ago, fights to the short death were more common as a way to raise the stakes, entertain the audience, and truly practice for real battle. However, such practices had fallen out of favor.
“The festival is in one week’s time,” Mooriah said. “You will have to learn the Fortitude Seals by then?” Her voice evoked her disbelief that such a thing was possible. “This type of spell is difficult and layered. That is one of the reasons why brawlers do not do it any longer. One mistake and the spell will not work.”
“I know.” His body felt like it was made of lead. “My father has said that a chief should be able to do it. He is right.”
She firmed her lips and nodded. “All right. That is our goal then. I will do my best to help you.”
“I know you will.”
She studied him for a long moment before pivoting to face him directly. He did the same, so they sat cross-legged, knees nearly touching.
“Give me your hands,” she said.
His throat tightened as he considered her long, elegant fingers extending toward him. He rested his palms atop hers lightly, shivering at the contact.
She closed her eyes, giving him the opportunity to study her. Lit by firelight, her skin was smooth and unmarred. Her full lips formed perfect bows, and her lashes grazed her cheeks. He tried to clamp down his body’s response to her closeness, to the feel of her skin but he could not. Then she stroked his palms gently, and it was as if the rod holding up his spine had been removed. He nearly collapsed like an empty balloon.
She smiled. “That’s it. Release the tension you carry, Ember. You need to relax. Now, can you tell me what it’s like when you try to pierce your skin?”
A shiver went through him and the tension returned, but he focused on the softness of her palms. All his awareness was on the place where they touched. It was innocent, but sensual. Her scent came to him, incense mixed with lavender today—fragrant and lovely, just as she was.
She’d asked him a question, what was it? Oh yes, his bane. He swallowed before answering. “I’m just paralyzed. It’s not the pain, that is negligible. But to cut into myself… The blade against my skin…” He shivered. “I cannot make my hands move. My mind is telling my body to act, but it will not.”
He clamped his lips shut, embarrassed that he’d revealed so much.
“It’s all right. It sounds like you cannot control it. Some people have these things.”
“Weakness.”
Her eyes snapped open. “Not weakness. Your strength is within. You’ve bested every challenger in the circle. You show compassion and wisdom and good leadership. You are not weak, Ember.”
Her glare was fierce. She believed every word. “Repeat it.”
He lifted his brows. She stared at him until he complied. “I am not weak.”
“Again. Louder.”
He smiled. “I am not weak.”
“Good.” She squeezed his hands then released him. “I’d like to see you try to just prick yourself with this pin.”
She held out a bone shard in her hand, the thinnest, tiniest one he’d ever seen. He took it from her, the thing was almost too small and delicate to hold in his thick fingers. He might just snap it in two.
“Try to pierce the meaty part of your palm,” she said, her voice low and comforting.
He placed the edge of the pin against his skin until it indented the pale flesh of his palm. All he had to do was apply the slightest amount of pressure. She was asking for just a single drop of blood.
He held the pin there, willing himself to do it. But he couldn’t.
He exhaled, realizing he’d been holding his breath. “I’m sorry, I can’t.”
“What happens when you try?”
He shook his head. “I’m not sure. My muscles lock up. They refuse to obey me. I feel like I’m not in control of my body any longer. It’s… impossible.” The weight of reality set upon him, and he wanted to give up. He would never be chief, and Night Snow would be embroiled in constant war.
“Nothing is impossible,” she hissed, her voice steely. “I think we need to take another tack.” She rummaged in her sack and pulled out a packet, which she opened and sprinkled over the fire.
“Lie down, close your eyes,” she commanded. He did as she asked, lying across several cushions with his head at her knees.
She placed her hands on either side of his head, and his eyes popped