Jewels and Feathers (Race Games 3)

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE

Eirik’s tablet hadn’t reappeared with him, and yet, Brin’s had. The tiny voice in it announced that they were in The Wolflan Basin, but it looked more like the swamps of Louisiana than anything else. Where the spell spit them out at was the edge of it, their feet already sinking into the mud. It was a good thing they’d all worn boots.

“There’s sixteen miles to cover on foot,” Brin said, looking down at his tablet.

“Don’t get that wet,” Eirik told him. “The cover is waterproof but there’s no telling how well it works for larger depths.”

Brin looked at the tablet and then out at the swamp they would clearly have to wade through. The soft curse was the only indication he understood how difficult that would be, especially if there were threats.

With barely any weapons, they would be at a disadvantage. The only benefit was that likely no one else had weapons either. No one would have expected to go on foot either and there was still the rule about no weapons longer than your forearm. The only reason Vidar had gotten away with it was because it had been already in the car, ready for the race. Still, all the other teams had ample time in the swamps to fashion weapons out of whatever they could find. Because this would be a free-for-all. No one would resist the opportunity to strike at Muni. Not when they were without the protection of a car.

Muni lifted her nose into the air, sifting through the smells of mud and stagnant water, until she could just barely get the hint of the others before them. Footprints in the mud around them spoke of the many directions the other teams had chosen to take. Underneath all of that, there was the slight scent of blood, either someone who was injured by another racer or injured by something in the waters they were about to travel through.

She could unfurl her wings and fly across the swamp, avoiding all threats. Those with wings would have an advantage through this level at least. If they’d been trying to win, it wouldn’t have been fair. As it was, Muni kind of hoped there was something preventing those with wings from rising too high. If she could, she’d carry her team to safety, but with such a large group, she’d never be able to carry them. They’d be far more vulnerable with her attempting to carry them through the air than they’d be trekking through the swamp.

“Well,” Brin murmured, looking at the murky water. “Should we?”

“We have no choice,” Vidar pointed out. “If we want to continue, we must go through there.”

The sound of drones moving through the swamp echoed over the water, and when one came out to focus on them, the shine of the camera catching Muni’s gaze, she narrowed her eyes. The entire world was watching them, and now, without the car, they’d lost all privacy.

“Come on,” she said, moving to the edge of the water. Her boots weren’t waterproof in any way, but at least it would keep the mud from getting between her toes. “The swamp is treacherous. Before you take large steps, make sure to feel there’s ground beneath your foot. The mud could easily sink you beneath the water if it’s not solid enough.”

Brin grabbed a section of palm leaf and quickly weaved it into some sort of sling. With Eirik’s help, he fastened it around his upper torso before tucking the tablet inside. Clever, Muni thought. Her men were clever, and she’d have to remember they weren’t weak or in need of being protected despite being human.

“Would you like me to carry you, lady raven?” Brin asked her with a wiggle of his brows.

Despite the situation, she couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alas, it’s probably best for us all to remain vigilant on our feet, but I thank you for the offer, warrior.” With a quick movement, she leaned up and gave him a quick kiss that the drones likely caught on camera. It didn’t matter. They were all targets anyway.

The first step into the swamp felt horrible. There was no direct path through the trees that would allow them to stay dry. As far as Muni could tell, they’d have to alternate between moving through water and getting on the small mounds of earth. The second step into the water had it filling her boots, making them heavier. Still, she continued forward. Vidar wasted no time, coming into the water on her right side. Eirik took up her left, his blade in his hand. Though he wasn’t a fighter, most likely wouldn’t use the knife, he had her talons to use and they would handle things when needed. He’d remember them when he needed them most. Brin took up the rear, his eyes searching the dark trees around them.

Though the warm water immediately soaked through their clothing and filled their boots, none of her men made a complaint. Brin and Vidar likely were used to such things, having gone through battles often and needing to sneak up on the enemy. Now, they moved just as slowly, as if they were working their way to a rival village. The soft sounds of water movement barely broke the sounds of the swamp. The noise was a mixture of croaking frogs, creatures slipping into the waters around them, crickets, and the dull thrum of the drones recording in the trees. Perhaps, the drones could be used to discover the positions of others, but likewise, the drone would also give away their position. Realizing that, Muni turned and found the small drone following them.

“We need to get rid of that. It’s giving us away,” she whispered, her voice low enough the drone would never pick it up.

Vidar turned at her words and focused on it, his eyes narrowed. “You’re right. But it’ll likely fly away if we approach it.”

Brin grinned. “I’ve got this. Distract it.”

Moving over to Muni, Eirik wrapped his fingers around her waist and lifted her from the water. Muni had a second to panic before he was ducking his head and wrapping her thighs around his shoulders, keeping her from the water and raising her high. The drone moved in closer to capture whatever it was they were doing as Eirik moved over to the nearest tree as if helping Muni reach something. Muni, understanding what Eirik was doing, began to reach for something that wasn’t there, her fingers curling around a stick and tugging. When it broke away, she reached for another.

Vidar, realizing what they were doing, tucked his sword down his spine and moved over to the same tree, beginning to climb it.

The drone moved in even closer.

