Page 21 of Chorus of Ashes
“You weren’t thinking quickly last night when I was kissing you,” Rian said, stopping short of adding …when I stole your knife.But the meaning was clear, and two spots of color bloomed on Terra’s cheeks. Good. That meant he got in her head a bit, and her anger would work to her detriment on his round. It was all part of the game, Rian reminded himself, and he could use their emotions to his advantage.
“Damn, Terra. He’s asking for it. You’d better not let him win,” Bianca said.
“Oh, I’m on it,” Terra hissed at his side, and Rian found himself grinning again. It was silly, really. Just a stupid game. And yet he found himself completely invested in the outcome because he already knew what he’d ask for when he won.
Pressing his lips together, Rian hummed to himself as he considered his approach. He needed to get closer than Terra and would need some sort of shield above the stone in case she brought her bird friends back. Nodding his head to himself, he threw the stone along with a domed ice saucer to shield it from any attacks from the sky. Just as his stone neared the marker, grass reached from the ground and snatched the stone from the air, curling it to the ground in a tangle of knots and weeds.
“Oh, comeon.” Rian turned on Terra who was outright laughing at him now. “The grass wasn’t even tall enough to reach the stone.”
“It’s amazing how fast it can grow. Nice climate for it and all.” Terra pursed her lips and studied the meadow as though she was a farmer commenting on the crops. Rian refused to let this be the end for his turn and, summoning his power, he called upon the Earth — something he hadn’t done in ages. At first, he thought nothing would happen, as maybe the Earth had turned its back on him much like his people had. But, seconds later, the ground rumbled beneath them, and they all gasped as the meadow shook lightly and his stone rolled past Terra’s to be the closest to the marker.
“That’s not fair. No way. The stone was on the field. It wasn’t in play anymore.” Terra whirled on Seamus as though he was the official rule keeper. Seamus looked down at Bianca who just shrugged. Lifting his hands in the air, he mimicked unrolling the imaginary scroll again.
“I’m sorry, Terra, but it looks like that falls within the rules. You’ll have to work extra hard this round.”
“But how? His stone is already closest.” Terra jabbed the air with one finger, her beautiful forehead crinkled in frustration. Rian liked seeing this side of her, just a bit wild and frustrated, as though she also had flaws instead of being some gorgeous calm all-knowing Earth goddess. Maybe this could behisnew personal game — riling Terra up.
“You’ll have to use his stone to knock his other one away,” Bianca mused as she tapped a finger against her mouth. “Or call your gull back. That might help.”
“Wow, are you all ganging up on me then?” Rian turned back to the marker and shook his head sadly at the field. “It’s always the way of it, isn’t it? Nobody likes losing to the best.”
“Oh, would you listen to that ego?” Terra fumed. “You’re certainly not the best. You can’t even be the best at a game we just made up.”
“When I win this, I will be. And you’ll be my prize.” Rian pointed out, leveling a look at her that was both full of cockiness and heat. It served to unravel her further, which was exactly Rian’s intent, as annoyance flashed like lightning in those pretty eyes of hers.
“I most certainly will not—”
Rian was already launching his stone, hoping to catch her off guard, and had put an added layer of protection around the rock, hoping it would stay its course. Just as it neared the marker, the stone exploded.
Rian’s mouth dropped open, and he fisted his hands on his hips.
“Terra! You can’t just destroy another man’s stone.”
“Well, I did.” Terra crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.
“That’s cheating.” Rian looked at Seamus who held up his hands as though to say they needed to work it out between themselves. “Oh come on, man. I know the game is just made up, but destroying someone else’s stone completely has to be cheating, right? Otherwise we would’ve all done that from the beginning.”
“Um, well, I suppose…” Seamus trailed off when Bianca stepped forward, a calculating look on her face.
"It doesn’t much matter, does it? Rian’s other rock is still the closest to the marker. Terra destroyed the wrong rock.”
“Oh, you’re right.” Terra stomped a foot on the ground, sending her lovely breasts bouncing, and Rian was hypnotized for a moment while she had a little tantrum. This side of Terra fascinated him, and if all of this … movement … went with her anger, well, he was determined to make her angry more often. She was a captivating woman sitting still, however when in motion, particularly when Terra was angry, well, she was riveting. He didn’t care what the rules were anymore, it was time for him to claim his prize. “I hate it. But you’re right. I let this one get to me.”
Rian wanted nothing more than to get to her. Over and over, hopefully.
“Am I declared the winner?” Rian asked. He waited, unduly invested in the outcome of this silly game.
Bianca glanced at Seamus and then turning, she walked over to the table and returned with something in her hands. When she stopped in front of him, Rian realized she’d made a wildflower chain for the winner to wear.
“Congratulations, Sir Rian, on besting us in this game of magicks. You have won great honor here this day, and you may choose your prize,” Bianca said. A cough sounded behind her. “Within reason, of course. And likely nothing involving me, or Seamus may kill you.”
Rian bowed his head and accepted the flower chain. It drifted across his face, bringing with it the fresh scent of dirt and clover, and the chain settled softly at his shoulders. Though it was but a silly game, one that he’d actually enjoyed, the flower chain seemed to weigh heavily at his heart. They were treating him as though he was one of the group, accepted, welcomed even. Not like the outcast he was. Or their captor, for that matter. Rian shifted on his feet and refocused on the conversation.
“In the nature of saving ourselves from bloodshed then, I will be choosing the lovely Lady Terra as my prize,” Rian said.
“You can’t just—”
“An evening,” Rian quickly amended. “A date, if you will.”