Alani grips the balustrade, her nails digging into the stone. Camden's scream spears her heart and holding onto the balustrade is the only thing keeping her from running out onto the arena floor and stopping everything.
A hand touches her shoulder, and Alani flinches.
"Well done, your grace," the king whispers breathily in her ear.
Alani swallows the bile that creeps up her throat.
"Now, let the real games begin," the king says. He nods against her cheek.
Across the arena, Alani can see one of Duel Guards shift along the wall. He moves slowly enough that the audience won't notice if they're paying attention to the slaughter unfolding before them. The Duel Guards stops and whispers something in the ear of the next. Together, they sidle out through the far holding cell entrance...and leave it open.
Alani masks her gasp with a cough. She watches as other guards do the same and melt away through the doors. They leave their weapons just inside the holding cell, the metal glinting in the sunlight.
Sar roars in frustration. Camden's leapt out of her way, but Alani can tell he's flagging. He won't last much longer.
Alani looks quickly around the audience. The black-coated guards are missing. Something's wrong.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave," the king says. "Stomach troubles."
He steps back from Alani. She turns to watch him go. He's never left a duel before the end before.
"I do hope you all enjoy the event," he says, and bows his head to both Tenlus and Darrow. They look equally confused by the king's early departure, but an agonizing scream rends the air and they turn back to the arena.
Blood is spattered across the pebbles. It drips from the broadsword held in Sar's hands. She smiles. Camden's kneeling on the ground, a bloody stop where his hand used to be.
Alani covers her mouth with her fingers. She's known Camden for five years. He can't die, not today.
Please Goddess, Alani begs, but looking at the murder in Sar's eyes, she knows it's no use.
"Madam, there is someone here to see you," a guard says on Alani's left.
"Alright," she says, her eyes pinned to the point of Sar's sword. It's advancing on Camden. It's going to pierce his heart.
Camden stares at it, already defeated. She can see the hurt and fear plainly written on his face.
Sar grins, and—
Alani is pushed into the balustrade. She has to throw up her hand to keep the tiara from toppling off into the arena.
"Sorry," a muffled voice says behind her.
A figure in a cloak decorated to look like the night sky is already running back up the steps toward the exit.
"Madam!" a guard shouts, trying to stop her.
"I'm going to be sick!" the figure calls back, and the guard stops in his tracks, letting her go.
Cheers erupt around them, tearing Alani's focus away from the starry figure. She turns back to the arena.
Camden lies face down in the stones, Sar standing over him.
Alani heaves a breath. She wants to stop, but she can't. Wherever the king is, he's watching, and he's listening, and he won't hesitate to slaughter everyone Alani's ever loved in order to make her obedient.
And this duel is only the first of the day. There are four more to go.
A single tear rolls down Alani's cheek as she picks up the amplifying cone. Take him to the Evernight, she whispers to the Goddess, and raises the cone to her lips.