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Nothing.
Still not daring to trust it, Juliana carefully peered around the corner. Miriam’s back was to her, examining another shelter. She wouldn’t be the first to fake a handicap, but it didn’t seem like Miriam’s style.
Juliana picked up a loose stone and threw it at a bucket not far from Miriam.
She did not move when it clanged.
The crowd let out a low gasp, realising what Juliana had suspected; Miriam was deaf.
One-on-one, that hardly dented her capability as a fighter. Miriam was just as strong, just as formidable. She would doubtless register Juliana’s presence if she rushed at her now, and she’d never knock her out of the ring with strength alone.
Juliana needed to be smart. She had enhanced sight. How could she use that to help her?
She sighed. If only it were dark already, and she could use her fae sight to see in the dark. Withtwoof Miriam’s senses lost, maybe,justmaybe, Juliana stood a chance of beating her.
Her heart stopped for a moment. She couldn’t make it night time, but maybe one of the barrels could. There were three left. One earlier had swamped the ring with blackness. If it had been reset…
It was her best chance.
She glanced at all three of them, planning her moves, trying to anticipate how quickly Miriam would turn, where she would go, if she’d have time to stop her before she could strike—
She seized her moment, Miriam’s back still turned, racing into the open and smashing through one of the barrels.
Water. Just water, nothing more.
The contents raced across the ground, splashing against Miriam’s calves and alerting her to Juliana’s location. Juliana didn’t care. It wouldn’t stop her. Already she was racing across the ring, second barrel in sight. It exploded upon contact, filling the entire ring with—
Bees.
Fat, huge, blood-red bees, the buzzing thick and wretched, chomping through the air, searching for her skin—
Juliana pushed through. Let them sting her if they could. She’d been through worse. She only had to—
She charged into the final barrel and knocked it to the floor. Blackness erupted over the ring like a flood, expunging everything. The bees disappeared. The surfaces vanished. Even the crowd faded from view, their noises muffled and far away.
Juliana turned. She could hear Miriam close by, breathing hard. She forced herself to steady her own breath as her eyes adjusted to the sudden change. Crates slid back into focus. The ring burned, silvery and bright. Miriam’s broad form grew wide and obvious.
Carefully, Juliana crept towards her, aware that Miriam was doubtless still using her sense of touch. Too close, she’d start to fight back. Too far away, she’d never gain the winning hand when the blackness cleared.
She took her space, and waited.
When the conjured dark finally peeled away, the crowd found Juliana’s sword pressed to Miriam’s neck.
And Miriam, far from looking annoyed, smiled.
Julianahadbargainedawaydreams before, but never so many for such a length of time. It was an odd sensation, made the nights feel short and empty, the mornings heavy and drugged. It felt unnatural to have nothing between sleeping and waking, no mushy thoughts as consciousness slipped away. It made her more irritable and clumsy.
They’ll come back,she reminded herself.Only another couple of weeks…
One day, as she took lunch with Hawthorn in solid silence, Juliana found herself cutting into the table with her knife. She hadn’t even realised she was doing it.
Hawthorn sighed. “I’m happy to find you something to butcher, but could you refrain from attacking my table?”
Juliana dropped the knife with a clatter. “I didn’t realise.”
“Evidently.” He folded away the book he was reading. “I’ve gambled away dreams before, you know, when I’ve been out of coin. It never feels like a sacrifice until you’re paying it.” He paused. “Why did you do it?”
“Do what?”
