Page 37 of Set Fire to the Gods
“Great Ignitus,” she said to the igneia. “I need to speak with you. Now.”
Tor seized her arm, but no one in the room dared say more with the fire burning.
A long moment passed.
“Ignitus,” Ash said again. “I know you can hear me. I failed you today, but I need to—”
The room burned.
Every crevice filled with a vibrant flash of blue light. Ash spun, instinct jarring her so hard she slammed into the table. Tor, Rook, Taro, and Spark fell to their knees, shielding their eyes from Ignitus’s extravagant entrance.
The light faded to reveal their sour-faced god, his arms folded, his glare on Ash. The walls of the chamber bore scorch marks now; this stone was sandy and rough, not the sort of rock made by fire that Ignitus had dominion over. No, this was Crixion—everything was Geoxus’s.
Ignitus looked down his long nose at Ash. “Yes. You did fail me.”
Shock reverberated through her body. The candle had gone out, and she squeezed the dead wax to ground herself.
“Great Ignitus,” Tor said, prostrate on the floor. “The first few fights always bring certain nerves. With time, she will—”
“I didn’t lose because of nerves,” Ash cut him off. She ran hertongue along her lips. One had split; she tasted blood. “During the fight, Stavos taunted me. He said that this war will be different. That there is someone in Deimos who will give you what you deserve. Is it true, Great Ignitus? Could a person exist who might harm my god?”
Tor sat back on his heels. Rook, Taro, and Spark eased upright.
Ignitus’s scowl broke apart. It was so fleeting, his expression imitating a flash of lightning through the blackest clouds. His eyes widened and he sucked in a quick breath.
He was concerned. And it was not the offended concern of his reputation being slighted.
Ash’s question had made him worried.
Ignitus huffed a laugh. “What a clever lie he told you. My brother’s efforts to undermine me have no bounds. Your concern is touching, Ash.” He lurched forward, intensity brightening his eyes, and again Ash found herself thinking of the wrinkles that had creased Geoxus’s eyes. Ignitus’s skin was smooth—but the hair at the back of his neck, the few gray-white strands, was still there. “In the future, do not let yourself get distracted by what is clearly a vicious, boldlie.”
He snarled the last word. Ash suppressed a smile at his slip of emotion.
Whatever threat Hydra had told Ignitus to leave her out of—it was real. Real enough that Ignitus feared it.
“Of course, Great Ignitus,” she managed. “I will be more discerning in the next fight.”
That brought a calculating squint to Ignitus’s face. “Yes. Your next fight. I look forward to seeing you shine with igneia tomorrow morning.”
Ash’s stomach seized. “Tomorrow?”
The other champions wouldn’t arrive for a few days. Tor had guessed that she would fight Brand first, the only other champion closer to Ignitus by birth. But if she was to fight tomorrow, then that meant she would fight one of the champions already here.
“At dawn, you fight Rook Akela for advancement.” Ignitus nodded at Rook. “Give a good show, but try not to rough her up too much. After all”—his gaze went back to Ash, and he was furious now, his rage returned—“the first few fights always bring certain nerves.”
With a sweep of his arm, Ignitus vanished, a column of blue fire launching up from the floor and dissipating into the ether.
Ash staggered in his absence, her mouth open. Ignitus was punishing her for losing against Madoc by making her fight Rook.
Even so, she smiled.
Tor leaped up from the floor and grabbed her arms. “What were you thinking?”
“Did you see that?” She stared at the place where Ignitus had been, now lit only by the glowing green stones. “Did you see his face?”
“He’s angry.” Rook had stood as well, arms folded, the painted sunbursts on his skin now blurred and faded. “But don’t worry. We’ll figure out the fight tomorrow. I’ll help—”
“No.” Ash panted, smiling still. “When I asked him about who might threaten him, Ignitus wasworried. Which means Hydra’s message wasn’t a plea to leave her out of something frivolous or petty—it has weight. And Stavos might know of it. We have a lead that could bring him down.”
