Cedric held his breath, waiting for whatever consequence wouldbefall this man for violating the rule against fighting.
But nothing happened. Perhaps it was more of a warning shot, and he hadn’t truly intended to harm her?
Leona groaned. “Save your mana for the Crucible, you idiot!”
The man grimaced from the chastisement. Gael turned away with a dismissive snort.
It was then that Cedric saw the glint of steel as the brother lunged at Gael’s back.
Cedric’s body moved on instinct. The cowardice he witnessed overrode any disinclination he might’ve had to bother helping an Arcanian—a fae, at that—and he darted toward Gael in an attempt to block the man’s spineless ambush.
He needn’t have bothered.
Quicker than lightning, a flash of power burst from the Gate, blasting the redheaded man back. He went flying, hitting the far wall with athud, his dagger clattering on the floor. His sister cried out and raced to his side.
Jaw slack, Cedric looked from the man’s crumpled form to the Gate, which had already returned to its prior state. If he hadn’t witnessed it with his own eyes, he wasn’t sure he would have believed it. But it turned out the Crucible had meted out punishment after all. And with the speed and intensity of that magical lash, Cedric understood why everyone took the rule so seriously.
His attention thoroughly seized by what had just happened, Cedric realized too late that he was still in motion—and that Elyria was moving in the same direction he was.
His solid frame collided with hers, her body a sudden, unyielding wall. Four hells, she was a lot stronger than she looked. The impact sent a jolt through him—electric and hot—as he stumbled back. He reached out reflexively to steady himself and the next thing he knew, his hands were wrapped around her forearms.
Stunned, their eyes locked—silver-streaked green meeting warm golden brown. Confusion and revulsion twisted in Cedric’s gut. He jerked away at the exact same moment Elyria yanked her arms back, clutching them to her chest as if the contact had burned her.
“What the quartered hell are you doing?” Cedric spat.
“What areyoudoing?” Elyria snapped back, caustic bewilderment on her face. “Get out of the way before you hurt yourself.”
“Hurt myself? I was trying tohelp.”
She snorted. “Take a look around, Sir Knight. Nobody needs your help.”
Cedric lifted his eyes to where Gael now stood over the ginger twins, the sister braced protectively over her brother, who remained prostrate on the ground. A single flame burned above Gael’s pointer finger as she wagged it at her would-be assailants.
“Tsk, tsk. Do they not teach the rules of conduct over on your side of the continent?” Gael taunted.
“They’rehumans, Winters,” her white-haired fae companion said. The way he said the word rankled Cedric’s nerves. “What do you expect?”
“True enough, Paelin,” Gael replied. She stared at the siblings sprawled on the ground with a contemplative look. After a moment, she extinguished the flame on her finger with a sigh, as casually as if she was blowing out a candle. “Well, hopefully they’ve learned their lesson.”
Leona Blackwood approached the group, dropping to one knee in order to help the brother sit up. “We’ve certainly learned something,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain.
Gael smirked. “And what’s that?”
Challenge flashed in Leona’s eyes. “Who we’ll look for first once we’re on the other side of the Gate.”
Murmurs rippled through the hall. For the first time since the confrontations had begun, Cedric locked eyes with Lord Church. The nobleman gave Cedric a subtle nod, confirming what he’d been thinking. If his fellow champions wanted to settle their debts inside the Crucible, let them. All the better for him if they stayed distracted, fighting amongst themselves while he raced through the trials alone. He would yet win the crown.
Cedric’s eyes darted to Elyria, but her gaze was still on Gael.
“Winters?” she asked, her head tilting to the side as if struck with a sudden realization.
“My surname,” Gael explained, her flame-red eyebrows drawing together. “What of it?”
A spark lit in Elyria’s emerald eyes. “Your name is Gael Winters. But you’re a flamecaller?”
Someone huffed a quiet laugh. Someone elseguffawed.Despite the rage that still simmered in the back of his mind, Cedric felt the corner of his mouth twitch.
“Yes, yes,hilarious,” Gael said, the humor in her tone betraying the annoyed expression she wore.
