Page 91 of Courting War
But to receive their help, Kellyn had to ask for it, and the world would see if he did. Everyone would know that the Theoden heir couldn’t spell.
If he asked for help, his parents might disown him. Theywoulddisown him.
Whatever you do, don’t ask for help—his father’s motto.Ellises don’t need help. Ellises are strongest and toughest alone. Don’t be a baby. Suck it up. Toughen up.All his father’s words climbed into his head. The terms screamed at him as a child.
It was blasphemous to ask for aid.
It was dishonoring.
But screw honor and screw his father. If Kellyn didn’t ask for help, Morrigan might die. She was mortal, and she would tire. And he wouldn’t allow it. Kellyn was done being afraid of what other people thought. He was done being ashamed of his affliction.
He was done being his parents’ perfect little pawn.
He was done.
If he had asked for help on Decision Day, Kellyn wouldn’t be in this position. Asking for help wasn’t weak. It was necessary.
“Cecile, Emmett, I can’t do this alone,” he said. “I can’t spell, and I need your help.”
“We can’t help, Kel,” Cecile breathed, “Nefeli—”
“Nefeli said, no help from the gladiator circle. You’re not in the circle.”
“Oh . . . oh,” Cecile rubbed her face.
But Emmett called out the correct spelling, “H . . . Y . . . D . . . R . . . A, hydra.”
“Second word,” Nefeli seethed. Not happy with the turn of events. Out of the sand burst four fully armed centaurs.
“Centaur,” Emmett said, “C . . . E . . . N . . . T . . . A . . . U . . . R . . . Centaur.”
“Incorrect.” The wind cackled, and three more centaurs formed from the sand.
“The S, Em, multiple centaurs.” Cecile’s eyes tracked the half-horse men as they prowled closer toward Morrigan. One threw a spear which she artfully eluded.
“Oh, right, C . . . E . . . N . . . T . . . A . . . U . . . R . . . S.”
“Correct, third word.”
The game repeated with vampires, giant wolves, harpies, the Dullahan, and pookas. Eventually, Nefeli ended the bout, and Kellyn was freed from the challenge.
Nefeli refracted Morrigan and Emmett switching their places. Emmett threw up from the magic, and Morrigan moaned. “See, it’s revolting.”
“Cecile Declare,” the wind growled. “A color knows no bounds. Find the creature, and freedom will be found.” From the pool sprang nine circular steppingstones with murals formed from red and green flowers. “Your task is simple: jump to the correct mural and save your friend from his monsters.”
Cecile paled. “I can’t see the differences.”
A massive wolf surged from the sand, and Emmett was still clutching his knees, unable to hold a sword from his weakened state.
Even if Cecile answered her riddle correctly on the first go, Emmett wouldn’t survive.
It was Nefeli’s revenge on Kellyn for seeking aid.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
THEODRA
Confused Ex-God
