Adri hurried over to Frederik, Caspar's second-in-charge, to collect my winnings from the first three fights. I waited on a bench on the far wall across from the pit, my forearms resting heavily on my knees, head down, not wanting to watch the animated crowd or the celebration of those betting against me. It could have been five minutes or it could have been an hour later, but eventually Adri reappeared to drop my cloak over my shoulders, pulling the hood up and guiding me to my feet. I felt like I was walking in a dream, replaying the fight with Kiran over and over in my mind, still not understanding how he could know who I was, or how he could best me so quickly. Adri noticed me lagging behind and took my hand to start pulling me along behind her to the back exit of the Theatre.

"Have dinner with me," Rolfe said, suddenly materializing from the crowd to grab Adri's arm as we snaked through the mass of smelly, sweaty bodies. Her masked face peered up at him and she ripped her arm away from his grasp.

"I'd rather stab you in the chest."

Rolfe's head tilted back as he laughed. "Well then," he said, ducking his chin. "How about I make you a deal. We cross swords. If you win, you can stab me in the chest if you wish...though I hope you choose to spare my heart. If I win, we have dinner." Adri was silent, her head tilting, considering the offer. "I'll be a perfect gentleman, I swear. And if you don't have a truly wonderful time, you can stab me anyway, but only with a fork." This time Adri laughed.

"I'll think on it," she finally said, and Rolfe smiled widely, his perfect white teeth gleaming in the flickering light of the lanterns and torches. Gods, he was so handsome when he wasn't thinking about how good looking he was.

"I'll be at the castle for the next few weeks. Come and find me...please..." he said after her as she started walking determinedly toward the door.

"Maybe," she tossed over her shoulder. Rolfe smiled, then turned to me and nodded as I passed him. I honed in on the door, not wanting to catch a glimpse of Kiran, desperate for fresh air and a chance to clear my confused mind.

"Are you all right?" Adri asked as soon as we were clear of the building and any passersby. The night air crept into me through uncovered spaces and chilled the lingering sweat on my skin.

"I don't know. He... he knew what I was."

Adri grabbed my upper arm, pulling me into a narrow lane between two rows of stone houses. "What?! What do you mean he knows what you are?"

A chill crept up my spine at the shock and concern in Adri's voice. "He called me 'Diviner'. He didn't use my name but he definitely knew what I was and that I didn't belong there."

"Gods..." she whispered nervously. "Did he say anything else?"

"Not really," I said, leaving out the part he said about my ability to win the match. Something about his statement, delivered so assuredly, rested like a ball of unease in the pit of my stomach. I wanted time to consider that privately, even if Adri was my closest friend and confidante.

"We should get going," Adri said, her masked face gazing up at the night sky, then down the lane toward the Theatre. "I think we've had enough surprises for one night."

"Agreed," I said, and we started off down the narrow alley, walking only as quickly as my battered body would allow. We removed our masks once back at the oak where we stashed our bags, trudging along in silence to our secret culvert entrance on the far west wall of the castle. It was a much longer way home than climbing the gate tower, but my injured chest offered no alternative. Once within the castle walls, we slipped through the back entrance of the blacksmith's shop where we could change and stash our bags in the unused loft.

We walked in silence and shadow to the Sanctum, the wing of the castle that housed our rooms, easily avoiding the guards in their languid patrol through the castle grounds. Adri came with me to my room to help me undress and tend the damage from the fights, making me a tea of herbs for pain relief. She smoothed arnica cream she'd stolen from the healers onto my hip and the deep purple bruise blossoming in the center of my chest. "I always knew your bleeding heart would be your downfall," she said with a wink and a smile as she tapped a light finger on my throbbing breastbone. I winced and pulled up the shoulders of my nightgown, settling into my bed. "Get some rest. I'll see you in the morning." With a squeeze of her hand on mine she rose and left the room, gently shutting the door behind her. As the tea took effect and dragged me into a bone weary slumber, Kiran's whisper from the pit was like a ghost following me into the night.

Just tell me you yield to me and I will let you go.

