Shield of Fire

A warm soft feeling was the first thing Crini felt when she regained her senses. Usually feeling warm should not be a pleasant feeling - especially when you’re in the middle of the desert - but at this moment it was heaven for Crini.

Am I really in heaven? She thought.

She slowly opened her eyes. It was difficult since her eyelids felt heavy, but she managed to see her surroundings. The wind was howling outside, but she couldn’t feel it on her face. Something was blocking it. A tent. Someone had found her at last. There was a faint light coming from above. Her eyes turned wide when she spotted a floating candle, wrapped in a small transparent sphere, reminding her of a bubble.

Not wanting to part with the soft blanket covering her, she pulled it closer, rubbing her face on it. It was the most delicate fabric she had ever felt. A thought crossed her mind. Such fine things only the wealthiest could acquire. This blanket must have been probably someone from the group of the chosen ones.

But whose?

Trying to shift, she groaned as she tried to lift herself to a sitting position. Every muscle in her body screamed from soreness and she landed back on the floor. ‘Again’ she tried to push herself making one more attempt. Rolling to her side was easier and less painful. Then, she placed her right elbow for support, and her left palm facing the ground to push herself until she managed to sit.

She took a look turning slowly around her. The tent was huge for her, comfortable enough to accommodate three to four Ethnians or a dozen of humans.

The shifting and groaning during the process must have gotten the attention of someone because steps echoed outside at the exact moment. A piece of tent cloth flew open and the face of Prince Tadal appeared from the shadows.

Crini stood there, looking at him with puzzlement on her face. He was the last person she expected to see. She was betting on Ada - since she was the one who was the closest with - or Jato. He was nearby whenever she needed help and compared to the others, she thought that they are near as well.

The thing that made Prince Tadal’s presence even more bizarre was the fact that he and the other three nobles never approached the other contestants during our journey - except when Crini had found the map.

Now, was a chance to ask him as well if he knew about his mother’s plan. They were alone and most probably this would not happen frequently.

“How are you feeling?” Prince Tadal spoke with a low hoarse voice. He sounded like sandpaper on a wooden surface.

“I’m feeling fine, though a bit weak. But I’ll be all right until the sun is up. Thank you, Prince Tadal,” she replied hurriedly. Speaking to royalty - even if she had seen Prince Tadal in the past on a couple of occasions by far - was making her uncomfortable and she hated the stirring feeling in her stomach. “Thank you for the blanket also,” she added.

Prince Tadal’s eyes froze on her for a second, processing her words, and then the very next moment he started shaking his head sideways. “It’s Helion you should thank. This is not mine. I only carried you here.” he said casually. Well, maybe for Princes, carrying girls around was something they were used to.

“Well then, thank you for your help, Prince Tadal.”

“You can call me only by my name when we’re alone. However, you should remember to address me by my title when others are in front,” he whispered. “After all, you’re my appointed guard.

So he knew…

“Though…I don’t see how you can protect me.” Prince Tadal said carefully, turning his head to look over his shoulder, or better listen in case someone was standing outside or coming towards the tent. “We are still at the beginning of the road crossing the desert, and you managed to bring yourself into the brick of death. Not to mention that it is physically impossible to protect me.”

“I know,” Crini replied rubbing her temples with her hands. A pain had started making its appearance in her head, blocking her from thinking. “This is the first thing I noticed but she didn’t listen.”

“She?” The prince snorted. “Unlike me, when you address my mother, the person who’s giving you food and shelter, you will always use her title.” His voice was stern. He was offended.

“I’m sorry,” Crini dropped her head looking at her hands that were linked in front of her belly.

“Well, then make sure it won’t happen again.”

“And you should make sure you won’t call me again in front of them by my title” she emphasised the word ‘title’ with the appropriate dose of sarcasm. “Last time I managed to save it, but next time I don’t know if I’ll be able to get it before you.” she counterattacked his comment, her voice raising slightly.

“Which title?” Prince Tadal scowled.

“Slave” Crini mouthed her response because she feared someone might hear her. She didn’t know how well and how far Ethnians could hear. And if a super hearing was any sub-species strong feature.

Prince Tadal opened his mouth, ready to respond accordingly, but Crini cut him off.

“You know that this is against the rules. If something like this happens then I’ll be out of here - most probably executed for treason - and you will be disqualified.”

The prince closed his mouth immediately. She had a point, and a strong one although he didn’t want to admit it in front of her. But she got his look. Apparently, his ego was more significant than his brain. And schooling him for doing wrong in almost referring to her in front of the group as a slave, had just brushed it.

