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I had already lost. All I could do now was watch and try to guard Lyrastra's back.
Which was growing more and more impossible to do the further away from me she galloped.
I urged Nightclaw forward and he responded eagerly, his soft padded paws flying over the ground.
Ahead of us, Avriel was urging his own mount to increase its speed, lashing at it with his hands and kicking it with his feet in a reckless display of fury and desperation that made me pity the animal.
That is, I nearly pitied it... until with a shout of command from Avriel, the frosty beast opened its maw wide and leaped ahead towards Lyrastra.
In an instant, a blast of icy breath shot forth from the wolf's mouth, engulfing Lyrastra and her black serpentine steed.
For a moment, they were enveloped in frost, frozen in time, suspended in an icy tableau.
Then I watched in horror as Lyrastra tumbled from her mount, falling to the ground in a hard landing.
Avriel looked back at the dark-haired woman’s prone body, his face split in a laugh. Then he urged the wolf forward, racing up alongside the frozen black steed and tapping it briefly with his hand.
In response to that touch, the mount shattered. Breaking into countless icy splinters and falling to the ground in a cascade of frozen fragments.
I stared ahead, stunned, then glanced at where Lyrastra lay, her body encased in frost.
Was that her fate? Was she already dead? Would she crumble into pieces if I tried to touch her?
But it didn’t matter. Because there was no time to stop and check. If I did, we would both die for certain.
I would go back for her. I wouldn’t leave her here. Somehow, I would get her out, I swore to myself.
Nightclaw raced on. I caught only a glimmer of icy blue cheeks and frost-covered lashes before we had raced past.
Ahead of us, Avriel and his frost wolf raced swiftly on. The path to the island lay open before him now. He could easily beat me and seize the crown.
But as he neared the end of the field, I watched him turn and catch sight of me.
A glimmer of sly cunning crossed his face. With a commanding gesture he tightened his grip on the frost wolf's reins, pulling the mount to a halt.
He was stopping. Why?
Nightclaw and I raced forward, even as foreboding filled my heart.
He couldn't just win. Not while a single other contestant was left standing.
The wolf was unleashing its freezing breath once more. With a swift gesture, Avriel raced the wolf around the perimeter of the island. The creature’s breath became a swirling gust, forming a wide ring that enveloped the glassy cobblestone field.
As the wolf's frost-laden breath settled over the glistening stones, it coated them in a glacial sheen.
What was he up to, I wondered?
Avriel's gaze locked on mine, a devious smile playing on his lips. With a sharp gesture, he urged the wolf to rear onto its hind legs.
Briefly, the beast towered over the frozen cobblestones.
Then with a crash it lowered its powerful front legs back to the ground with bone-shaking force.
A resounding crack echoed through the air.
The ground all around the island was shattering like fragile glass.
Piece by piece, the ground was falling into a dark chasm that yawned wide beneath.
