena. “Don’t get distracted,” he said. “You know how that one will go. Focus on warming up.”
I glanced over my shoulder. Rona was in the doorway, grinning as she watched Fina and Adora stalk into the arena.
“Focus,” Barion snapped. “You’re not going to have a lot of time to warm up.”
I nodded and started doing jumping jacks on his count. I focused on Barion’s instruction even as the crowd noise increased around overhead, falling over me like a wave. The crowd roared then broke into laughter.
“I don’t think you’re going to have a lot of time to warm up,” Barion muttered. “Pick up the pace.”
I jumped and stretched at his instruction, until my blood was rushing hot through my veins and sweat began to bead on my forehead and temples. The laughter turned to roaring again, with scattered applause and the thundering of feet on the stands. It’d only been a few minutes, but Fina strode in grinning, and Adora staggered in after her with her face red and an expression dangerously close to tears.
“Nice job,” Rona said with a smirk.
“It was humiliating,” Adora moaned. The back of her dress was covered in dirt. I bit back a grin of my own.
“Sorry,” Fina said, though she didn’t really sound it. “I tried to go easy on you.”
“You certainly did not,” Adora said. Her voice wavered slightly. “I’m usually not so awful. The crowd really got to me.”
Rona laughed coldly, but no one acknowledged her. I pressed my lips together. I really wanted to kick the shit out of her—but I’d have to make sure I didn’t reveal my true skill level. Not if I wanted my loss to Fina to be believable.
“Reyna, Rona,” Lady Glennis said. “You’re up.”
Barion grinned at me. “Show them what you’ve got.”
I nodded, and then Rona and I strode out into the arena.
“May I introduce,” Rose bellowed, “Lady Reyna of Daybreak… and Rona of Nightfall!”
The crowd exploded into noise. Rona grinned, waving gleefully at the stands as the crowd shouted and stamped their feet in delight. Then, someone in the crowd howled, a long, low sound. It ripped through the crowd like a contagion, until all the spectators in the stand, despite their human forms, were tipping their heads back and howling in support.
The sound sent a shiver down my spine. In the stands, the king smiled at the howling, but didn’t join in.