The next morning I awoke to the sound of birdsong, the light of the mid-morning sun bright beyond my closed eyelids. Everything hurt, not helped by a heavy pressure on my chest. I cracked an eye open reluctantly, the lidless amber eyes of a serpentine face boring into mine.

"Gods! I hate it when you do that," I said, wincing as my jerky muscles set off an eruption of pain through my battered limbs. An image appeared in my mind of my bedroom in the dark, infused with a sulferous smell, the scent of fear. "I'm sorry, Skye, I didn't mean to scare you. I went to the Theatre with Adri. I'm alright, just sore." As my mind started to gather itself from its drug-induced slumber, I realized that Skye hadn't been worried for me in a long while, not since the first few times I'd gone to the Theatre and returned victorious. I projected a feeling of confusion back to her, asking what was wrong.

I received a rapid succession of images and feelings in response: the earth moving, vibration growing stronger, radiating through scales. Horses' hooves, in groups of four, the rumble of their shoes on cobblestones. Clanking, metal against metal. Men speaking authoritatively, commands being given and obeyed. The trellises, the feeling of Skye's belly on the ivy as she climbed to my room. Looking down from the balcony, the legion in formation, their standards flapping. An unfamiliar flag, a golden ship embroidered on shimmering purple silk. The Queen and her consort greeting the commander.

Soldiers, Skye whisper-shouted into thoughts.

"Oh my gods!" I yelped, rolling out of the bed. Skye tumbled onto the deerskin rug beside my bed with an irritated hiss.

Ass, she said, rolling herself upright. Ass was one of Skye's favourite words, especially when it came to me.

"I'm sorry!" I chirped as I limped toward the bath chamber.

Ass, she said again, this time sending me an image of my back as I scampered away, my nightdress hanging open over my bare backside.

"Not like you haven't seen it before!" I called to her as I slammed the door closed behind me. After washing up, I unravelled my braid from the previous night, combing my fingers through the long wavy strands before securing pieces from the front away from my face with delicate rose pins. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and tried to conjure the likenesses I had in common with my mother. Her full lips. Her delicate ears. Her large, expressive eyes, her feathery black lashes. My features were an echo of hers - not as perfect as the original, but an impression of the beautiful source. I saw my father too, what I could remember of him. His straight nose and dark hair and most of all, his violet irises. I was the surface of their memory, reflecting them back to the world.

I took a deep breath, swept the loose strands from my face, and exited the bath chamber to find something appropriate to wear. It was Council Day, so I pulled a black dress from my wardrobe and started easing it over my shoulders as a knock sounded at my door. Skye's tongue flicked and she sent me the impression of gardenias and lavender.

"Come in," I said, knowing from Skye's communication that it was Adri. The door opened and she swept in, her beautiful cornsilk hair spinning in a diaphanous halo around her shoulders as she circled and closed the door.

"Good morning, Skye!" She said brightly as she spied the viper's body coiled on the chair by the fireplace. Skye sent me one of her favourite images of Adri, of an evening when they fell asleep aside each other on a chaise in the library. The scent of woodsmoke filled the back of my throat, warm and comforting.

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"She says it's nice to see you," I replied on Skye's behalf. The snake's tongue flicked, her crystalline eyes impossibly bright.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Adri asked, turning her attention to me with a scrutinizing eye.

"Sore, I won't lie," I said, placing my splayed palm above my heart. "Training is going to be hell next week."

Adri shot me a concerned, lopsided smile. "It was bound to happen sooner or later." I was a little pained to know that she considered my loss in the pit an inevitability.

"Yeah, I suppose." I finished lacing up my dress and walked over to Skye, extending my hand for her to coil up my arm. The weight of her muscular blue body settled across my shoulders, her arrowhead face skimming over my cheek. We left my room and headed for the royal wing of the castle.

"It feels like buzzing today, like insects but inside," Adri said as we walked through the Great Hall, passing several groups of people chattering in hushed but excited tones. Adri's control over the air element meant she could feel the vibration of their voices rippling through the space.

