Chapter 3 The Needle's Price
Warm liquid trickles over my hand, sticky and red.
Malachi screams as he drops to his knees with his head in his hands. Reflexively, I roll off his back and take a defensive position on his left, giving me a clear view of the ruined eye and the silver needle protruding from it.
Sylvain retreats, hurriedly moving to my side and bracing herself for battle.
“Guards!” Malachi roars. “Fuck—fucking guards! Help!”
“Coward!” Sylvain spits, rearing her foot back to kick him again.
I grab her arm and yank her away. “We have to go! Now!”
Without another word, I tug the Flamepeak warrior behind me and make a break for it. The light of the candles streams past as we barrel down the corridors and hallways, our rapid footsteps an accompaniment to my flying pulse. We come to a great open ballroom with a large fireplace in the far wall. It’s empty, and no fire is lit yet, just like I was hoping.
“Follow me,” I tell Sylvain, quietly running through the ballroom and slipping inside the fireplace. I trace my fingertips on the cold bricks until I feel the break. There, hidden with the illusion of expert craftsmanship, I find the entryway to the secret passages within the castle.
Reaching back, I grab Sylvain’s wrist and tug her through what appears to be a solid brick wall, but is a trick of the light. We turn once, twice, twisting around nearly imperceptible corners, and are enveloped in complete and utter darkness. With a sigh of relief, I slump down to a crouch against the hard bricks and try to catch my breath.
“What is this place?” Sylvain pants. I can picture her hands on her knees as she catches her breath.
“Hidden paths that only children who grew up here would know about,” I say simply.
“And you know your way through here in the dark?”
“Not quite…” With a reserved sigh, I reach into the pocket of my dress and pull out a small, round crystal. It fits perfectly in my palm, and light gathers at its center and pools inside when I hold it out before me.
“Magic!” Sylvain whispers reverently.
I shake my head, rising to my feet. I can see the energy pulsating from my palm and not the ball, but this woman doesn’t need to know the truth. “Enchantment,” I explain. “I purchased the item from a magician a long time ago.”
Not quite a lie. I did purchase the orb from a traveling circus. The man I bought it from did claim to be a magician, but I knew him for what he was. A fake.
As our eyes adjust to the sudden light, our gazes meet and hold. Mine silver, hers green, and I feel the locking sensation take place in my soul. Sylvain is destined for great things, and I know in my heart she’ll be part of my life for quite some time. I breathe a sigh of relief. It was destined that I save her, not a mistake.
Sylvain rubs her chest, her mouth twisting in concern. “I must have run too hard, my chest feels tight…”
I want to tell her it has nothing to do with how fast she ran, and everything to do with destiny settling in her soul like an obsidian rock. Sharp and heavy, not to be moved or changed without injury. Her fate is sealed, just as mine is to hers. For whatever reason, we have been bound together and destiny will unfold for both of us.
Pulling myself to my feet, I try not to frown as I stare at Sylvain. I know now that what has happened was meant to be, but it’s cost me precious time. I can only hope that Malachi’s wailing is enough of a distraction for the prince to keep him away from the courtyard for as many precious minutes as it can.
“We have to hurry,” I tell her, getting an idea. “Now that Malachi has more than his pride damaged, he might try to prevent you from signing up.”
“Oh gods, you’re right!” Sylvain blanches. “Can you tell me how to get there?”
“Just follow me. I need to get my armor so I can sign up too.” I start walking at a brisk pace but notice quickly that only my footsteps are echoing in the dark passageway.
I turn to find Sylvain with her eyebrows raised high. She looks me up and down critically, taking in my fine gown and carefully braided hair. Her gaze stalls when she sees my blood-soaked sleeve, but it doesn’t derail her train of thought.
“Look, Anara, is it? You were super brave back there and all, but you’re just a lady’s maid who got lucky with a needle. If you think for one second a needle will save you against a dragon… Maybe I should help you find a healer? I think Malachi rattled something in your mind.”
“And you, a trained Flamepeak warrior, were pinned against a wall as if you’ve never faced a day of battle in your life. I think there's a whole lot more to you and me than meets the eye, don't you?”
I turn without another word. Sylvain can follow if she wants, but now she’s out of danger, she isn’t my responsibility. Fate has tied us. She will be entangled in whatever web it has woven. But right now, I don’t have time to try and unravel what that is. I don’t take more than five steps down the passageway before her light footsteps hurriedly follow me.
“So, are you planning on dying out there, or are you some sort of super badass?” she asks. Her voice is like the chirping of an excited bird. The sudden change is mildly grating on the nerves.
“It’ll be one of the two,” I mutter, quickening my step toward my room and only slightly regretting allowing her to follow.
Isn’t a warrior supposed to be a little more…stoic?
“Well, come on, spill the beans! We’ll fight in the Trial together, we should know as much about each other as possible. Besides, it’s been so long since I met someone as interesting as you.”
“Fine.” I stop in my tracks, causing her to collide with my back before I turn and face her. “I’ll make you a deal. If we live through the Trial and end up training to be dragon slayers, I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
“I’ve never been so excited to live in my life!” Sylvain squeaks, clapping her hands in front of her.
“We’ll see if you do. I mean, you couldn’t stand up to Malachi—”
“Hey!” she interrupts, even as her smile stays ever-present. “That ass got the jump on me. If I’d been ready, he’d be a eunuch by now.”
I plant a hand on my hip, “Do you really think a dragon will wait for you to be ready?”
Flashes of fire, shrill, pained screams. The sickly scent of blood. Acrid, burning flesh.
I wince, my own words drawing up painful memories.
Sylvain cocks her head to the side, studying me. “In Flamepeak, we learn to take life for what it is and find enjoyment in the moments where we get to live it without fear.”
Which explains the sudden infusion of rainbows and sunshine.
“So, right now? I get to allow myself happiness, I get to make friends. On the battlefield, it’ll be different.” She sighs, adjusting her leathers and making her features calm and serious. “I’d like to view you as an ally when the fires of death begin to fall on us. I hope you can find it in your heart to feel the same.”
“Just because you’re supposed to protect me doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, Anara!”
Elysandra’s voice echoes in my mind, triggered by this woman’s ferocity and offer of friendship. I wince, running my hand through my hair with an exasperated sigh. This is not what Elsie would want. Elsie would embrace Sylvain with open arms.
“Alright, I’m sorry. It’s just…a lot is riding on what happens today, and if I don’t hurry, I may not even be allowed to sign up. If we survive, I vow I will be your friend from this day forward.”
I hold out my right arm expectantly, and Sylvain grabs my elbow with excited fervor. We stand there for a moment, gripping each other, and once again I feel the heavy bond of fate settle around us like a lead weight.
Sylvain wrinkles her nose, rubbing her chest with her other hand. “There’s that feeling again…” she mutters.
“I think you better get used to that.”