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Chapter Eleven
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A sparrow may be small, but it still has everything vital.
“Here’s how it’s going to go down.”
Ere held Rui’s reins as Sorin adjusted the saddle and checked the shoes.
Or whatever it was the warrior was doing. Ere was no horse expert.
“There are exactly sixty-four contestants in the tournament. Five events. You’re divided into groups of eight for the first event, the horse race and target shooting.”
Rui was looking off into the distance, distracted.
Ere would bet his favorite pair of jeans that she was thinking about a particular hulking brute. While he empathized with her fixation (having a delicious hulking brute of his own), he wanted to shake her while yelling “concentrate!”
This was their ticket home. Assuming that the Dragon’s Eye was the jewel they were sent here to find. If it wasn’t…
Well, fuck. They were shit outta luck.
(Ooohh, he should jot that down somewhere and send it to Niki Manaj when he got home to put it in a song).
In the meantime, he tried to coach his best (and only) fighter to get her head in the game.
“It’s a bit of an obstacle course, with live targets as well as stationery ones. You have to ride through the forest beyond the lake and bring back game. Something small you can carry, but large enough to show off. Though that doesn’t get you any extra credit.”
“Hunting is a stupid human sport,” Rui said with a sneer.
There she was.
The rather superior, disdainful and aloof treasure dragon Ere first met at the Celestial Palace.
Over the past few days, since she became fixated on the warrior Wolfe, Rui seemed almost human. With human emotions and insecurities. While Ere enjoyed watching her grow feelings, for the sake of this tournament, he was relieved to see the cold, supremely self-assured side of her.
“I agree,” he sympathized. “But at least the camp cooks will take the game and roast or stew it for supper tonight. So, think of it as earning your meal. This isn’t just a trophy hunt.”
Rui appeared mollified at that, checking the string of her new bow.
“Is it to your liking?” Ere asked, nodding to the weapon in her hands. It certainly cost him a pretty penny and some expert finagling.
“It is similar to what I used when I trained in human military arts,” she replied. “Bulkier, heavier. But I’ll adjust.”
“Good,” he muttered. Because they couldn’t afford to change weapons now.
“The top two winners of each of the eight groups will move on to the sword fight in the afternoon. It will take place in the center arena where everyone, including the esteemed royals, will gather to watch. You will fight four rounds. The top eight contestants with the most wins move to the next event, which begins tomorrow morning.”
“Will I be paired with Wolfe?” she asked.
Though her expression was bland, the catch in her voice betrayed her worry.
“I will do everything I can to prevent it,” Ere promised. “But you will likely have to fight the best of the other warriors.”
“I shall defeat them all,” she said confidently, after releasing a subtle breath.
Ere was counting on it. Though he hadn’t seen Rui wield that long, gorgeous Asian sword she always carried behind her back, he had a feeling she was a master.
Visions ofCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonplayed in his head. He wished they had popcorn in this age so he could snuggle up against Sorin and watch the bloody spectacle from the stands like everyone else.
