I turned to walk away from her, prowling over the parapets, but my gaze was on Ali. Her tight black leather showed off every curve, and she’d pulled her hair into a ponytail. I watched as she called Skalei to her. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the blade high into the air. It spun and sparkled in the sunlight like a majorette’s baton. When it fell back down, she effortlessly caught it.
She wasn’t like any of the High Elves. She was strong, confident, lethal, and determined to make her own way. She would also kill me if it weren’t for our bond. She seemed to feed off a yearning for vengeance.
She flipped the dagger again, even higher this time. If she miscounted the rotations, reached out at the wrong time, she could cut herself deeply, but she didn’t. Her hand flashed out at just the right moment, effortlessly snatching the blade from the air.
I could have watched her all afternoon, but I knew this was also a chance to study the opposition.
I began to scan the contingent of Vanir, practicing on the dark stone cap that covered the Well of Wyrd. They’d split into two groups and were taking turns throwing a javelin back and forth. One group would throw the javelin, and as it arced through the air, the other would stand in its path, diving out of the way at the last moment like they were playing a strange game of chicken.
Why were they throwing javelins when ranged weapons weren’t allowed? My spine stiffened as I wondered if they were going to come after Ali again. They still wanted revenge for their slaughtered Emperor.
A hawk—the one I’d seen perched on the Regent’s shoulder—circled above the Vanir and watched as they tossed the javelin back and forth. Studying them, I noticed another subtlety to their game: each time they threw the javelin, the two groups moved a little closer together, increasing the difficulty.
Then, a particularly large Vanir picked up the javelin. Rearing back, he hurled it at the other side. It spun, shooting through the air like a missile, and the Vanir on the opposite side barely had time to dive out of the way. They leapt up, shouting obscenities. Apparently, this was a bridge too far, even for them.
The hawk swooped, screeching. Without warning, a Vanir warrior hurled the javelin at the opposing team, and he narrowly missed impaling another of his tribe.
More shouting and cursing. The hawk continued to screech.
They are insane.
I started towards the Vanir. By the time I approached, they’d set aside all pretext of sportsmanship and simply launched into a brawl. The two sides charged each other. A warrior snatched up the javelin and hurled it just as another Vanir tackled him.
The javelin flew out of his grip. Aimed much too high, it spiraled into the sky like a rocket. The two groups of Vanir clashed, and I heard the crack of a jaw shattering as the big Vanir punched a smaller warrior. Thinning the competition for us. What did they think they were doing?
Around the brawling Vanir, the Night Elves and High Elves watched, engrossed.
Movement flickered above me as the javelin descended again. And something else, I realized, squinting. The hawk racing after it. Diving, silent as a ghost.
In a blur, the hawk intercepted the javelin, knocking it, redirecting its path with a flash of talons.
Now, it flew directly towards Ali. My heart went still.
“Ali!” I shouted.
Too late. She spun, but there was no time to dodge, and the javelin plunged into her thigh.
She screamed, clutching her leg. Around her, Night Elves stood in shock.
I charged across the rooftop, my heart in my throat, blood roaring in my ears. “Keep her still! Don’t let her move!” As I passed a guard, I yelled at him, “Get the royal doctor!”
I was almost to Ali’s side when a trio of Night Elves cut me off. Thyra, Ilvis, and a large Night Elf I didn’t recognize.
“Not one more step,” said Thyra.
Anger roiled. I wanted to rip their heads off. “She’s going to bleed out!”
Thyra held up a hand. “We’ll deal with this on our own.”
I wanted to fling her off the roof to get to Ali, but my interference could make things even worse. They already suspected her of consorting with the enemy.
The large Night Elf pointed a sword at my chest. I sized him up. He was large, but not as big as me. I wanted to shove him