"Skye saw something last night, shortly after we left," I whispered. "A group of soldiers arrived. It looked to be about forty or so. I didn't recognize their banner."

Adri looked over and winked. "Should be an interesting morning at Council then, for a change." I smiled at her as we entered the royal wing, passing down the long stone corridor adored with the armour of famous knights from the kingdom's history. At the end of the corridor stood the armour of two war horses, facing each other, frozen in imposing rears. Valdamora and Windemere had been the kingdom's most illustrious cavalry horses, and now their polished silver armaments were forever locked in poses of war. I wondered, as I often did when passing their glittering mail and helmets, if a Diviner had urged them into battle, or if they did so of their own accord.

We passed the war horse armour and entered the foyer of the royal wing, with its vaulted ceilings, elaborate tapestries, and statues of kings and queens past. From there, we passed the row of six guards and entered the council chambers, where the other Diviners were already congregated, quietly chatting in their black and gold finery like a murder of adorned crows.

There were nine of us in total, myself and Adri included. We'd had ten up until recently, but lost Deacon, Diviner of Fire, at the Battle of the Blackmoors. Neither Adri nor I had been to that battle, and from the tales from those that returned, we were glad for it. Shuddering slightly as I recalled the worst of the stories, Adri and I walked over to Freya, Diviner of Water. She smiled brightly when she saw us. She and Adri trained with each other since childhood and worked seamlessly together in battle, as though they were a single person. We said our greetings and shifted subtly away from the main group.

"Did you both see the soldiers arriving last night?" Freya asked quietly, her gaze bouncing between us.

"No, but Skye did," I offered as Skye twined around my neck, hiding the top edge of the bruise on my chest. Skye sent me one of the images she'd shown me earlier, the foreign banner flapping in the breeze. "I didn't recognize their pennant, do you know where they're from?"

"Word amongst the guards is they're from the outer allied territories, the Scipian shore."

"That's a long way to come," Adri said, pensive. "That's got to be a couple of weeks by horseback. Why now?"

"That I don't know, but I would guess the reasons aren't good." Worry crinkled Freya's brow. "Maybe it's got something to do with what happened at the Blackmoors..."

"Maybe," Adri mused, a similar concern etching into her normally serene features. Guards opened the set of doors on the opposite side of the room which led to the private royal chambers and reception rooms, the two captains of the royal guard entering first. Queen Myrian followed, flanked by her husband, Commander Vigos. There were then six royal guards, and beyond that the squadron of foreign soldiers, arranged in pairs. They wore polished gold armour, and deep purple tunics and breeches. Purple and white crests adorned the top of their helmets and swords were sheathed at their sides, the elaborate hilts clanking against their armour. The Queen and commander stood in front of their thrones on the dais, the royal guard and the foreign squadron fanning out in formation on either side. Our group of Diviners lined up, standing along wall at the back of the room facing the dais, our usual place in the council. Legion commanders then led in the other council members and advisors, entering from the foyer doors and all standing ready to take their seats along the massive carved table that faced the dais. The attendees recited the kingdom's motto, For the kinship of humanity stands the Kingdom of Fidelium, then they bowed to the crown and sat. Only we and the guards remained standing, though we Diviners were less rigid and formal than our soldier counterparts. Skye's face came alongside my left eye, her gaze sweeping across the newcomers and her tongue flicking endlessly.

"You may have noticed we have some guests this morning," Queen Myrian began, ever direct, ever formidable. Her voiced almost challenged any council advisor to raise a concern, and her subtly amused smile hinted that she knew such a challenge would never arise. "This squadron has joined us from the Scipian Territories. I have asked similar squadrons to attend the other castle strongholds of the kingdom. These are elite warriors that have come to help guard Castle Eridanus and provide specialized, advanced training for some of our key soldiers." The Queen's eyes swept across the council, and then onto our group of Diviners. I felt the weight of her piercing brown eyes linger on me for the briefest moment. She stood. "What happened at the Blackmoors was a tragedy, but it was also a blessing. We underestimated our opponent. We lost good soldiers and a valuable weapon. We sacrificed more than we should have to win. But we now know the strength of our enemy, and we will not come so close to failing again." Fists banged on tables in approval.

