Chapter 382: Not the only ones
Vale’s blade carved through the air with a keen howl. Olive flinched back, barely managing to avoid the strike. It cut so close to her face that she could feel the wind of its passing against her cheek.
Her moment of distraction had nearly knocked her from the tournament — but she hadn’t missed what Elias had said. The word had been unmistakable.
Norman. Isn’t that the name of the necromancer from Phoenix Circle? The guy that vanished, and the whole reason Elias and Maeve have to be in this tournament? Why is he saying that when looking at Necrohammer? You can’t mean…
Power ignited all along Rime’s armor with a crackling roar. Tongues of black fire rolled up from his armor as he lunged, extending a gauntleted hand for Olive’s arm. She leapt back, torn from her thoughts, and barely managed to avoid getting caught.
A prickle of pain in Olive’s left arm caught her attention.
Her armor was uncomfortably hot. Even though Rime hadn’t managed to touch her, the heat from the flames dancing across his back had been nearly intense enough to burn her from its proximity alone.
A chill ran down her back.
“You’d best keep your attention on us,” Vale advised, lifting his sword to a ready position once more and shifting his stance. “Especially since you wanted to take me and Rime on at once. We’re going all out now, Miss. You haven’t shown anywhere near the strength to fight us while distracted. Not if you want to survive. And I’d really prefer you did — there’s only one person we’re looking to kill in this tournament.”
His words didn’t sound like a taunt so much as a request. Vale genuinely seemed concerned that Olive was going to get herself killed without putting up a good fight — and somehow, that was even more annoying than an actual insult would have been.