Uncrowned (Cradle, #7)

by Will Wight

“How did you find me?” she demanded. “No one in this camp is even Jade. You might as well all be blind.” He examined Jaran. “At least he has an excuse.”

She still hated using it. Even touching its spirit with hers disgusted her. But only a fool tossed aside a weapon.

He was right behind her. His smile was gone, his eyes twin needles of ice. His hostility was so thick she could taste it. A fist squeezed her spirit, and it was all she could do to keep her madra circulating.

Yerin stared at the untouched floor. “What are you?” she asked quietly.

Yerin looked over at the puddle of blood madra pulling itself together. “Teach me.”

Fury spent most of his time veiled and restricted, trying to wheedle Lords into duels.

[I mean, I remember it, but I don't know if I can help you do it. He's using shadow madra, and he's just...you know, a lot better at this than you are.]

Lindon had fought her five times in total, losing every time. In his head, he'd trained against her two hundred and sixteen times.

But of the four hundred and fifteen simulated matches Lindon had held against Pride, Lindon had won only two hundred.

Naru Saeya stepped up, multi-colored sword in her hand. "My turn to cut Eithan." "While Yerin is making excellent progress, she did not cut me. I want that to be clear." "Draw your comb."

[Just like your new friend Fury, she was one of the Heralds who formed the original pact of Ghostwater. I found a record of her personally ignoring me.]

“If you don't even make it past the first round,” Pride said, “you will answer to me.” Lindon was relieved. “Really? Thank you. I was afraid I'd have to answer to your mother.” Pride glared at him.

Why divide us into teams just to separate us? he wondered. [False hope,] Dross said confidently. [Lift up your spirits and then just smash them to pieces.]

Dross screamed. [The earth is attacking! Kill it! Kill it!]

If she actually won the tournament, Sophara’s name would become commonplace all around the world, which would make it difficult to assassinate her.

He had essentially asked her if she wanted to build a home with him.

One hour. If Lindon put a dragon's breath through Pride's back, he wouldn't have to deal with him for an entire hour.

[His mother is definitely watching us,] Dross noted. [We'll have to be very sneaky when we stab him in the back.]

Revenge did not return the dead.

The more she trained against Yerin, the more she saw the girl’s unlimited potential.

“Do not let compassion disarm you,” Northstrider said. “He is no less deadly for his condition.”

As the stone wall lowered past Sophara's face, her golden claws flashed once. Blood splattered out onto the arena, and Naian's body fell.

“Your opponent asked for his last words to be delivered to you.” Lindon felt a pang in his heart. Last words. So Naian had expected what happened to him. “He said, ‘The dragon advances.’”

Yerin gave him a wary look from the side. If he had anticipated this far ahead, then she should be a little afraid of him.

While running, he drew his new scissors—the prize he had chosen from the last round.

She had not known the Sword Sage well, but she had known him, and this was absolutely something he would do. But that didn't make it wise.

We'll get the tablet of her third round right after this, Lindon sent to Dross. Then we're spending the whole week training against her model. [That seems like a lot of work from me for a guaranteed loss for you.]

She didn’t see why anyone wanted to live with so much space; it became a nightmare finding anything.

This alleyway was paved with smooth quartz and it had been cleaned with admirable zeal, even in the places most couldn’t see. Mentally, Eithan saluted the Ninecloud cleaning crew.

So I’m going to say what Yerin would say!” She slapped him hard enough that it echoed throughout the room, though he barely felt it. Yerin would have broken his jaw. “You have a sword! Stab the enemy!” [That does sound like Yerin,] Dross observed.

On the other side of the door, she was waiting for him. No…she was standing in his way.

Her heart swelled with pride.

Lindon's full power met Yerin's, and the stage ripped apart.