Ernaline looked at Ambrose, eyes filled with questions and worry. “Why would they lie?”
Ambrose studied the page as the candle and firelights in the room grew ever-so slightly. “Why indeed.”
Chapter 35
With the tournament now only a couple of days away, the energy in the palace had shifted into the dark anticipation that usually came with this time. Trial Champions fought in the courtyards, eager to weed out the weakest among them before the events started.
Pairs faced off in brutal fighting, ripping each other literally limb from limb, cutting one another down in just a few blows. The strongest among them holding nothing back as they dared to challenge each other. Piles of bodies stained the ground with blood as servants dutifully pulled them away so as not to clog the battlefield. Tensions rose as bets were placed and gold and silver crowns exchanged hands as guards, nobles, and citizens proudly proclaimed their favorites to win. The bets much higher now that the stakes were also climbing.
The pit that formed in Ambrose’s stomach the night before hadn’t gone away, but had grown heavier with each passing moment as servants prepared the palace for the visitors from the other kingdoms that would all be arriving the next day. Eagerly, servants hung floral decorations, polished the gold and silver accents on the walls, and scrubbed the floors until they sparkled. All in preparation for the ball that would be held in honor of the year’s Trial Champions.
Usually, Ambrose actually enjoyed the custom. She would attend to serve, but enjoyed the vast varieties of music, foreign wines and food, as well as the various new servants she’d get to mingle with and swap stories of foreign palaces and monarchies. It was the only time she got to listen andlearn about the other kingdoms. This year, however, she would be joining the list of names that would be announced to the royals as one of the Trial Champions. They’d come hungry to see the new prospects.
Just one more day and she could be eating her last meal.
Just two more days and she could be seeing her last sunrise.
She desperately wanted to spend the day just being with the ones she loved, soaking in as much time as she could, but Lily had her training in one of the empty courtyards, away from the rest of the fighters until her muscles couldn’t take any more and she might pass out from exhaustion.
“Lily, enough.” Ambrose dropped her sword, chest heaving. “We’ve practiced as much as we can. Let’s give it a rest.” She tilted her head to the side and her spine cracked all the way up her neck. Shoulders sore from swinging her sword non-stop since the sun had come up that morning, she collapsed on the ground and rested her elbows on her knees.
“Do you think you’ll have a chance to rest when the tournament has started?” Lily swung her blade at Ambrose’s head, which she rolled away from and backed away a few feet.
“No.” Chest heaving, she gritted out as she swung her sword to counter. “But I think if you keep pushing me like this, they won’t have much of an issue picking me off first, since I’ll already be a mess on the ground.”
“I’ll heal you.” Lily swung her sword as it clashed against Ambrose’s who bit back against the reverberation in her muscles, but didn’t drop her sword.
“Lilyria.” Akadian stepped forward, glaring at her with daggers in his eyes. “Enough.”
Lily gave Akadian a look of pure murder as she turned back to Ambrose who had collapsed to her knees, using her sword as support. Tears filled her eyes and Lily stepped back a pace. “Sorry.” She shook her head as though clearing it, sheathed her swords and held out a hand for Ambrose, which she gratefully took. “You guys are right. I’m sorry.”
Ambrose lifted her aching body to its feet. “I know you’re scared. We all are.”
The late afternoon sun beat overhead drenching both girls in sweat.
Lily looked away and the harsh warrior for a short moment was just a terrified woman. “I just don’t know what I would do if I had to watch you die.” She brought her gaze up and the fear that had been clouding her eyes sharpened. “You’re really important to me. You just have to survive okay? You have to. I can’t lose you. I don’t know what I would do.”
Her heart leapt into her throat and Ambrose told herself she wouldn’t cry. So she gave her a sad but encouraging smile. “You’ve been training me for months now, you’ve done everything you can to get me ready. There’s nothing more we can do.”
Lily sucked in her lip as her brows pressed together. “You just have to be ready, okay? You have to win.”
“It’ll be enough.” Ambrose nodded. “It has to be.”
She just wanted to enjoy the time she had left.
Lily stared at her for what felt like forever before reaching out and pulling Ambrose into a tight embrace, her tears dotting Ambrose’s shoulder. “Don’t die. I forbid it, okay? I still outrank you, so you have to do what I say.”
There was the Lily she knew and loved. Hard exterior, soft inside. Sometimes Ambrose could forget they were practically the same age. Everything about Lily was honed to precision but underneath, she was still gentle in her heart.
“Don’t worry.” Ambrose wrapped her arms around her friend, throat tightening as she tried not to cry. “I had the best teacher.” She didn’t want to leave her friends behind, but Lily was strong. She’d survive this. Even if she didn’t think so. Nothing could break Lily.
“I hate to break this up,” Akadian pressed. “But we should get to the library and get some studying in before it gets too late. You’re going to need a good night’s sleep for tomorrow.”
Tomorrow.
The day the other royals from the kingdoms would all come to see the Trial Champions paraded about in obscene gowns and armor. Final bets would be placed as the royalty assessed if any of them had any potential before the real entertainment began.
“Maybe Ernaline found something useful since we met last night,”Ambrose said hopefully. Much to Ms. Asquith’s protests, she finally caved and reluctantly let Ernaline spend the day in the library instead of at her duties. Hoping too, that she could find something that could help save Ambrose. Even Ms. Asquith was more on edge than usual in preparation for the Champion’s Ball.
