Teoni immediately rooted Fia to the ground.
“What are you doing? Fia asked.
“I am not waiting for you two to team up on me!”
“It was a figure of speech.” She turned back to Thessa, “I sent word of where you are to your mother, your real mother; she should be own her way soon.”
“Normally, that would have made things worse, but this time it actually is a good thing.” Thessa said. “I may not forgive you quite yet, but that is a step in the right direction.”
“Now, as for you.” Fia addressed Teoni, “She really is trying to help, I think. I was eavesdropping on her and she seems to be on your side.”
“I am, Teoni. Your sister is in danger and not by me.”
Teoni stared into Thessa’s eyes for a long moment, “I want to believe you and you seem sincere, but if you betray me once I have let my guard down, I will not stop until you are both dead, even if I have to wait for the tournament to do it.”
“Threats?” Fia said scathingly.
“I would do the same. I don’t care if it is a threat. As long as you let us go, I’ll take it.”
Teoni released all of Thessa's forces, and these commanded them to move toward the arena once more. She checked to see where Tanyth was and realized he had gained some ground on them while they were delayed.
“Damn, they have gained ground. We must hurry if we are going to defend Marlee.” Thessa said.
They pushed the blood feeders as hard as they could, but Sarren had been right, they were difficult to control. “We need to move faster.”
Fia motioned for them to stop.
“We don’t have time to stop.” Thessa said. Fia was insistent, so they came to a halt.
Fia rummaged around in a bag and then produced a wooden flute.
“Good idea, we can march faster with the tempo of the music.” Thessa said.
“No, this is a magical flute of speed stepping. Watch!” She winked and then began playing the flute and moving into a light jog. “Okay, command them to move. They have to be moving.”
Thessa make them move and as soon as they began walking they were in a jog behind Fia.
Thessa looked at Teoni and shrugged, “Let’s follow.”
After an exhausting third and a more exhausting fourth day, the arena was finally in sight. During the third night, Teoni decided to sleep elsewhere. Thessa knew it was because she was uncomfortable with two of her traditional enemies sleeping nearby that made her seek somewhere else to rest. Thessa would prove herself soon enough.
When they had gotten closer, Fia stood next to Thessa with the arena in sight, “I don’t really know what you are doing. I was bluffing, just trying to defuse the situation. You say you are keeping us all safe bu doing this? I hope you know what you’re doing, my friend. I fear you may have some consequences if you ever go near Ironhold or Talt again.” She surveyed the tall walls of the arena, “What would you have me do?”
“It’s time to end this. I am trying to save the arena and the Tourney Master. I am not sure why no one believes me.”
“Um, well, you are a big ‘ol bundle of death, you see.”
“That reminds me. Where is Sarren?”
Fia pointed behind a couple of the blood feeders, “She’s over there. Don’t worry. I have been watching that treacherous snake closely the whole time. Why you allow her to travel with you and stay with you and to give you advice, I will never know. She is always only thinking of herself.”
“Well, Cassany trust her more than I do. I don’t let her words get to me, mostly. Every once in a while I almost forget and start to trust her, but you must understand I never will trust her fully. If she did not need me to gain her freedom and human form again, I would probably already be dead. No, Fia, I trust you more than I trust her and you have betrayed me more than once already.”
“Hey, it was one time.”
Thessa just grinned and kept walking toward the arena.
“It seems quiet.” Fia observed.
“Thanks to you, we are here early. I would say Tanyth is still at least a half day away.” She pointed ahead to where Teoni was rushing to get to the arena. “She has time to go find her sister and warn her.” Thessa sighed, “Do you have anything in your magic repertoire to find Ephaltus or to bring him back her?”
“Sadly, no. I could probably find him, but bringing him where would take a long while unless he could use a portal here. We should ask Marlee how they get around. I know they can travel pretty fast around the six kingdoms.”
Thessa allowed the blood feeders to camp near the arena. She had to sacrifice a few of them in order to feed the others. It was a gruesome thing but she remember that’s how they would do it when she was a blood feeder and there was not a good source of blood nearby.
Teoni and Marlee met Fia and Thessa at the gate. Marlee addressed Thessa, “I wanted to thank you for the warning. I did see your message that night. I have not been able to contact Ephaltus. Something has happened to him.”
“Oh, I can find him.” Fia said. “How do you two get around the six kingdoms, anyway?”
Marlee brightened, “He can instantly portal back here. If you have some magic to get to him, he can return.”
Fia reached into her bag and pulled out a music box. “When you are all at a safe distance where you can’t hear the music in the box clearly, I will go to him.”
“Oh, thank you, Fia.” Marlee said. “I don’t think he had any clue something like this would happen when he left me here in charge.”
“All right, you