Out of the corner of her eye, Muni watched as the drone completely forgot about there being a third man. Brin moved to the back of the drone, out of view, and began to scale the tree closest to it as silently as a panther. When he reached the level, he pulled the dagger from his thigh and hovered there, waiting as the drone moved back and forth.

Muni grinned and turned just in time to see Brin leap from the tree, careful to avoid the props on the drone as he stabbed his dagger down through the top of it. He landed back down with a splash of water that avoided his tablet, sending the small animals around them in a flurry. The drone slammed into the water a half second later. Brin grabbed his blade and yanked it from the drone before handing it to Eirik.

“Can we use that for anything?”

Eirik studied it closely. “I don’t think so. It looks like they may have it set to destroy itself upon not working.” He opened the drone cover and scowled. “Yep. They already fried the board.”

Brin nodded and helped Muni off Eirik’s shoulders, gently setting her back into the water. “Shall we continue?”

“We shall.” Muni smiled up at him and they continued on without a drone escort.

Still, the sounds of the swamp filled the air. Every now and then, it sounded as if something large moved in the water, but each time they waited to see what would happen, nothing ever did.

“This feels too easy,” Vidar murmured softly when another large creature moved around them. “Shouldn’t there be traps?”

“Likely, the traps are simply the wildlife here. They’ll expect the other racers to be the real threat,” Muni replied. “Still, you’re right. There’s something off.”

It took them a few miles longer to realize they weren’t alone. Muni was listening closely to the wildlife around them when she heard it.

The soft movement of water being pushed away.

Someone was trying awfully hard to be quiet and make no noise, but they hadn’t planned on her excellent hearing. When the sound came again, so slight, it would have been easy to miss, Muni tapped Vidar on the forearm. She didn’t say anything, but when he looked at her, he understood the look in her eyes. He listened intently and after a moment, the sound came again.

They were being hunted.

Vidar gestured to Eirik and Brin, letting them know precisely what was happening before they all, as a unit, continued as if nothing was amiss. Brin hadn’t been able to look at the tablet to see who was close to them, not while in the swamp. It was better to keep it safe and dry in its sling than check it constantly. They wouldn’t know who it was until the they revealed themselves.

The tiny rundown shack built over the water appeared out of nowhere. It was barely big enough to serve as a home, but it would do nicely for what they needed. The water was waist deep as they closed in on it. By the sounds behind them, whoever hunted them were far enough away they could climb out safely. With that reasoning, Muni dug her nails into the edge of the rotting wood and lifted herself from the water. The sounds would reach those behind them, but they would have plenty of time to set a trap.

Quickly, Vidar, Brin, and Eirik followed her, hoisting themselves from the murky water and climbing onto the small deck. Moving swiftly toward the door, Muni pulled it open and glanced inside. Empty. No one had been here for a long time. Likely, it was used as some sort of hunting cabin or such. No electricity. No water. Simply a bed, a bucket, and lots of storage crates that likely held things they couldn’t use. The humidity would have eaten through most of it.

“Get ready,” Muni whispered.

Vidar moved behind some of the crates on one side of the door. Brin did the same on the other side. Eirik took up another spot behind Muni. Then she stood in the center of the tiny shack and waited patiently.

The sound of them coming through the water outside had her holding her breath. If it was the necromancers, she’d made sure to kill them herself, but it didn’t feel like them. When the smell of sulfur reached her nose, she realized precisely who it was a second before the driver kicked in the door.

The demon grinned as he took her in. “Well what do we have here?”

Ego had the demon stepping inside the shack, his gaze focused on her and her alone. The second demon followed. Both of them wore matching grins.

“What are you doing all alone, little bird?” the second demon purred. “Shouldn’t you have your protectors?”

Muni tilted her head. “You think I need protectors?”

She kept her hands folded primely in front of her, her posture relaxed.

“All alone and tempting.” The driver licked his lips. “Perhaps, we’ll play before we end you.”

“Pluck out your feathers,” the second one added. “Make you scream and beg for mercy as we use you.”

“Demons,” she scoffed. “Always thinking with your dicks. If you were smart, you’d be using your head.”

“Why is that?” the driver asked, his eyes gleaming in excitement at thinking she was cornered.

“You were dead the second you walked through that door,” she answered.

The driver’s eyes widened, but he had no time to act before Brin and Vidar were out of their hiding spots. With a violent spray of blood, both of the demons suffered slit necks, one by Vidar’s sword. The other was by Brin’s dagger.

“Their heads must be separated,” Muni offered, but before she could finish the sentence, Vidar was already hacking them free, two heads rolling to the center of the shack.

The sound of drones outside again made her roll her eyes. “Can we not get a few moments of peace?”

The sound of the horn echoed outside. Google, despite being strapped to Brin’s chest, announced, “The demon team has been eliminated.”

“Let’s keep moving,” Vidar grunted, wiping his blade clean on the demon body. “There’s no telling who is else is following.

Muni went to step over the demon bodies, but she looked down sadly. Neither of them meant anything to her, but perhaps, they meant something to someone else. “The Games are such a waste of life,” she murmured.

Eirik took her hand. “Perhaps, it’s time they ended.”

Nodding in agreement, she squeezed his fingers, and together, they all returned to the swamp. It took another mile for the scent of sulfur and blood to leave her nose.