Page 28 of Starside

I’ve heard the exact opposite.

I’ve also heard that he’s a creature. A venomous beast. Rumors abound when it comes to Harlan Raker.

She quirks her lips. “Is it bad that I don’t really care?”

Zane huffs on my other side. “The only thing that’s ever gotten close to Harlan Raker is his sword. I wouldn’t put it past him to kill a woman for even suggesting she wanted to be with him.”

I don’t know why anyone would suggest that.

“He’s a monster,” I say, voice cold with long-held rage. At that, Raker’s grip tightens on his sword, as if he’s heard me.

I would think it a good thing if I didn’t need to survive this journey.

The next time I see you, I won’t hesitate …

A guard stops in front of me and hands me my titanium blade. Kira is given her new silver one. Zane is reunited with his ax. He frowns as he looks at it from all angles, as if surveying it for damage.

I stare out at the gardens in front of us, at all the land separating me from the gates.

Green. So much green, in a brighter shade than I’ve ever seen it. Trickling water sputters from a fountain surrounded by statues depicting all the gods. The water is just … for decoration. The king is using it for beauty when I’ve watched countless neighbors die from dehydration.

I swallow my anger. All that matters now is making it to Starside. I need to focus on strategy.

Besides the few shrubs and sculptures, there’s hardly anything to use as cover. It’s just flat grass until a sharp slope that hides everything beyond it. If the archers start trying to take us down like they did in the forest, I’ll have little defense against their arrows. I just have to run as fast as I can, and hope by the time they set their marks, I’m down that hill.

I slip my sword into my back scabbard.

This is a race. The first fifty to the gates get to go on the Questral. Holding my blade will just slow me down.

Once everyone has their weapons back, the Watchman appears.

He motions above us, and I look up to see the king on one of the highest balconies. From his viewpoint, he can likely see all the way to the gates. He’s going to watch us kill each other. He’s going to see which of us make it.

“With your blessing, King,” the Watchman says, bowing.

“Given,” the king replies, waving his hand.

The Watchman looks down the entire line of us. Nods. Then—

“May the best fifty win.”

7

Pagnus Ender turns and slices the challenger next to him clean in half.

A man with a graying beard, without armor. He had no chance. His torso hits the grass.

I run.

The wealthiest have armor. I don’t. I’m faster. I use that advantage by running until Kira isn’t by my side anymore.

I hope I don’t have to kill you.

An arrow slices through the air just inches from my ear. I watch it get buried in the grass in front of me. Fuck. That was fast.

There’s nowhere to hide.

A bow twangs as it’s released, and I duck low, barely escaping an arrow that would have been buried in my skull.