They stood in silence looking at each other. Crini could bet she could see the electrical sparks in his brain as he tried to find the best line to say. He seemed like a guy that want to have the final word. So typically predictable for a prince.

“Make sure you get some rest. I’ll have someone bring you some food and water,” he said standing up to his feet. The image of him looking at her like he was looking at an ant made her feel even smaller and submissive. She gave a nod, turning her eyes away from him.

***

As Crini would expect of him, none appeared for quite some time. The numbness of lying down for so many hours had spread through her body, making her feel uncomfortable. She could use some fresh air.

Pushing the blanket away to make some space to move, she met with the chill air that had found its way to enter the tent. A shiver stroke her, like an electric current flowing through her, jolting her body awkwardly.

First, Crini tried to move her fingers, the side effect that felt like ants walking on her skin lasted for a few moments until the blood started to circulate again. She moved her arms and legs to get free from the numbness and slowly she placed pressure on her arms to help her lift.

Of course, success was not achieved the first time. She managed to stand up but her legs started to tremble and she landed on her knees. Thankfully on the blanket, otherwise, the collision would be painful.

The second time though, she got a strong grip on a pole stabilizing the tent in the middle and stood there, until her legs got used to her weight.

When she was feeling comfortable with standing on her feet, she bend and grabbed the blanket, putting it around her shoulders like a cape. Securing it around her, she lifted the tent cloth and stepped outside.

Her face instantly freezes as it comes in direct contact with the air, sending a wave of shivers down her back. Clenching her hands on the blanket’s fluffy fabric, she moved forward with small and careful steps. Her stability was not at its normal level yet.

Crini looked around and spotted three more tents forming a circle with the one she just got out of. In the middle - an equal distance from each tent - there was a campfire. The warmth emanating from it was very welcome as Crini kept walking closer.

A few shadows were sitting around the fire. She could see their outlines, but not their features. She needed a few moments to adjust her eyes to the strong light of the fire.

When she approached the fire, she could see the faces of those sitting around. Lura with Zoiki were sitting next to each other, with the metal box in front of them and the map open. They were studying it. They were so absorbed that didn’t hear Crini greeting them as she passed past them.

Ada was sitting a bit further away from them, with her legs spread and Koniaak was sitting between her thighs with her back at Ada. She was fixing Koniaak’s long hair into a nice braid.

The girls seemed happy, discussing and giggling. They gave a smile and a nod at Crini once they saw her and the latter mirrored their gesture.

Prince Tadal was talking with the other girl - the one in the group of nobles, as Crini had thought - and the other two - that Crini didn’t know their names - were sitting further away engaged in discussion.

“Which one of you is Helion?” Crini raised her voice addressing the group of nobles. In a blink of an eye, all heads snapped in her direction, with eyes wide. From surprise or fear, none would know.

Nobody spoke as the moments kept passing so slowly that it felt like time had stopped. Crini took a quick look around her. Some were looking at her with deep creases between their eyebrows. Others with surprise and others with deadpan expressions, as this was not their business.

“I believe it is me you’re looking for,” the tall Encreean with the pair of steel-grey eyes - that held Crini’s gaze captive - responded.

Suddenly the crackling sound of the woods burning was the only sound echoing around them. The rest of the group - still holding their eyes in their direction held their breaths, waiting anxiously for the result of this discussion.

Maybe it’s because I didn’t address him with his title? Crini thought. A few minutes earlier I didn’t even know his name!

She didn’t care. Out there, they were all the same. If anyone was hurt or died, the effect will be the same - title or not. When this was over and they return to their palaces they can play with their titles all they want. She would not have to keep reminding herself how to address them when her life would be constantly in danger she had no idea about.

“Thank you for the blanket,” Crini spoke firmly, holding her head straight and looking at those piercing eyes of his without fear. Others may be dropping their heads down - she believed he was accustomed to this behaviour - but hell with that!

Helion - whatever his title is - nodded blinking his eyes once. He kept her gaze like he wanted to study every expression on her face. Like this would reveal something about her.

His silver eyebrows tangled together and Crini could swear that she saw his pointy ears move infinitesimally. She was about to open her mouth and say something about his sudden change on her - as his eyes were still pinned on her - but he cut her off before a word comes out of her mouth.

“We have visitors.”

Everyone jolted upright, turning their backs to the fire, and taking defensive positions. The blood in Crini’s veins froze, despite the warm blanket covering her.