Belvedor and the Four Corners (Belvedor Saga Book 1) (28 page)

She glared up at the general in defiance, tired of his rules. He rose from his throne-like chair to meet her challenge as the icy wind clawed at her face. In an instant, everyone hushed, and even Grinda stood wary as she waited for the general to react.

The regulators guarding the sidelines moved slowly, and she found herself surrounded on all sides.

“Arianna Belvedor,” he said. “So you live? Bravo.” His expression looked menacing as he locked eyes with Solomon still seated in the crowd of elders. “No matter, your time here is short. You should’ve waited for your number to be called.” He said, lowering himself to his seat. “You’ve broken the rules. I’m very sorry, but you are hereby
disqualified
.” He smiled as the screech of sharp metal rang through her ears, the regulators unsheathing their swords and closing a tight circle around her.

She racked her brain for an escape route. Nothing. She readied her sword for a battle she could never win.

General Ivo gave a single nod to Sir Westing who was now at the front and center of the enclosing circle. Of course, he was smiling that sinister smile. “Goodbye,” he mouthed as he signaled for his men to attack.

As forty-odd regulators lifted their swords to cut her open, two things happened Arianna could not readily explain. First, the regulators dropped dead at her feet within moments, groaning as they collided with the ground. Second, the elder’s section of the crowd began to scream. Their shrieks mixed with the howls of the wind as they herded away from the Square, followed by a stream of terrified slaves.

As Arianna struggled to understand her situation, Liam grabbed hold of her hand. He tried to pull her away from Square, but she stumbled over the bodies of the regulators. She noticed some without any wounds to speak of, almost as if they had choked to death. Others had arrows protruding from their skulls and backs as she lay with the bodies, struggling to get to her feet.

“What’s going on?” She looked up to the stands. People lay dead on the stone benches of the amphitheater, sprawling over each other, one on top of the other as the crowd pushed and shoved to take leave. Arianna pushed back to her feet and moved a few more steps further just to be thrust to the ground once more. Liam had shoved her so hard that she could taste the mud on her tongue.

Looking up, she found the sharp end of Sir Westing’s weapon pointed at her friend. This time Liam stood over her, protecting her. Somehow Sir Westing had managed to dodge the freak attack upon the other regulators. He lunged without a second thought, and the two began battling around the bodies like it were a training ground… a master versus the apprentice.

“Ara, are you alright?” yelled Lessa over the commotion as she ran towards her with Sano on her shoulder and her bow across her back.

“I’m fine,” said Arianna, jumping to her feet. “What the Hell just happened?”

“You can thank me later,” she said, gesturing to her weapon.

“This was all you?” she asked. Arianna’s eyes bulged. “Impossible…”

“Of course not!” said Lessa, breathless. “Talis and Solomon took out one or two.” She smiled and then leaned in to whisper, “Magic can really be dangerous…” Her tone was serious, frightened almost as all traces of joking wiped from her face.

Arianna nodded as clarity struck her; the regulators were no match for seasoned sorcerers from what she had learned from the scrolls. She glanced up to see Talis and Solomon bounding their way down the steps towards the center.

Solomon gave a quick bow to Arianna before running over to Liam’s side. He still exchanged blows with the right-hand man, but he began to stagger under the man’s expertise. Scooping up a discarded shield, Solomon threw his body in front of Liam, blocking Sir Westing’s next swing.

“Son, you’ve done bravely,” said Solomon as he maneuvered Liam out of the battle, taking his place.

Sir Westing turned livid, his face bright red as he thrashed his sword about with more ferocity than before, spit flying from his lips. Solomon looked almost bored as he blocked the now sloppy attacks with ease. “Emotions have no place on the battlefield, young man. You would have done well to remember that.”

As Sir Westing’s neck opened up, Arianna saw his blood matched the color of his rubicund locks now hanging limp in the snow. The Great Wolf of the East kept well on his promise.

After a moment of silence, Solomon spoke, “Now, we must be off. Quickly, follow me.” He spat at Sir Westings’ corpse. “I warned you,” he said under his breath.

As they turned to take leave, a cry halted them in their tracks.

“I win,” said a soft, snake-like voice.

