“I’m Simon and this is—”
“Peaches,” Jean said, looking down at my hellhound, and risking a hand by patting him on the head softly. “I know, your bondmate, and most excellent hellhound.”
“You’re her aren’t you? The Auer?”
Jean smiled with a small nod.
“I’d say you’re acclimating to this world nicely,” Jean said. “Now, if you could only manage to pause for a few seconds before letting your words get you into a world of trouble, your life would be somewhat easier.”
“I think I’ve been doing okay, considering,” I said in my defense. “I wasn’t exactly eased into this world; more like shoved…violently.”
A small chuckle escaped Jean as she slowly shook her head.
“What do you think of that last question?” she asked. “Too personal?”
“Totally off-limits,” I said. “I thought this was a mage duel? He wasn’t expecting that at all. Monty is kind of touchy about the whole ‘Roxanne’ subject.”
“Indeed,” Jean said. “That is why Roma asked it; we need to know if he is still suffering the effects of the schism. He was always impetuous and quick to anger. He can’t afford that now. The stakes are so much higher.”
I looked back to the duel and saw Monty adequately handling Roma’s multiple attacks. I could tell she knew her way around a blade. Monty was parrying and avoiding her attacks, but he wasn’t exactly sailing through this duel.
“She’s good,” I said, concerned as a swarm of orbs pounded into Monty’s chest. “Scary good.”
“Yes, she is,” Jean said. “Fortunately, this isn’t a duel to the death. He allowed the last question to unsettle him and has lost a crucial advantage. If he’s not careful, she will end this soon.”
“Why, though?” I asked. “I mean the entire duel. Couldn’t he have just made an appointment to see you?”
“No,” Jean said, her tone serious. “To obtain a formal audience with the Auer, with me, requires knowledge, primarily of oneself. He needs to confront this aspect of himself, or the next time—and there will be a next time—someone close to him is in harm’s way, he will falter or act irrationally.”
“Monty doesn’t do irrational,” I said, focused on the duel. “Have you met him? He’s the closest thing to a Vulcan I’ve ever met.”
“Are you certain?” Jean asked. “He knew Haven was runed with security measures, many of which he had personally put in place, and yet he cast anyway.”
“Roxanne was in danger.”
“Afterward, in Kali’s domain, when you were in danger, the rational thing would have been to rely on his blades, yet he cast—again.”
“Those were special edition Rakshasas,” I countered. “They don’t play nice with others on a good day. Kali is all kinds of twisted with those things.”
I looked around, just in case. The last thing I needed was a visit from Kali.
Jean nodded.
“Later, when you were losing your fight to Evers—”
“Not losing,” I interrupted. “It was a strategic withdrawal. I was regrouping to catch my breath.”
“Of course,” Jean placated. “It wasn’t like she was wielding a god-killing blade designed to end your existence, nor had you suffered multiple wounds at her hand.”
“Fine, I was losing,” I said with a low growl. “Evers was trying to shred me.”
“And succeeding,” Jean said. “Yet, Tristan returned to help you, risking his life in the process.”
“Those were extenuating circumstances,” I said. “Evers wanted to end me, Monty, and magic. She wasn’t exactly firing on all pistons. She and Monty had a past during the war. Whatever had happened to her, left her angry, broken, and looking for vengeance.”
“While all that may be true, I just provided you with several instances of Tristan acting irrationally. The last thing he can afford to do is lose control.”
“A mage losing control is a bad thing,” I said as Monty slid back, and side stopped another barrage of Roma’s orbs. He slashed his hand in the air again and created another shield, deflecting Roma’s orbs. Instead of standing behind the shield, he stepped through it, catching Roma off-guard. “Whoa, that was unexpected.”
Roma stepped back, surprised at Monty’s move. He thrust forward with the Sorrows while unleashing a small barrage of five golden orbs. Jean raised her eyebrow and nodded.
“This will be over soon,” Jean said. “He created a golden star. Tristan has truly become formidable. Roma is in for a surprise. She is not facing the Golden Circle student from decades ago.”
Roma parried Monty’s thrust as the small orbs punched through her defenses. Each golden orb slammed into one of her limbs, the last one impacting her forehead, whipping her head back.
Roma recovered instantly, but it was too late. Monty gestured and beams of golden light connected the small orbs, forming a pentagon, freezing Roma in place, arms and legs apart, standing as if she was about to do a cartwheel.
“A golden star?” Roma asked, immobile as she looked down. “Well done, but you know the rules. The question must be answered, or the formal audience will be denied.”
Jean put a hand on my shoulder again.
“This is the real duel,” she said, keeping her voice low and her eyes on Monty. “Will he dare confront himself?”
I followed her gaze, wondering the same thing.
FIFTEEN
Monty stood still.
“The answer, Tristan,” Roma said still immobile. “Reply, or forfeit the audience.”
From his expression, I could tell he was upset. There were certain topics he avoided, and then there was the topic of Roxanne. Bringing that up was like running through a minefield, blindfolded, at night. You didn’t know how far you’d get before something was blasted off, but it was guaranteed.
“I’ve known Roxanne for many years,” Monty said. “She knows how I feel about her.”
“Does she?”
“Yes. I’ve risked my life for her, more than once.”
Roma smiled and gestured, disappearing the golden star. Monty raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed.
“That’s not the same as expressing it,” Roma replied, taking a few steps forward. “You were willing to risk bodily harm on the skywalk
