Chapter Twenty Six

In the Interest of Sportsmanship

Inerys threw herself down the mountain with a confidence that should have frightened her. Instead, she smiled like a fool, trusting in her new, fortified body. Her Awareness flared on instinct, providing her with a clear mental view of the world around her in conjunction with her sight, highlighting any would-be obstacles that were otherwise obscured by the underbrush. And any potential threats lurking beneath the surface. After the incident with the drake, she wasn’t sure she would ever trust solid ground again without a thorough inspection. Especially in these woods.

She used one clawed hand to stabilize herself as she slid down a particularly steep slope, the soft, moist earth easily giving way beneath her feet. Feet that were still quite bare, she realized, and tipped with the same black talons as her hands. They dug deep into the mossy soil, controlling her descent until the terrain leveled off. She sprung forward, only to hesitate a few steps shy of the next overlook. She peered down at the trail below, then back over her shoulder, where her shadow was quickly gaining ground. Instead of running, a small grin touched her lips and she leaned into the nearest tree, appearing casual despite her racing heart.

Rhydian skidded to a stop in front of her, eyeing her as if he suspected some measure of treachery.

“What’s this?” He asked, silver eyes narrowing.

Her smile widened, unable to contain her amusement. “A chance to outline the rules, as well as the terms of victory, of course.”

He chuckled, posture easing as he crossed his arms. “Oh, I see. What did you have in mind?”

She glanced back down the slope to their usual trail through the valley. After weeks spent carving that path into the forest floor during their daily routine, she knew the surrounding area like the back of the other hand. And knew her body well enough to know that she was built for speed, not endurance. If they were to run an entire lap, there was no question as to whether or not Rhydian would overtake her. At a full sprint, she would be breathless and miserable before they ever reached the halfway point. However, in a shorter engagement, she may have enough of a speed advantage to win.

“I say we race down to the glade,” she said, “whoever makes it to that tall tree in the center gets the pleasure of watching the loser make dinner?”

“You’re no longer interested in another impromptu swim?” He teased.

“Mm, lovely as the water is, I’d rather not endure any more wet clothes.”

“Fair enough,” he said, considering, “The loser would have to hunt something for tonight, though.”

“They would,” she agreed.

With a body like this, she had little doubt she’d be successful. She may not be ambitious enough to take on a drake, should she find one, but she knew enough to recognize and avoid one if she were unfortunate enough to encounter a second. In the unlikely event one somehow snuck up on her, she was more than capable of making a hasty retreat without catapulting herself into the nearest tree. Rhydian and his partner had seen to that particular weakness and thoroughly snuffed it out. If she still managed to make a fool of herself after the misery of the last few weeks, then she deserved to be swallowed whole.

“Do you think you’re up for the task?”

She nodded without hesitation. “In the event I lose, yes.”

“You seem rather sure of yourself,” he said.

Her lips edged into a smirk. “Do I? If I recall correctly, post-Ascension arrogance is to be expected.”

He shook his head. “Indeed it is. All right, I accept. But no treachery. This will be a clean race.”

“And no underhanded techniques,” she added, not that she expected any.

Fire was rather obvious, anyway.

He held his hands up. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Inerys gestured toward the trail. “After you.”

“We could walk down to the trail as equals,” he said, before he gave her a wicked grin, “until I inevitably beat you.”

A soft snarl answered his challenge and she rocketed off the ledge half a heartbeat after he did. Leaves were thrown up in all directions in their wake, birds scattering from the canopy. Rhydian landed first, tearing off down the trail with a speed Inerys envied. For the briefest of moments, she wondered if she’d over estimated her abilities. There was something to be said about the ego boost her advancement had given her. She felt invincible, but perhaps she would have to learn to temper her expectations in the future.

