There were ten fighting for the role of Dorian’s Second that day.
Lex was already standing outside Aydra’s door when she was ready. Aydra’s hair was braided back on one side, the gold of her crown sitting in the thickness of her curls. She’d picked an outfit the day before that she felt represented her own Second well— thigh-high lace-up black boots, a fitted sheath dress that hugged her curves and landed just above the boots on her thighs, leather braces and small belts wrapped around her waist, and a garter to hold up the thick cotton stockings above her boots. Her black leather belt hung low on her hips— her sword dangling against her exposed thigh. The matching cotton arm sleeves pulled from over her hands up to the inner of her biceps. She’d found a single shoulder pad, adorned with spikes. The long black cape billowed behind her when she walked.
“Well, well,” Lex said, brows raised as she pushed off the wall, “Didn’t realize you were competing as well,” she added with a wink.
Aydra forced a smirk to the surface from inside her depleting core. “Thought I would show my support for my favorite person, let the greenhorns know who they’re truly challenging today.” She reached out, stroking her finger on the pointed winged shoulder pads Lex adorned on her shoulders. “I do love these.”
Lex smiled at her. “As do I.”
Nyssa met them on the next hall, and Lex and Aydra both stopped in their tracks upon seeing her. She was wearing knee high boots with buckles, slim navy pants, a brown corset wrapped tight around her petite waist above her hips, creating a silhouette Aydra had rarely seen on her sister. The navy shirt she wore sat off her shoulders, dark brown fur along the trim, long snug sleeves wrapped with small brown belts around her arms. Her sword dangled on her hip as Aydra’s did. Her hair was pulled halfway up, tiny braids on either side of her head. Her thick sideways bangs swept over her left eye, and she was adjusting buckle on her arm when she saw them.
Nyssa’s cheeks reddened upon catching their eyes, and she shifted the weight on her feet. “It’s too much, isn’t it?” she asked shakily.
Aydra’s eyes traveled over her sister’s attire, feeling a smile rise on her face. “Did you pick this out or Dorian?” she asked.
Nyssa fumbled with her sleeve, avoiding Aydra’s gaze. “I did.”
Aydra stepped forward. “I love it.”
Nyssa’s honey orbs lit up, and her chest swelled with a great inhale. Aydra ran her hand through Nyssa’s hair, giving it a fluff over her shoulders and taming the strays that had fallen out of her braids. She reached for Nyssa’s black and gold tiara, straightening it in her thick cinnamon hair.
“Chin up, shoulders back,” Aydra told her. “Don’t let them see you fumble or blush. Everything you do is on purpose. If you trip, you meant to. If you stumble on words, you meant to. You are their next Queen. Make them remember it.”
Nyssa swallowed hard and gave her a deliberate nod. “Right,” she managed.
“Just channel your inner Aydra,” Lex said with a wink as she came to stand beside them.
Aydra’s brows narrowed back at her. “What does that mean?”
Lex smirked down at Nyssa, and Nyssa grinned a grin Aydra hardly recognized.
Aydra’s eyes darted between them. “I leave you two alone for ten days and suddenly you’ve inside jokes,” she mocked.
Lex chuckled under her breath. “Come on. You’ll both make me late for my fight.”
The stadium was high on the cliff east of their castle. The road around the castle walls was steep. Dreamers and Belwarks both made the trek up the path and filled the great seats. Aydra and Nyssa entered the stadium to their platform. The crowd gave a great cheer upon their entering. A few of the Village Nobles had made the journey, each giving bows and widened eyes upon seeing the pair reach where they would stand. Shortly behind them approached Rhaif and Dorian. A wide smile was spread on Dorian’s face as he waved at the jeering people, as the day was for him, after all.
Aydra swore he was getting taller by the day.
She turned her attention to Lex standing at her side, watching her Second as she examined her sword in the bright glint of sunlight coming down on them.
“Are you sure about this?” Aydra asked her.
Lex whirled her sword in her hand, staring out at the coliseum. “Looks like a good day to slit kneecaps, don’t you think?” she answered with a coy brow.
A deep breath entered Aydra’s lungs, and she nodded. “Yes it does.” She gave her Second a deliberate once over, allowing a smile to rise on her lips. “Show them the ferocity they’ll need to be worthy of the Second Sun position.”
Lex winked at Aydra one last time before turning on her heel and going back down the steps towards the tunnel entrance.
The words Rhaif spoke as he announced the trials, Aydra barely heard. Her raven landed on her shoulder, Nyssa’s eagle on the banister. The crowd cheered upon his announcing Lex as the champion volunteer. Her reputation preceded her, and Aydra’s chest swelled with pride.
Dorian’s figure came to stand beside she and Nyssa, and Dorian pressed a goblet of wine into her hands. Aydra glanced sideways at him. She noticed how calm he seemed, the cool of his white blue gaze staring at the rumble of people around them, smile spread over his growing features.
“For someone who’s Second is being chosen, you certainly are calm,” Aydra muttered to Dorian.
“It’s Corbin,” Dorian muttered as he pressed the goblet