Arianna staggered. In all of the commotion, she had forgotten about Grinda. She turned slowly towards the voice, terrified at what she might find. Her heart shriveled beneath her chest, watching as new blood spilled to the snow.

There lay Liam Black, in all of his glory, wounded by the likes of Red Risso. Arianna gazed at the large gash at his side as blood grew in a pool around him, joining the rest of the fallen soldiers’. She ran to kneel beside him.

Liam moaned, blood sputtering from his mouth as he clutched at Arianna’s face. “End her,” he said through clipped breaths. Tremors ran up and down his body.

Talis ran over with Lessa at his heels. He pushed Arianna to the side, and they started tending his wounds. He shouted commands at her, but she didn’t hear. She couldn’t hear anything but the rage inside her that called for Grinda’s head. Liam’s words took over her mind.
End her
. She heard nothing else but his voice.
End her.

She stood, leaving her beloved friend in the hands of the healers as she marched towards where Grinda stood waiting. Storm-gray eyes smiled in conquest, and Arianna fumed, beckoning her forward with her swords.
End her.

Grinda lunged forward, twirling the long axe in front, Liam’s blood dripping from the blade. A roar ripped from Arianna’s throat then. She could only see Grinda as dead, so she ran to meet her in the middle. She threw both of her swords out in lurid attacks. The metal sparking and screeching with each blow.

Grinda began to gain momentum, running towards her with her axe held high, so Arianna decided to try something new… something dangerously different. Placing her swords by her side, she closed her eyes, searching into her mind for some help.

She heard Grinda only a few feet away now, ready to send her to the grave once more. Feeling the air shift as she brought her axe down fast, something fierce, something transformative, took hold of her at that moment. Her eyes flew open, and she knew this was her time.

“Luzcora,” she said in a whisper. She raised her swords, quick as lightening, crossing them in front of her chest. She planted her feet firm in the ground, creating an unbreakable wall with her body. She could sense the power pulsing through her veins, coursing through her body, and she knew never to doubt Solomon’s wisdom again.

For a second, everything was silent around them as the magic took hold of the battle. Arianna lifted her gaze to meet her opponent’s as a burst of light grew from the collision. It sizzled like fire until it exploded, sending sparks in every direction.

Flying backwards, Grinda landed in a soft blanket of snow, but a shield of air encompassed Arianna, keeping her safe from the backfire. When she looked upon Grinda’s face, she saw nothing but death.

Her axe had shattered into a thousand pieces, the remnants of the metal and wood burying themselves in her chest and face. Blood drenched her pale skin, and her gray eyes clouded over permanently.

“I suppose you yield,” said Arianna. Her eyes narrowed as she looked down upon the body of her first kill. She felt like a warrior now, but a little pang of sorrow still grew in her mind for another lost soul to the Four Corners… even if it was Red Risso.

Shut it out, shut it out.
A skill already mastered.

Looking up, she searched for any sign of the general but found him nowhere in sight. Instead she found Solomon standing there, regarding her with a strange expression as he looked from her to the slain girl at her feet.

Searching past him, she found that the crowd still crawled over each other to reach safety, scrambling from all directions. To her shock, she even saw several slaves struggling against the regulators, starting to fight back.
Could this be happening?

“Ara!” Arianna snapped back to reality, back to where Liam lay dying, and she noticed someone else now joined the ranks.

“Noah?”

“I was so worried about you,” said Noah. “I thought you were dead! He’ll be alright, won’t he?” His face splotched with tears, frantic as he ran towards her.

“He’ll be okay,” she said. She trapped her emotions inside and put on a brave face for Noah, locking him in her arms. Looking to Talis and Lessa, she searched for some sign of hope but found it to be missing from their faces. As they rubbed something around the wound, she heard Talis whispering a familiar incantation.

“We need to get back to the sparring room,” said Solomon, turning to Arianna. “Take Liam there. I’ll meet you in five minutes, but I must fetch something first. They’ll be searching for you soon. We must hurry!” He ran off, leaving them alone.

The four grabbed hold of Liam, jogging back to the Dueling Arena. They placed him on the bed in the Well Room. His wounds still bled, and his breathing slowed.

