Page 237 of Starside

For you, I think, tears stinging my eyes. For everything you made me.

Cadoc tries to kick my legs out from under me, but I jump, and slice through the air, in a move Raker helped me perfect. He turns his face away—

But he’s not quick enough. When he turns back around, a deep gash slices across his face. Blood drips down into his mouth as he smiles. He takes a step forward, and it’s as if the injury has invigorated him.

Suddenly, I’m hit with a wave of heat.

The City on Fire. It really does burn, and we’re flying right above it. I can hear the flames, crackling, as if waiting to be fed.

Burning. Endless burning and—

I take a step back, burying the memories. The pain.

Cadoc tilts his head at me as though he can see my inner injury. Like that’s what he’s best at—finding someone’s wound and twisting his inferior blade into it to win. Is that how he got so many other competitors to work with him?

That smug look grows. Eyes never leaving mine, he throws his sword over the side of his dragon, into the City on Fire, then reaches for another.

Kira’s sword.

He smiles as I stumble backward, his teeth gleaming with blood. “What’s wrong? Don’t want to fight against your dead friend’s blade?”

Memories flash. I see Kira, jumping into the water, desperate to keep that sword. I can hear her words like she’s saying them right now, like she’s still here.

I’ve—I’ve never been chosen by anyone. Or anything. This—this blade chose me. I can’t leave it behind.

I didn’t forget my promise. I’m going to reach the gods. I’m going to take a cup of their magic. I’m going to find a way to get it to Kira’s sister.

Anise should have this sword. Not Cadoc. Anyone but him.

Silver overtakes my vision, and I stumble out of the way of his strike, not wanting to break Kira’s blade. A few brushes with mine, and it will shatter. Fuck. The bastard’s plan is working. I duck as he slices right at my throat, then lurch forward as his dragon jolts again. This time, the movement brings me to my knees. I nearly lose my balance and grip its spikes with one hand, my blade in the other, as the dragon rapidly descends. My teeth clench together.

It’s in freefall. The heat of the burning city swells up like a wave. Sweat spills down my brow. It’s like Cadoc knows the fire is bothering me. He’s telling his creature to get closer.

All at once, the dragon goes still, and I almost lose my balance.

The fire is crackling right below us now. I peer over the side and see only a sea of flames. Memories rise up. So does panic. My ears are ringing. My mind is pounding.

I stand on shaking legs.

“How she screamed,” Cadoc says, advancing, eyes glimmering with the thought. His face is bright red. “For anyone to help her. For her friends. But where were you?”

Where were you?

I let her down. Just like I let down my family. I’m blinded by the memory. That night. The fire, overtaking the room.

“Aris. Aris, it hurts.”

But I was helpless. I couldn’t make it stop. I couldn’t save her—

The advance is so quick, I don’t have time to move out of the way. I have to lift my sword. Kira’s blade crashes into mine with so much force, it rings through my blood. A long crack spirals down its designs, splitting the flowers in half.

The memory—it cost me. It hollowed my grip.

At his strike, my sword slips from my sweaty hands, landing against the dragon’s back.

Everything moves so slowly. I watch as Cadoc’s eyes slide down to my sword. As the metal glimmers in warning, in pleading to pick it back up. I try.

But before I can bend to reach it, or call to it, Cadoc turns. He moves in a flash. He kicks me off the dragon’s back—