Page 75 of Bonded To The Arena Master

I remove the grounded-lightning vial from my belt and place it on the bare desk. Its silver current continues to coil inside the crystal. The cup is the only possession leaving with me.

"Grolm."

My voice carries through the door.

The guards outside confer. One opens the panel but keeps his spear across the entrance.

"You are confined until departure."

"I summoned a former servant to collect a personal message. The sentence permits one."

He examines the bare room as if expecting an army to emerge from the walls.

"The message must be inspected."

"It is sealed under challenge law. Break it without Council authority and you become a party to the challenge."

His claws tighten around the spear.

"I will send for him."

Grolm arrives before the next lightning flash fades from the window.

He wears no guard-captain mantle. The Crown removed it with his command. Plain black armor covers his bone-white carapace, and no house seal remains at his throat. His crimson eyes pass over the empty study before settling on me.

He bows.

The Council guard strikes the butt of his spear against the floor. "Draxon holds no title."

Grolm keeps his head lowered. "My loyalty was not issued by title."

The guard bares his teeth.

"Enter," I tell Grolm.

He steps past the spear. The door stays open behind him.

"The lower gate escort gathers now," he says. "Six Council guards. Korgath has sent observers."

"Let them observe."

I hold out the slate.

Grolm sees the sealed sigil and accepts it with both hands.

"Carry this to Zira. Invoke archive witness before she opens it. Once the Council records the challenge, take the slate to Beatrix."

His red eyes lift to mine. "A challenge suspends exile until judgment."

"If the Council honors its own law."

"And if it refuses?"

"Then every house sees that demon law binds only those without power. The Council cannot afford the admission."

Grolm turns the slate, studying the silver light beneath its surface.

"What message do I give Beatrix?"