Lyca stood there, her shield held in her hand, her sword pointing downwards almost like nothing was happening, but then her opponent lunged, yelling and diving towards her with his face scrunched up in a tight and fierce scowl. Phoenix felt that terrible burn reaching up all the way from the pit of her stomach to the back of her throat and she saw how Lyca would fall and how this would all be over so quickly, but then Lyca parried, her sword whipping in the air, the expression on her face never changing, even as her blade buried itself into her opponent's chest.
He hung there, his limbs limp, his face growing soft and heavy, and then she jerked back her sword, letting him fall and cleaning it on his shirt. It'd all happened so quickly, so quickly it took a moment for the Masters to react, some of them cheering and yelling, some of them grumbling and shifting in their seats as Lyca stepped down, not staying to listen to their cheers like so many of the victors had done before her, and then she was standing to the side, surrounded by the faces of those she would have to kill if she were to survive this night.
It was a few Fights later when Master Astor leaned forward in his chair, his fingers gripping the arms tightly, his face almost glowing, but his Fighter didn't look as happy. It was the same man Boris had fought, but this time he would face Lyca. He stared at her, his face a little more wary, his steps a little slower than the man she'd fought with last, but this time Lyca moved first, their blades meeting inches from his face before both of them retreated. That expression on her face never changed, that light in her eyes never faltered, not even for a second as she studied him and she struck at him again and again.
He blocked all of her blows, parrying a few, but neither of them could break through to the other. Phoenix felt that burning again, not knowing if she would ever be able to get rid of it when Lyca landed a hit and struck her blade deep into his stomach. He stared at it, his eyes wide and bright, almost like he couldn't understand what was happening, and then he fell to his knees, grabbing at that blade and cutting his hands. Lyca pulled it free, a thick stream of blood spilling down his shirt as he fell on his side as he lingered for a moment longer, his chest rising and falling in terrible, uneven bursts and then he was gone.
Lyca stayed with him, not watching as he bled out, but staring at the floor beside him. No Master jeered, no Master threw things at him like they had to the ones who'd fallen before him, but that silence was broken the moment Lyca stepped away, leaving his body alone on the podium, and then they laughed, then they hollered and cheered. Master Astor turned to Master Gabriel, his lips a thin, tight line, his shoulders rising higher and higher, and then he threw himself back in his chair, crossing his arms and grumbling to himself as the Master of the house stepped back up onto the podium, his eyes glowing almost as brightly as his robe as he stared out into the room.
"My fellow Masters," he said. "I think it's time to tell you what you have all been fighting for!"
He waited a moment for the room to calm down, for the other Masters to stop twisting and turning in their seats, and then he held his hand out to the side of the stage. Slowly, so slowly a small hand reached for it, a hand that was light and pale, almost as pale as that blonde hair and Phoenix had to stifle that gasp as she sat forward, her eyes fixed on that familiar face, her heart hammering in her chest.
"A good prize," Master Quintus said, and it was his voice that broke Phoenix from her spell and she heard the other Masters cheering, laughing so loudly as they sat forward in their chairs with their eyes bright and their faces flush.
He was so much older than when she'd seen him last, so much older, but still a child, thirteen, fifteen at most. Phoenix didn't know if she should laugh, she didn't know if she should cry, all she knew was that he was there and there was nothing she could do about it, so she turned, her eyes big and wide as she stared up at her Master, but he only stared back, his eyes never blinking, those Implants flickering softly.
What had she expected? What could he have said to her there in that moment, surrounded by a roomful of people who would turn on him the moment they felt like it? Phoenix reached for it then, hearing the click of her Radar as it fell into place, just wanting to know if what she saw was real or just a trick.
Leo Treeborn
13
Freeborn Woodlander
Trained Fighter and Favourite
Her hand came clutching at her heart, remembering when she'd added his name there a few years ago when he'd been caught out trapping with his cousin. Little Leo, that's what they'd called him, what they all had, and now he was here, a trained Fighter and a Favourite. Phoenix shook her head, he was only a child, he was only thirteen, what was he doing being either of those things? And then her eyes went wide, her blood turning to ice when she remembered that gag, those fingers pulling at Willow's hair, and she knew that things could get so much worse.
Her eyes darted then, her Implants scanning and diving until she found Lyca. The woman stared back at her, never blinking, only staring, sitting forward in her seat by the side of the stage. Phoenix didn't know if Lyca understood, she wanted her to, she needed her to, she needed her to know that she needed to win, and then Phoenix felt that hand pull her back, so warm and a little rough from training, his eyes fixed on hers, his head giving a little shake when she looked at him. Phoenix closed her eyes, fighting that wince on her face, fighting that ache in her heart, but she didn't think that she could, and then she felt that finger trailing her neck again, so softly, so gently, not as warm as the one that held her hand, but enough to make her turn to him, her eyes heavy and stinging.
Phoenix expected those Implants to flicker quickly, for his face to go stiff and tight, but he only tilted his head to the side, his eyes never blinking, and she knew she had to be stronger. Slowly, so slowly she breathed, closing her eyes, fighting back that wince and feeling that hand squeeze hers. She had to be strong and she needed Leo to stay strong, no matter what happened this evening, but she felt that steel in her heart waver when Lyca faced that last man between her and Leo. Phoenix could barely watch, her heart hammering in her chest, her mouth so dry, her eyes already so heavy.
She could see that sweat beading across Lyca's forehead and how low she carried her shield after he'd slashed her arm, and then he lunged for her again, yelling as he charged towards her with his face scrunched up in a fierce scowl, his eyes blazing. Phoenix wanted to look away, she didn't want to see that sword racing for Lyca, her mind flooding and racing with the thought of what would happen next, but Lyca turned, bouncing her shield off his sword as she twirled around him and sliced at his leg. He screamed out in pain as she twisted away from him, glaring at her over his shield, his chest heaving, blood pouring from the wound on his thigh.
