In the back of her head, Kaara was hoping that neither Rorik nor Amaro would get the wrong idea. She already had one confession she wasn’t sure she could answer correctly. She did not need a new one.

How had Amaro rescued her anyway? It’s not as if he could use healing magic. The memory of that figure kept coming back to her head. Had that been Amaro? According to Rorik and Arik, there was someone else with her by the time Amaro got there. Yet Kaara only remembered one person. If Amaro came in second, then there was someone else who had helped her.

But if they had helped her, then why? And how? And what was the reason they did not show up now or take credit for any of it?

At the very least, Amaro deserved some sort of gratitude for carrying her to camp and for the box of sweets. Maybe when she thanked him, she could get a better idea of what happened. She exited the tent alongside Arik and Rorik, “How long have I been out for anyway?” She asked.

“Three days.” Rorik said, “That means five days before the ceremony.”

“Wait, so isn’t today the last day of the war games?” Kaara said.

“Wait, I thought it was tomorrow.” Arik said.

“No, it’s always four days before the ceremony that it ends.”

“I thought it was three! You know, because three is a magic number?”

“Technically it’s four since the ceremony always takes place at midnight,” Rorik said.

“So you’re telling me that we’ve only got until midnight to fight?” Arik groaned, “Why’d you have to drop for three days, Kaara?”

“Wh- It’s not like I meant to! And you didn’t have to stop fighting for me.”

Arik sighed, “I know, I know. I’m not actually mad. I just thought I had more time is all.”

“Well, it’s still the afternoon, right? We’ve still got time!”

Arik punched her palm, “I’m gonna go find Tadios.”

“How are you sure he’s still in the game by now? Deka might have taken him out already.”

“I’m sure he’s in it because I haven’t fought him yet!” Arik took off, “You guys can go and find Amaro or whatever, I’m gonna look for Tadios!”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” A voice called up from the trees. A figure dropped down in front of them. It was a girl with mottled blue and black skin and feiry red eyes accentuated by black sclera. Small forked horns perched atop her head in a sleek curve. She looked as if she were born to skulk in the night.

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“Hey! You’re that bitch who kicked me in the ribs when Deka was stealing the scrolls from us!”

The girl raised an eyebrow, “I’m surprised you recognize me. I had been disguised at the time.”

“I can smell ya.” Arik said, tapping her nose.

“Hmph, as expected from someone recognized by Deka. Your senses are keen, I’ll be sure to disguise my scent next time. That’s besides the point, though. The three of you should not go off on your own. Several of our captains, including myself, have been ambushed. They’ve already compromised our rumor network, and taken the horns of all our retainers along with a couple captains.”

“You’ve got a ‘rumor network’? Deka sure takes this game seriously,” Kaara said.

“We are playing to win. I assume the three of you are combat ready?”

“We are. You seem like you have a good idea of what’s going on, so why don’t you fill us in?” Rorik said assertively.

“Oh, and what’s your name?” Kaara chimed in.

“I am Fealux Muuaji.” She said bowing her head, “Among the fallen captains are Raktus, Paxia, and Miiruka. They were all ambushed by Tadios early this morning.”

“Ambushed? That doesn’t sound like something Tadios would do.” Arik said, crossing her arms.

“It seems he is playing to win this year too, then. As I said, information has been skewed for me, but even if I cannot trust what I’ve heard anymore I know what I’ve seen.”

“He’s probably doing it because he’s the only one who can.” Kaara said, “We kind of hung him out to dry by joining Deka, y’know? Especially since there are so many strong nobles this year.”

Arik bit her cheek, “I know it’s probably the right move, but I wouldn’t have expected Tadios to be strategic. Let alone to wait for the right moment to strike. He’s fighting smart and that’s real dangerous for us.”

“I am here to escort you to Deka. He will have more orders to give you.”

Arik clicked her tongue, “Of course he does.”

“Let’s regroup, if Tadios is fighting smart that means there’s a mastermind of some kind pulling the strings.”

“Yeah, but who?”

Fealux beckoned them forward, leading them to the woods, “Right now, the enemy is attempting to separate our captains to weaken our strength. Tadios is the Tibur’s only trump card, so they cannot win if we group up.”

“Sounds like a coward’s tactic to me.” Rorik said.

“Bite your tongue! There are only a few hours left in these war games. Deka has the foresight to know that being reckless right now is a poor tactic. All we need to do is hold out until midnight-” Fealux raised a hand to stop them and dropped low, eyes scanning her surroundings.

“Someone’s here.” She sprang up to a nearby branch as silent as a feather. The tree she decided to perch on top of, however, had other plans. The branches came to life and ensnared her. She set her body ablaze, but the rocky wet wood of an Ingen tree was not so easily burned.

Rorik moved to help, only to have his legs taken out from under him by a snare trap. He reached for his ax, trying to cut the rope only to find it was made of steel, “What the-”

“It is true what they say, after all!” A familiar voice said from behind them.

Kaara turned to see Tulos and Sancta pacing towards them.

“Indeed, brother. The hunters rarely expect to become the hunted.” Sancta said, using the branches of the Ingen tree to snap Fealux’s horns off.

“And even the most gifted hunters wouldn’t expect a trap that comes to them,” Tulos grinned, showing his fangs, “Sorry Rori, you were the next one on our list and as an ardent admirer there was no one more suited to take you out. That makes two Xirxus you’ve lost to now.”

Kaara saw two horn tips drop in the snow in front of her, looking up to see Tulos had cut Rorik’s horns with steel wire.