Outside, the district lost all sanity. People ran riot in the streets, and robes of red and black clashed as regulators and slaves scattered wildly in every direction. Some fought, some ran, and some hid from the disarray.

Arianna still wanted answers. She felt confused about the turn of events following her return to the living. Inside, Talis worked his magic over Liam who writhed in pain, his body unaccepting to the foreign treatment.

“Girls, gather your things,” said Talis through clenched teeth, sweat beading on his forehead. “You’ll be leaving very shortly.”

The girls ran about, throwing their things into two separate rucksacks, packing within minutes. They drew their weapons as Solomon barged through the doors of the Well Room, Cyn right behind him.

Arianna let out a sigh of relief at seeing her master walk through that door. So suddenly, everything seemed too temporary.

“Oh, my,” said Cyn, gasping at the sight of the bloodied boy on the bed. She turned to Arianna with a serious expression etched across her face, completely in caretaker mode. “Take these and use them wisely. I’m sure Lessa will know how. I’ve also brought some food. I’ll see you again, but take care of yourself, you hear?”

Arianna nodded, confused at her parting words. She took the small bottles from Cyn’s hands and packed them away with the provisions in her bag.

“Do what you can for the boy, Talis,” said Cyn. “I’ll be back to collect him when this fuss has died down.” She turned to Arianna, “I’m proud of you, dear. You’ve been so brave.” Tears welled in her eyes, and then she left.

“Solomon, what’s happening?” said Arianna in a panic. Lessa flew about the room, adding more things to their packs.

“After you stepped out onto the field, Talis and I had already resolved to do something,” he said. “Before we could,
someone
started firing arrows from the elder’s section.” He flashed a quick grin at Lessa. “There were archers in the stands, so I stopped them before they could send an arrow towards you. Talis did most of the work using his sorcery. The crowd ran scared when the archers started falling dead around them.” For a moment he looked thoughtful. “It was the perfect cover, really.”

Arianna’s mind buzzed as she tried putting the pieces together. “But what about the general? Where is he? Where should we go?”

“General Ivo won’t be able to get orders to any of his men, especially with Westing dead and a good chunk of his force in the same predicament.” Solomon gazed out of the window. “It’s calming down now though. They’ll be here soon. We need to get you out of here, now,” he said in one breath.

“What do we do? How can we escape if they’ve got us surrounded?” asked Arianna.

“Think hard,” said Solomon with a sarcastic smile, pausing to gauge her reaction.

“Of course! The caves,” she said, smacking her head.

“You know,” said Solomon, “when I said surprise them, I didn’t have this in mind.” He pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes.

“Master, I—”

“Yes, your way was much more effective, wasn’t it?” Arianna returned his smile. “Now, grab your things. We must go.”

Strapping on her rucksack and gathering her swords, Lessa followed suit with Sano secured on her shoulder.

“But what about Liam?” said Arianna before they stepped out of the door. “Will he be alright?”

“I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do,” said Talis, leaning against the doorframe of the Well Room. “He’s lost so much blood.” He wiped his hands on his pants, staining the fabric red.

Arianna ran to the bedside before Solomon could protest. Even so near death he looked beautiful. She massaged his cold hand in hers.

“Use your magic…” she said. “You must do something!” Tears welled in her eyes. She tried to fight them back but failed. Noah began to sob harder as Arianna, his shield, broke down in front of him. Her heart screamed in her chest as she watched Liam die.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “but I’ve told you before. The power can only be summoned. Either he’s rejecting it, or it’s rejecting him. Whatever the case, it’s not working.” His head drooped as his silver hair clung to his face.

Arianna wanted to scream for him to take back his words. She felt Lessa by her side with a consoling hand on her shoulder. “Can nothing be done?” Lessa asked, looking at Talis.

He closed his eyes, shaking his head.

Arianna felt helpless at the thought of losing Liam. She balked as Sano jumped on the side of the bed nearest to her dying friend. “Get down!”

She wanted to shove him away, but she felt stuck, useless to her friend. Just then, the animal placed its silver paws on his sweating skin. “No!” said Lessa. Before she could snatch him away, she screamed and jumped back.

Everyone froze.