Determined to at least put up a good fight, she reinforced herself and dashed after him. The forest blurred along the periphery of her vision as she set her focus on Rhydian’s retreating figure and within a few lengths, she was matching him stride for stride. She vaguely registered his sideways glance, his smile, as he kept her locked at his pace. She would have thought he was toying with her, were she not able to hear his heartbeat. He may be able to maintain this speed longer than she could, but she wasn’t sure he could push himself any faster. If she paced herself until the glade was in sight, she could pull ahead.

Somewhere above, she felt Ephaxus’ presence, yet she didn’t dare take her eyes off the path. She controlled her breathing, all but relishing the steady burning in her legs. If she were to guess, she could easily out pace an Endari Surefoot at a full gallop, maybe even one of those fancy thoroughbreds the purebloods raced in the southern city-states. Though truth be told, in her post-advancement high, a part of her was convinced she could challenge her wyvern. It was difficult to tell whether or not it was her own bravado, or that of the beast inside her.

In those moments, it didn’t matter.

Inerys held her own against Rhydian throughout the length of their course, racing the oncoming edge of her stamina as much as her competition. Her breaths had turned ragged, a fine sheen of sweat tacking her blouse to her skin and her loose hair to her brow. As they rounded a bend, the tree line suddenly broke, revealing the open grass of the glade and the tall, white-barked tree that stood sentry at its heart. Pride told her to act, to pull away now, but her experience warned the contrary. The longer she bided her time, the less room there was for error. If she sped off now, her energy would dissolve in a matter of moments.

Gritting her teeth, she waited until the last hundred meters before she made her move. She rallied what strength she had left and pushed hard toward the center of the glade. In the damp grass, she would have easily slipped and lost her footing, were she wearing boots. However, her bare, clawed toes provided enough grip to keep her legs up underneath herself. She launched herself forward with one final burst, then threw herself onto her side and slid the half dozen or so meters to her goal.

Her claws embedded themselves in one of the exposed roots a fraction of a second before Rhydian touched the main trunk. Her breath left her in a rush as her laugh broke the night. Relief flooded her and she rolled onto her back, completely spent. She raised a hand, resting the back of her palm on her forehead. Spirits, but she felt good, despite her burning lungs. There was a lingering imbalance, deep inside, but it was nothing compared to what it once was.

Rhydian peered down at her, his dark figure obscuring the stars to his back. A combination of amusement and pride flickered behind his eyes. She raised her chin, flashing him a fanged grin.

“I win,” she said, voice hoarse.

Now, all she wanted to do was lay here and take a well deserved nap. Young as it was, the night had been an eventful one. Surely, she could spare a little time for herself, now that her Ascension had been achieved?

“Well done,” he chortled, offering her a hand. “I’m impressed. You’re quicker than I expected.”

“Quicker in speed, but also quicker to tire,” she managed between breaths, waving his hand off for the time being.

She needed a moment to simply catch her breath. If she stood now, she’d pitch back over the moment she straightened. She wouldn’t sully her victory by falling face-first into the ground. It was undignified.

“True enough, but given time and conditioning, we could easily improve your stamina once your Soul is whole again. Which will likely be around your forth or fifth Ascension, depending.”

“How soon until I can reach my fourth?” She wondered.

“Addicting, isn’t it? You’re more eager than some of the Talhavar recruits,” he said, shaking his head. “You should give yourself a few months to settle into your new body before you start clawing your way toward your next advancement. Your coming Ascensions will not be so easy.”

She glowered, having heard this speech before. “Right, right, I remember. Advance too fast and I’ll risk the integrity of my Soul.”

“Exactly,” he said, taking a seat beside her in the grass.

After a moment of deliberation, he laid back as well, placing both hands behind his head with a contented sigh as he turned his head skyward. Her own gaze lingered upon him, noting the way her silvery skin so vastly contrasted his own now. The man was little more than a shadow in the night, dark as the space between stars. Her cheeks tinted. She was starring again, wasn’t she?

Minding herself, she focused on bringing her breathing back under control. She practiced the technique Ayduin had taught her, which she often reserved for her pre and post training stretches. It helped regulate her heartbeat as much as it did her essence.

