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“This way to the challenger holding cells.” Envy strolls in the opposite direction, further into the ground.
I’m trying to keep up, but my right leg isn’t really functioning anymore. Ellister can’t carry me because he has all my stuff.
“Want me to leave the suitcase behind?” he asks, like he can tell where my thoughts are at.
“No,” I reply stubbornly. “I can’t go back in this dress.”
While Ellister can get by in his pants and sleeveless shirt, a see-through faerie gown would definitely raise some flags.
“We could just raid the thrift shop,” Ellister suggests.
“What thrift shop?”
“The one in the town close to your farm. I went there before I met you. I forget the name of the store, but it was in a brick building. After I got changed, I stole the car not far from there.”
The mystery of his strange outfit is completely solved now. “Sporty hipster pirate.”
“What?”
“Nothing.” I snicker.
It feels good to laugh, but we’re outside of a wooden door, and Envy is flapping his hand at us to be quiet.
Instead of knocking, he pulls another portal out and creates his own way into the room.
I’m a bit shocked at the luxury of the holding cell, as Envy called it.
It’s not a prison like in the gladiator movies. The windowless room has white stone walls with a pearlescent glaze, gold candle sconces, and a table covered with all kinds of food. The red silk tablecloth is shiny. Trays of fresh fruit, meat, and desserts are spread out.
Obviously, challengers are respected and treated well. I guess that’s the least anyone could do for them, considering these matches are usually to-the-death.
Ackealenvyos the First doesn’t seem rattled by our sudden appearance. He’s half-lying on a white chaise lounge lazily popping grapes into his mouth as he studies Envy, Ellister, and myself.
He’s wearing a white robe with an iridescent sheen to it. I’m not sure what it’s made of, but probably some kind of mystical silk that’s very expensive.
He wipes his fingers on the fur collar, obviously not caring if he gets it dirty. “Why didn’t you just knock?” Ackealenvyos frowns at the open portal. “Seems like a waste of magic.”
“Magic is never a waste,” Envy says pompously. “Not when I have so much of it to spare.”
“If you’re here to sabotage me, I’d seriously reconsider.”
“On the contrary.” Envy steps forward. “We’re friends. We’ve traveled a very far distance to ensure your success.”
“And you are…?”
“You may call me Envy, and you need no introduction.”
Ackealenvyos grins. “You’ve heard of me, eh?”
“Of course. Ackealenvyos is such a long name. Is there something shorter I can use?”
“Ackealenvyos was given to me at the time of my birth, and every syllable is mine,” he replies snootily. “You will say my entire name when you refer to me.”
Holy shit.
These two really are related. That sense of grandeur runs deep in their genes.
They even look alike. Both have brown hair, rounder faces, and they’re about the same height.
