Page 73 of Court of Lies and Deceit

The Blue Faction lets out a battle cry and launches themselves towards me.

The Red Faction cracks their whips.

Diving sideways, I shove a blast of magic into the anger in everyone’s chests.

A few of the whips graze the members of the blue team instead, and rage lights up inside them, fueled by my magic.

Snarling, all three of them whirl around and attack the people on the red team instead. I pour my magic into them, turning them crazy with fury. Swords clash and whips crack and magic roars through the air as the battle frenzy turns into full madness.

But through it all, one man in red fighting leathers locks eyes with me instead. I quickly cut off my connection to him, but the damage is already done. Elbowing his way through the throng, he charges towards me.

“Shit,” I curse.

He flicks his wrist, and the whip cracks through the air.

Leaping backwards, I barely manage to evade it. It snaps through the air right in front of my face. I flinch, almost losing the grip on my magic. Gritting my teeth, I yank out my dagger and pour even more magic into the others. I need to keep them focused on each other at least.

My opponent flashes me a vicious smile and raises his free hand.

Lightning shoots towards me.

I gasp, throwing myself down on the ground as the bolt of lightning streaks past over me.

Mabona’s fucking tits! He has a whipandlightning magic?

Rolling across the sand, I leap to my feet right before another lightning bolt hits the ground where I used to be. Panic clangs inside my skull. I need to keep my magic connected to the eight other people and keep them distracted and focused on each other. Otherwise, they will remember that it’s me they’re supposed to be fighting. But that means that I can’t use my magic on my own opponent. Other than to make him angry. Which won’t exactly work in my favor right now.

I duck, throwing myself in behind one of the statues as another bolt of lightning splits the air. White stone shatters, exploding before me, as the lightning hits the statue. I dive sideways to escape it. My opponent keeps his distance, remaining far out of my reach as he attacks with his whip and his magic.

Leaping to my feet, I snap my gaze around the corridor, trying to figure out a plan.

Goddess damn it. Think! How can I make him?—

Pain shoots up my forearm.

I yelp as I’m suddenly yanked forward.

Snapping my gaze down, I find the end of his whip wrapped around my forearm, trapping me after it struck. I’m pulled off balance and stagger forwards as my opponent yanks hard on the rope. Blood rushes in my ears. I yank up my dagger and slice through the whip right before he can pull me all the way to him.

But lightning splits the air again, forcing me to dive blindly to the side. The dagger flies from my grip as my elbow hits the sand on impact. I roll over, pushing up to my knees while desperately searching for my knife.

A thin rope wraps around my throat from behind.

I choke on my breath as it’s pulled tight.

Still on my knees, I claw at the whip that now encircles my throat. But my opponent, who is now standing right behind me, just pulls it harder. A strained gurgle comes from my throat.

The crowd roars.

Or it might be my own pulse pounding in my ears.

It’s hard to tell.

“You’d better pray to your little Goddess Mabona that you are the one carrying the key,” the man snarls in my ear.

I claw desperately at the thin rope. Draven has the key. How can I?—

The spare.

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