“What’s Azul like?” I asked. “I’ve always wondered.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Well, there are two kingdoms, one underwater for the mer-folk and one topside for the mortals. We have a season of storms, but mostly our days are wonderfully warm, the scent of coconuts and orchids drifting on the breeze. Our palace is a massive structure that floats over the ocean. We have a new view every morning. You simply must visit one day.”
“I think I’d like that.”
“I’ll show you all my favorite spots,” she replied with a grin. Then she clapped, bouncing in her seat as the master of ceremonies took his place in the corner of the dais, several feet away. “Oh, this is so exciting. The third battle is only seconds away!”
I meant to smile back, but my attention got snagged by the warriors running onto the battlefield. Two battles had taken place already, with a wolfin taking home the first victory and Milo taking home the second. Thanks to sand stained with crimson, it was clear both battles had been violent. Both winners had won a few of the voluntary contests, and they’d had advantages over the others. Thankfully, Saxon had won advantages, too.
I’d cheered every time I’d heard his name called through my window.
After the master of ceremonies made his speech, the battle horn blew, signaling the start of the heat. As the men rushed together, punching and kicking, I stroked my mother’s ring, and watched, riveted, as one of the mighty elven ripped through his opponents, while pixies dropped intoxibombs from the air. Soon those bombs got the better of him, allowing a goblin to end him.
Pixie wings produced a special dust. That dust created intoxibombs. Anyone who inhaled it remained in a state of confusion for several minutes, making the battle more difficult.
The intoxibombs slowed the goblin down, but they didn’t stop him, and he managed to fight his way to victory.
A snake-shifter won the fourth heat, though he and his opponents actually passed out from the effects of the intoxibombs.
Snakes were known as the most hedonistic of the species, constantly using intoxibombs for fun, so it was no wonder this one woke first and slaughtered everyone else.
Other heats started and ended. Finally, the second to last drew to a close. As soon as the bodies were cleared from the field, a countdown clock ticked inside my head. The final battle heat would kick off in five minutes, twenty-nine...twenty-eight...twenty-seven seconds.
I all but bounced in my seat.
The five who remained—Eve’s fae, a giant, a gorgon, a vampire, and Saxon. Thankfully, the avian would have a weapon. Others might not. Still. The danger he was soon to face...
Five minutes, eighteen seconds.
“Oh, dear. I’m so sorry I didn’t notice earlier, but you have a little soot on your brow.” Dior withdrew a handkerchief from the sleeve of her gown and gently wiped my face.
I sat in silence, allowing her to clean me. A supposed servant’s chore. What if we were both Cinder? Could a prophecy tell more than one girl’s story at the same time? The fairy tales had the ability to repeat and twist, so why not have multiple versions transpiring in unison? Her prince would be different from mine, and we’d find him one way or another.
“May I offer you a maple tartlet, Princess?” An older servant approached Dior, extending a silver platter. “They are a Sevónian delicacy.”
She bestowed a bright smile upon the man as she selected a treat, and he smiled back.
I reached up to select a tartlet of my own, and his smile faded. I sighed and collected my pastry.
He returned his gaze to Dior, growing grave. “Be sure not to venture into the forest today, Princess.” He looked left, then right, then leaned toward her to whisper, “Someone spotted the Evil Queen this morn.”
Dior gasped, clearly scandalized to her very soul. With a tremor in her voice, she asked, “What terrible things did this Evil Queen do?”
The servant replied, “I’m told she builds an army to defy the king. Did you know she even turned her own blood to poison so that anyone who encounters her blood will sicken?”
“Oh. Well. That’s...bad?” I said. “Where was she spotted, exactly? That way I can definitely avoid that area of the forest. Like, really stay far away from it.” Before, I’d written off this evil queen just like everyone else. But I knew better than to trust the tales of others now. So. I wouldn’t be making a decision about Queen Everly Morrow until