Page 31 of Royal Hunt
“Stop it! STOP IT!” Viana ordered, hauling Ellis away while Nessian easily held Gregory down.
“Fae scum,” Gregory spat in Nessian’s face, but Nessian’s expression could have been carved from stone.
“You’re all idiots.” Viana let go of Ellis while shooting him a pissed look. “This is what the fae want. They want us to be divided—to fight each other. It’s more entertaining that way. We have no chance of winning if we don’t stick together.”
Gregory shoved Nessian off, hobbling on his injured leg. “There is no us. You’re fae, just like them.”
Ellis wiped the blood from his mouth, chuckling darkly. “Yet here we are, on this side of the boundary.”
Nessian rolled his eyes, then hauled Ellis to his feet and back to their side. Viana shot Gregory a scathing look, and followed. They retreated back to the other heirs and went to work on their own pile of supplies. It looked much more impressive than ours.
Trenton puffed out his chest, posturing in front of everyone. “Well, let’s see what we have. I’m hungry.”
I threw my canvas down on the ground, and only a smattering of other items followed. A few loaves of bread, a handful of furs, and a fish. I kept my own fur on.
“This isn’t enough. This isn’t enough,” the hysterical woman whimpered, her hands reflexively covering her bony shoulders. “We’re gonna die. We’re gonna die!”
I glanced at my fur, then mutely handed it over just to shut her up. She snatched it away eagerly. Gregory glared at me, his face ugly. No good deed goes unpunished, I guess.
I sighed, picking up the large bit of canvas I’d managed to snag. I nudged Gregory. “Come on. Let’s see if we can use what we have to make some sort of shelter. It’ll be better than nothing.”
He shot me an angry look, but grabbed the canvas and spread it out. A few of his father’s guards followed to help. I grabbed the rope, eyeing the small bit of food.
“I can guard it, if that will help,” a voice said. I turned, recognized the brown-haired girl from the hall. She’d volunteered to participate in the games for her mother, and had tried to fight on the front line before being pushed back by the guard. A few strands had escaped her tight bun, loosening her hair and framing her face.
“I’m Anna,” the brown-haired girl said, holding out her hand.
I smiled, and shook her hand. “Eve.”
We sat on the cold ground together, next to the bread and fish. The woman with my fur kept shooting us haughty looks, but eventually stomped off to watch the men try and do ... something with the canvas.
“She’s always been like that.” Anna sighed, watching the older woman go.
“Like what? A bitch?” I shot back, mad I’d caved and given away my fur. It was fucking cold.
Anna’s lips thinned. “Devya was best friends with my mother. Hard to imagine anyone being friends with that, but I’ve seen it with my own eyes. They’re two peas in a pod.”
I remembered what Ferar had said about Anna’s mother in the hall. “I know it’s not my business, but …”
“Why would I take my mother’s place here?” Anna finished for me. I nodded mutely. Anna rubbed her face.
“It ... the fae called her a criminal. But she wasn’t. It wasn’t her fault. I didn’t think she should take the blame, regardless.” Anna hugged her knees to her chest.
Part of me wanted to ask what she meant, but I didn’t press the issue. It wasn’t my place. Her decisions were her own, and that was certainly something I respected.
“They’re coming over. They’re all coming over to kill us!” Devya screeched, gathering the attention of everyone quickly. I rolled my eyes, hoping she wasn’t going to be this hysterical the entire length of the games. The humans stood stiffly. I counted; thirty of us were left from our original number.Twenty dead before the games even began!
Devya clutched my fur to her shoulders and hid behind Trenton, who ducked out of the way. I rolled my eyes, and walked out to meet the heirs. Blood-stained Viana led with Ellis at her side. The others followed behind, and my eyes zeroed in on the bundles they all carried.
“For the harpy-woman. I promised furs for keeping you safe, here they are.”
Ellis threw a thick pile at my feet.
Viana went next. “Half of our food and weapons.” The triplets threw the weapons down, scowling. Helping us out clearly hadn’t been their plan.
“Thank you,” I offered on behalf of the nobles. If the ugly looks on their faces were anything to go by, they wouldn’t be offering gratitude.
Viana’s lips thinned in displeasure. “Would you like to discuss strategy for tomorrow’s game?”