“I feel as though I’ve spent my entire life in the dark,” she said, at length.

“In a way, you have. Had you and Ezra not crossed paths that day in the Wilds, I imagine you’d still be tucked away in your mists. Ignorant, for better or for worse.”

Her fingers drifted toward the smooth scarring between the tender flesh of her neck and shoulder. Though she could not feel the mark the woman’s bite had left behind, it still marked her like a brand. One she could almost sense, if she were to focus hard enough.

“I suppose I would be. However, I could just as easily be dead. If not Ezra, the deepwoods would have claimed me eventually.”

“You don’t know that for certain,” he said.

“No, but there were always risks,” she said, “what of you? What was your life like, before all this vampire business?”

She had garnered bits and pieces over the last few weeks, but never a full picture. Her training and preparation for her advancement had been near all consuming for everyone involved.

“That was months ago, now,” he sighed, reminiscent. “Ayduin and I had been finishing the last leg of our pilgrimage. After we graduate from the academy, we’re sent off on an extended patrol route for a few years to familiarize ourselves with the continent and its people. There’s a bit more to it than that, but in essence, it tests our bond with our partners as well as our own resourcefulness.”

Inerys rolled onto her side, propping her head up on her elbow as she listened.

“I can’t imagine that amount of travel,” she admitted, “What you must have seen.”

“The world is a big place. I’ve yet to travel across the sea, but soon enough, we both will.”

She toyed with a blade of grass, twisting it between the fingers of her free hand.

“I’ve only read about it in books. It’s hard to imagine so much open water. Lakes and rivers are one thing, but the ocean sounds . . .daunting.”

“That’s one way of looking at it. Breathtaking might be nearer the mark, though. It’s something you have to see in person to fully grasp. Describing it simply doesn’t do it justice.”

She bit her lip. “Do you think we’ll see it when you take me to the Patriarch?”

“Perhaps. There’s a slim possibility we’ll be granted access to the wyndgates, but if not, we’ll travel by ship.”

“Not they wyverns?”

He shook his head. “Capable as they are, the distance is too far to cover in a single flight. Maybe if they were of their sixth or seventh Ascension, but not now. There’s nothing to land on to rest in the ocean, aside from the wyvern transports.”

She couldn’t quite fathom that much open water, if she were being honest.

“Those ships must be impressive, to carry the wyverns,” she said.

“They are. They’re mostly flat, outside the crew quarters and guest cabins.”

“If given the choice, I think I’d prefer to travel across the sea than through some magic gate.”

She’d rather stay with Ephaxus.

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry, on that front. The gates require special permission to access. Even more so now, after the stunt Ezra pulled.”

“It makes sense,” she said, especially given the context around the entire affair.

Her thoughts drifted for a time, wondering what might come next. She knew the Council would be anxious to meet her. Now that she had Ascended, it was only a matter of time before they made their way to the capitol. And eventually, the Patriarch.

“Do you have any preference as to tonight’s main course?” Rhydian asked.

“I didn’t realize I had a choice in the matter,” she said, blinking.

He shrugged. “I think we’ve all grown tired of venison and fish.”

Inerys wrinkled her nose at the mention of fish. Once, she’d enjoyed the trout she’d buy from the markets on occasion, but now, the scaly little creatures turned her stomach. They had been smelly enough before her transition, but at least they’d been bearable. Now, she had to force herself not to gag at their mere proximity. Let alone choke them down.

“Did you have something specific in mind?” She wondered.

“I spied a few wild boar this afternoon while Tanuzet and I were making our rounds. I’m fairly certain at least one had reached its third Ascension. The blood might not sate you long, but I can cook up a decent stew. Especially with a few herbs and some of the vegetables we have left in Ayduin’s pocket.

“Now there’s an idea,” Inerys said, her stomach growling at the proposition.

She clapped a hand over the infernal thing, but the damage had been done.

Rhydian laughed, “I best get to it, then?”

“Please,” she said, cursing her tinted cheeks.