"Commanders, you will welcome the input and guidance of these soldiers," Vigos said after the banging quieted. He remained seated as the Queen slowly descended the dais with the two captains in tow. "These allies have unique skills, skills that we will need to learn if we hope to keep our kingdom safe. Training will begin tomorrow." The commanders nodded in assent. Queen Myrian crossed the room and stopped when she reached our group of Diviners.

"What happened in the Blackmoors will not happen again," she said, looking at each of us. It was as much a promise as it was a threat. Her eyes then softened after a loaded pause, and she walked the length of our line. "You are our greatest strength, our greatest gift. But without mastery of yourselves, you can destroy many lives. Including your own." Queen Myrian stopped in front of me.

"Your grace," I said, with a bow of my head. She smiled, her hand coming to the right side of my face as she swept a stray lock of hair from my cheek.

"Our enemies are coming, and they are more bold than ever before. It is our responsibility to ensure you are ready for anything you might encounter on the battlefield. And it is your responsibility to give everything for your kingdom, no matter what happens. No matter the cost." She smiled at me with benevolence. Skye's tongue flicked.

"Yes, your grace."

"We will do everything possible to keep you safe," she said, turning from me, the gilded edge of her black cloak skimming over my feet. "We are increasing your protection. There will be additional guards posted in the Sanctum. You will each be assigned three guards from the Scipian squadron, one to lead and two to support. They will oversee specialized training for each of you, and a guard must accompany you at all times when you move throughout the castle. I know I do not need to remind you, but travel outside the castle is strictly forbidden." Adri shifted slightly next to me and I fought a grin. There was a rule we'd never abided by. As if reading my thoughts, the Queen turned back toward me. "Diviner," she said, my stomach dropping to my feet.

"Yes, your grace?"

"Please proceed to the Oraculum. The mage needs you to tithe. We need to see what we can uncover of the enemy's plan." My stomach returned from the floor only to twist into knots. While I was relieved that my extracurricular activities at the Theatre had not been uncovered, I both loathed and feared the Oraculum. I could feel Skye tighten slightly around my neck, her face caressing my jaw as it passed.

"Of course, your grace."

"Captain Donseer?" the Queen called over her shoulder, not taking her eyes from me. A man stepped forward from the Scipian ranks.

"Yes, my Queen?"

"Who do you nominate as lead guard for Quinn the Diviner?" Skye sent me the briefest flash of something she could smell, had already smelled once before. Something that had clung to my hair and skin as I slept. It was cedarwood and sage. I knew then what Captain Donseer would say before he even opened his mouth. I wanted to laugh as much as I wanted to rage.

"Kiran, of the Elysian Isles," he said. I felt Adri tense beside me and I resisted the urge to grab her hand.

"Kiran," the Queen said, turning to face him as he separated from this comrades and removed his helmet, cradling it in the crook of his elbow. His other hand rested on the ornate hilt of his sword. Impossibly, he was even more beautiful than the night before, his skin and dark hair glowing in the light reflecting on his armour.

"Yes, my Queen," he answered in a low, warm voice.

"In the Kingdom of Fidelium, our bonds are not taken lightly. A promise made is a promise kept. To guard the life of another is a duty kept forever." Queen Myrian took a purposeful step toward Kiran. "If one perishes, so does the other. Do you accept this position as guardian of the Diviner?" His snow blue gaze locked on mine. The air in the room seemed to still, as though no one was breathing, not even me. I felt my arms go cold while my chest went hot.

"I do, your grace," he said, not taking his eyes from mine. "I will protect Quinn with my sword and with my life."

"Excellent. You will accompany her to the Oraculum."

"Yes, your grace." We stared at each other, the spark in his glacial eyes the only hint of his amusement. My life was now under the protection of my adversary from only a night before. Fate, it seemed, had plans for me.

Plans I didn't like.