Calamity smiled. “Thenwe make sure he doesn’t win.”
“And how exactly would we do that?”Morganaasked, her voice hesitant, as if she were afraid of the answer.
“Well, we know his opening round picks,”Calamitysaid, and the others nodded.Josse’smen had heavily debated the merits of their boss’s betting strategy, and their eavesdroppers had taken notes. “So, we find them over the next day and a half and make sure they don’t win.”
“But what about the further rounds?”Edenasked. “Won’the just make up for it there?”
It was a good point– they could sabotage all they wanted now, but it wouldn’t mean anything for later rounds.
The group debated several approaches– bribing or spying on the bookkeepers, attempting to read his thoughts when he placed each bet, or even seducing him to influence his decisions or earn his secrets– but, in the end, they decided to sendEden, in the form of a bird, toJosse’sbox between each stage.Thedruid didn’t often use her transmutative powers in this way, and she seemed giddy at the idea.Noone would suspect a pigeon, after all.Theyhad just enough money between them to get some spell scrolls that would let them communicate telepathically, too.
“Then the rest of us can work to sabotage the players as they go,”Calamitysaid, glad for the chance at some subterfuge.
“But who’s going to enter?”Morganaasked, and they all looked around at each other.Wherewas their barbarian friendGorlagwhen they were needed most?
Calamity sat up a bit straighter; she liked the idea of sneaking around during the tournament, but she also hadn’t been able to let her magic loose in what felt like ages.
“Absolutely not,”Liamsaid, spotting her posture change. “Yourface is all over this city.They’darrest you in a second.”
“But it’s unarmed combat,” she said. “Youfancy that?”
“I could always go in,”Yoricksaid, but they all knew that was a bad idea.Onlyhalf the spellsYorickknew were combat-focused.
“She’s not wrong,”Morganasaid quietly toLiam. “Idon’t feel likeI’dstand much of a chance without my sword.”
Liam sighed as if he were about to agree, but then a throat cleared.
“I’ll do it,”Nashalasaid, stepping forward into the group.
“Absolutely not,”Calamitysaid, almost beforeNashalahad finished speaking.Shestill didn’t trust this stranger; she wasn’t sure she ever could.
“Now, come on,”Liamsaid toCalamity. “Shefights without weapons anyway.Thiscould make sense.”
“I also fight without weapons,”Calamitysaid, feeling magic skirt across her fingertips.Shetook a deep breath; she’d started enough fires already.
“I thinkNashalais perfect,”Yorickagreed, but at least he had the decency to sound as if he felt guilty about it.Calamityglared at him, and he withered. “Sorry, butIdon’t want you to get caught.Itwon’t help us if we have to add a prison break to the mission.”
Calamity narrowed her eyes atNashala, trying to suss out her motivation.Ifshe won and claimed theShadowshardas her own, what could she do with it?Wouldshe take it right back toTrulnuroth?Maybethat was why she’d been sent all along.MaybeNashalawas the servant the prophecy referred to, notCalamity.
But, looking around at her smiling friends, who all seemed satisfied with their decision, she knew her concerns would carry no weight.She’deroded so much of their trust with the way she’d handled their investigation so far.So, as much as she didn’t like it, she knew she didn’t have the power to stop it.
Calamity wanted nothing more than to be proven wrong; forNashalanot to betray them.Butthere was a sinking feeling in her chest– and a burning sensation deep in her gut– that she couldn’t quite ignore.
Chapter21
Chloe
Apparently, every single person on the internet thoughtTeddyandIwere fucking.
I discovered this delightful fact whilst sitting at the desk in the barn, scrolling through the comments on the honey tasting videosI’dposted over the last few days.I’dsuccumbed to the allure of the multi-part posting schedule in the end, andIwas getting my just desserts; what had started as innocent, entertaining content about the farm’s differentvarietalshad somehow become a shipping manifesto for complete strangers.Thelast part–mypart– had been live for all of an hour, and the comments were obnoxiously relevant to the tensionI’dbeen experiencing in real life.
The way she looks at you when you’re blindfolded
ThatYEARNINGtho
Get a room already
AmIthe only one who thinks these two have major chemistry?
