“My father has tried to explain how to make hellfire. My grandmama. They said it comes from within. That I would grow into it with time.”
“It does, typically. Living here, it would take a long time, I imagine. What sort of hate do you have in this place? It’s too nice. The violence is all for show. Like…look. Watch this.”
I rose into the air, above her head, swelled my power, and blasted it out at the people gawking on the sidelines. The air rolled over the ground, gaining speed as I pumped more power into it. It slammed into them like a tidal wave, knocking them down and on top of one another, sending them rolling. I smiled as I watched. It really was a good time.
“And not one of them will get pissed enough to come after me.” I lowered back down. “It would take these people years to accumulate enough anger here to really harness it, I think.”
“Not for long, hopefully,” she murmured, and then bowed to me. “Thank you for teaching me. For joining me. For giving me status.”
I grimaced again and started edging away. “I think we’re good here.”
“You will make it to the last battle. We will make sure of it.”
These people were so positive. They clearly had no foothold in reality.
“Okay, well…”
Darius walked across the grass to meet me, and I had a feeling he was doing it to show his face. To put forth a show of having been there the whole time.
Let’s head out of the public eye, he thought as he neared, looking behind me. They have a lot to unpack.
Penny was getting a bow from a bloodied Romulus.
“Did she win?” I asked as she reciprocated the bow awkwardly and then walked toward us, storm clouds on her face. I was going to get yelled at.
I only saw the last portion of the fight, but yes. She threw a spell over her shoulder as she ran away from him.
“Oh yeah, that’s her signature move. It means incredible pain if you let that spell land.”
He did. He watched your fight with Charity lying down. Tomorrow, while I get into position, I’d ask that you fight Penny out here. Let them see how you can negate her spell weaving. They saw her take down the Second and the yeti, so it’ll have a big impact.
“You’ll have to ask her yourself. She’s done with me.”
“Yes, I am,” Penny said as she stomped by. “I will be spending the evening in my room, thank you very much. Darius, you’re cooking. I need edible food. Charity taught them to make good food the last time she was here, but clearly they didn’t keep it up.”
I want Callie and Dizzy here, as well. Hopefully that’ll distract people from realizing Emery and I are away. They are speaking in hushed tones, even amongst themselves, and have organized a closed trial with sentinels. They are wary of strangers in their midst. I was able to glean that people are angry with the First. They want their say. Even still, I do not know if they’ll tear her off her post.
“You’re taking Emery with you tomorrow? Can’t you just use a spell casing to hide?”
I could, yes. But he doesn’t trust me to relay the information I gather.
“Wise.”
He is absolutely correct, yes, and his knowing that is…frustrating.
I laughed as I collected my weapons and we made our way off the field. Fae were returning to the practice field, giving me a wide berth but facing off with the shifters, now in their animal forms.
“The thing is, though, I might be more valuable to you if I wander around the village and maybe just…kinda…insert myself into the proceedings? I can make a show of Penny anytime, but if I’m fighting, I can’t very well listen to the melons, if you know what I mean.”
Listening to thoughts…yes. How stupid of me to forget. I will still need a distraction so I can slip away undetected, but after that, slip into the trial and find out whatever you can.
Another green light to behave badly. And even though I was a real asshole, I’d still lent Charity status! I was with Steve—this place was amazing!
I wondered if I could get anyone to lose their temper with me…
Tomorrow I would find out.
Seventeen
“This is making me uncomfortable. I want to leave, except there’s a castle full of elves out there who want to capture you and kill Emery, so now my stomach is in knots and there is nothing I can do about it.” Penny wrung her hands beside Reagan, pressed against the wall and trying not to crush the flowers.
“What is the difference between doing this and rummaging around in people’s yards for pet rocks?” Reagan asked as she stood in someone’s window, watching the occupants eat a late breakfast.