Page 110 of These Fractured Bonds

Vanessa had nodded, the grim set of her lips confirming what Yareli already knew—their opponents were too fast, too observant, too strong for sneaking.

“Where’s the merit in this?” Frustration slipped into Yareli’s tone.

“The Fire Court doesn’t play fair,” Erbert had replied. He leaned on a tree, his arms crossed. It was clear that whatever had happened in previous years had left a sore spot.

“Then, it’s luck. We’re relying on luck!”

“Essentially, but there are a few ways to help bolster our ‘luck’.” Vanessa circled the twelve o’clock and four o’clock positions. “Our best bet is to find ongoing scuffles where both the general and lieutenant are distracted. The more likelyscenario, however, is that one will be distracted while the other isn’t. We’ll have to fight then.”

Yareli had thought back to Bri’s training sessions. If the Fire Court lieutenants were as skilled as Bri, she wasn’t sure they could win.

When she had voiced this, Vanessa had shaken her head, saying, “We’re not trying to beat them. We’re trying to distract them while you sneak your way up the volcano.”

Her jaw had dropped. “I’m not the fastest runner here. Erbert would be the better choice.”

“It has to be you. Erbert may be our medic, but he also has great defensive skills. In terms of battle prowess, we outclass you. You’re tiny, easy to glance over in battle. It gives you the perfect advantage.”

Offended that they had determined she was the weakest, she gritted her teeth. She knew it was true. Sure, she had some smarts for battle, but her magic skills were rudimentary at best. She was a liability, but her pride hadn’t let her accept it without pushing back once more.

“I’m not very quick.” Her argument had fallen flat. Evenshehad known that if she kept insisting she could fight, it would be pathetic.

“Erbert’s got a spell for you to make you lighter on your feet. We’re trusting you, Ines. Trust your own feet to take you to the finish line,” Vanessa had replied.

And that was how Yareli came into possession of everyone's gems, which were stuffed in her satchel. Vanessa took point, and Erbert and Yareli walked in the middle. Dre, perky now that the supplements had been digested, watched the back. She was wringing her bag’s strap to hell and back, the forest’s silence oppressive. Every time the gems clinked, she flinched, but no one ambushed them. They were heading to the eleven o’clock position, hoping their luck would hold and meet Dragon GeneralAndre, who was fair in his judgment and less bloodthirsty than the younger generals. Allyah would certainly notlosesight of Yareli, having been obsessed with her since the start.

The temperature dropped several degrees; the hair on her arms stood. Something was brewing. The word ripped out of Yareli’s throat before she was aware of yelling it.

“Move!”

They sprang apart as ice erupted from the ground where they had been a few seconds ago. A trap set by another team, the spears of ice gleamed with deadly intent.

Rustling sounded nearby, cut off by the sudden swoosh of something flying through the air. A single thud sounded.

Vanessa barked, “Stay down, they have an archer.”

Yareli had been lucky enough to land behind some brush; she crawled backward on her back. If only her gym teachers saw her now, doing the crab walk all students hated. Someone cursed, and an arrow shot past her.

Erbert cried out, but he yelled, “I’m fine!”

She moved faster as arrows rained on them, trapping them in place. They were sitting ducks, and she would bet their gems that the archer’s team was on their way to finish them off.

She dove, rolling behind a large trunk, and watched the trees. The arrows lulled. Then, a singular arrow flew by. The archer was to her left, but she had to confirm it. It could easily be a magic trick.

“Ines.”

The whisper came from her right. Yareli found Erbert taking cover behind a stump about two trees down.

She asked, “You okay?”

“Only a graze. I’m going to run. Find the archer; you’re the closest one to him.”

“It’s dangerous!”

“I’ve nearly died before in these challenges. I’m willing to do whatever it takes. Don’t,” he snapped.

His unspoken words hung in the air.Don’t hold me back.

He was right. They were all risking their lives, and the least she could do was respect that and do her part. After all, she had asked the same of Augrys. She nodded and turned her eyes to the front, ready to pinpoint the archer. Erbert took off, twigs snapping under his feet, and arrows flew from every direction, but she kept her eyes glued toward her left.