Page 69 of Crown of Ashes and Awe

Those sitting nearest covered their faces with cloths—cloths they’d brought along, knowing what they’d be witnessing that day. And they’d come anyway.

Monsters, all.

Their bloodlust was finally sated, if only for the moment. A team of men came out to collect Zelan’s remains and take them away, but there wasn’t much left, and a wide black stain remained in the dirt.

Again, I had to hide my panic. But inside, I was whimpering in a corner, sure that when it was my turn, I would plead and whimper and make Ciro very happy.

32

CAT AND MOUSE…AND MOUSE

In the lull, a servant woman brought a tray with a pitcher and tall cups. Ciro poured himself a fermented drink but didn’t offer one to me. Apparently, he wanted me to keenly feel whatever was in store.

I didn’t care for the revelry around me, the brightly colored dragons, the anticipation building once more as the morbid collection of monsters awaited their entertainment. For all the time I had left in the world, I would spend it watching the row of people I cared about. The family I was about to lose.

Tearloch found me watching him. His chest rose and fell with deep, calming breaths. That, at least, we could do together. I shared strained smiles with the others. For the most part, they seemed to be resigned, like I was, that our lives were about to end.

Morrow, Lears, and Poole seemed primed to fight. Minkin gave me a wink, like she had something planned. Sweetie nodded his horns in what I took as a farewell. Griffon’s attention was focused on Lennon, and probably would be until the end.

Bain and Dower offered a nod and a sober smile before turning to tease with the crowd behind them—shouting and gesturing at the men, waving their fingers at the women. Worried not at all.

Poor Nogel stared at the black stain, mesmerized until Tearloch spoke to him. The young man found me, and we exchanged a tight smile. Then Nogel stared at his lap. Tearloch gave him a pat on the shoulder and left him alone.

The deep-voiced announcer began again.“Good people, it’s time to begin! The first three criminals will come forward!”

Guards took up positions behind and before Morrow, Lears and Poole. They were told to stand and move around the edge of the short wall and take their places on the arena floor. Once in the center, they were told to halt. Immediately, they took a defensive stance with their backs to each other, prepared to fight the guards surrounding them with nothing but their hands.

The announcer continued.“I must remind the condemned that to refuse to fight will result in death. The people of The Soundless will choose your destructor, and you will suffer death by dragon’s fire.”

The guards retreated, leaving Morrow and his men alone. When they were safely away, various weapons were thrown over the lowest ledge into the dirt, and the three men hurried to collect them. Now armed, they raised their attention to the row of dragons.

I turned to Ciro. “You’ll make them fight a fire-breathing dragon? I thought you liked a level playing field.”

The lord of the monsters smirked. His eyes flared. “You’ll see.”

“Luckily for you, good people, we have enough criminals today that these men will face…each other. Two against one. If the tallest can defeat the other two, he will live to fight another day. If the other two kill him first, both will be spared. If these obvious friends refuse to fight, they aaaall die.”

The crowd’s approval was deafening. I held my ears as I watched to see what Lady Edeen’s men would do. Mercenaries, Morrow had called them. But the announcer was right. They were friends, whether or not they knew each other’s true names. And Lears and Poole were as loyal to Morrow as he was to Lady Edeen.

The three of them relaxed their stance and stepped close to confer amongst themselves. For a long time, they argued, and all the while, the crowd complained. After a few minutes, the audience began to call out dragon names. Skullcrusher was one of them.

Finally, the men realized their chance to debate was over and backed away from one another. I couldn’t imagine how difficult it was for them, but if they did as was expected, at least one of them could live.

Fates forgive me, I hoped it was Morrow.

Morrow was the one who could get me to Moire. If we somehow managed to escape this insane place, Morrow was my only hope of finding a remedy for the prophecy. Though, at the moment, it didn’t look like we were going to get that chance.

Ciro split his attention between me and the floor of the arena. The three warriors laughed and circled each other like friends gathering for a bit of practice. But each time their weapons clashed, I felt it in my bones.

The other two took turns running at Morrow, who easily rebuffed them. But it didn’t take the crowd long to realize they were the ones being toyed with. Again, they started calling for dragons.

Lears and Poole relaxed and scanned the audience, sending the monsters all the rude gestures I’d ever read about. Morrow began removing his dark leather armor and tossed it aside. He embraced his men, then retreated, turned his back, and knelt.

Lears looked up at the restless row of dragons once more, then ran forward, swinging his sword in a wide arc, removing Morrow’s head in one powerful strike.

The mob’s reactions varied. Some hissed and booed. Some were speechless. Others cheered, pleased that blood had finally been shed. Ciro was not pleased.

Unable to keep my disappointment to myself, I covered my face with my hands and rubbed up and down, trying to wipe it away. When I had regained my composure and returned my hands to my lap, Ciro seemed pleased that at least he’d won a reaction from me.

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