He wouldn't be lunging at her again, there was no doubt about that, but Phoenix didn't expect him to try again, that slice in his leg making him land too deep and low, and then Phoenix heard that ring of metal as Lyca's blade sliced into his chest, finding its way inside and ending him. She had to stifle that gasp, that cheer, that scream she felt building in her chest, and then she saw Leo again, his hand clutched in the Master of the house's as he led him on stage, as he stood there silently with his head bowed and his eyes fixed on the floor, the room so loud, Lyca standing there panting.
"Well done, slave!" that Master said, but Lyca said nothing, only staring at him, her eyes so cold and harsh, her forehead lining with a slight crease. "Here," he said, holding out Leo's hand to her. "Take your prize to your Master."
He was so small, so small and slight compared to the woman who'd saved him and the many others who'd died trying to claim him that night. He stood there, so stiffly, frozen between them almost as though he was afraid to move, almost as though he wasn't sure which one of them he should go to, but then Lyca wiped her hand on her leg, cleaning the blood from it as best as she could, and holding it out for him to take. He stared at it a second longer, his eyes darting to her face, before he took her hand and she led him from the stage, and then Master Gabriel tapped them both on the shoulder and tilted his head, but Phoenix wanted to stay where she was and be there to meet him.
She watched him a moment before she stood, taking her place behind Master Gabriel with her hands clasped behind her back to stop them from reaching out like she knew they would when both Lyca and Leo bowed to Master Gabriel, Lyca taking a step to the side to leave Leo alone with him. He looked even smaller up close, somehow even younger than Phoenix remembered.
"Little Leo," Master Gabriel said, his voice so soft it was barely above a whisper, but Phoenix saw that bright, pained light flicker across Leo's face, that wince he tried to hide by bowing his head further, and she wanted to tell him that he was safe, that everything was fine and he had nothing to worry about. "Come here," Master Gabriel said, but it was the way Leo went so stiff, the way he tensed and braced as he stepped closer that broke Phoenix's heart and had her stomach burning.
Master Gabriel kept him there for a moment, leaning forward in his chair, and then his fingers reached, pressing into Leo's chest just above his heart. Phoenix watched that wince grow deeper, his eyes so wide and his shoulder so stiff, but then Master Gabriel leaned back and nodded.
"Go stand next to Phoenix," Master Gabriel said, and suddenly he was beside her, his eyes darting to study the back of Master Gabriel's head, and then they flicked up and he gave a quick nod.
Phoenix thought on it a moment, almost letting it go, but then she pressed a hand into his chest and put her forehead to his. It was a second longer before he closed his eyes and pressed his palm to her heart, just like he should have done the first time, just like he should've greeted any one of their people, and she wouldn't let him forget that again. Both of them looked away when she heard the shuffling of many pairs of feet and grabbed his wrist to make him stand closer to her.
"Your Fighter's so good, Gabriel. How could a Quarter-Master like you afford a Fighter like that?" asked one of those gathering Masters.
"I can't believe she beat Remus' Fighter!"
"Look at him, he won't even come over and congratulate him. Remus! Don't you have something to say to Gabriel?"
They were so loud, so loud and so many, too many for Phoenix to breathe easily as they came close.
"Yes, he should come over," Master Quintus said, his eyes staring off into the room.
"That's alright," Master Gabriel smiled. "I've offended him."
"No one should be offended by a Fight," Master Quintus said.
"It's more than just that," Master Gabriel leaned back in his chair, the corners of his lips twitching slightly, and Master Quintus studied him a moment, his eyes almost cold, almost hard.
"Is this your new Woodlander, Gabriel?" asked one of those bustling Masters in front.
"You can't call her new anymore! Now he has two," answered another.
"How strange… a Quarter-Master with two Woodlanders."
"Will she be doing another show?"
"No," Master Gabriel answered, his voice soft and low, his fingers coming to tap at his lips, and then crowd parted, the Master of the house stepping forward and they all went quiet as Master Gabriel and Master Astor stood, Master Gabriel bowing slightly as the man came closer.
"Gabriel," he said.
"Lestor," Master Gabriel greeted.
"Cousin," Master Lestor said, turning to stare at Master Astor. "You were right about Gabriel," he smiled. "His Fighter finished yours off so quickly!"
Master Astor tensed, his face scrunching up in a tight scowl. "I have better Fighters at home."
"A shame you didn't bring them!" Master Quintus said, laughing a deep, low laugh that was like a rumble of earth, and he wasn't the only one. A ripple of laughter travelled through the room, growing louder and louder and making Master Astor's shoulders go higher and higher. He almost looked like he would burst, his eyes going so narrow and shining bright, but then they darted to Master Lestor's face and he seemed to shrink.
"We're never bored when you're around, cousin," Master Lestor said, wiping a tear from his eye. "You're always so funny, but you don't seem to be a funny man like my cousin, Gabriel. It wasn't easy to win tonight, you should be proud."
"Thank you," Master Gabriel said, bowing slightly.
"You should enjoy your prize," Master Lestor said, his eyes flicking to Leo. "I saw to his training myself."
Phoenix felt that burning in the pit of her stomach, so strong it made her hands shake and had her gritting her teeth, and it had a taste to it too, something bitter and sour that coated the back of her tongue and stole her breath away.
"I'm looking forward to bringing him into my household," Master Gabriel said.
"Good! And I'll be sending my Trainer around to talk with yours, I want him to learn how you do it."
Phoenix saw that twitch at the corner of her Master's lips, watching him almost smile as he bowed again. "Of course," was all he said.