Page 191 of Savage Throne
The cliffs gleamed like the bones of some ancient beast.
The drop was steep, the jagged cliffs rushing up to meet me, but in a whirl of plummeting motion, I whipped my sword through the air, twisting and turning my body in free fall, bouncing from ledge to ledge whenever I could.
I was a tumbling arrow, shot from the bow of vengeance.
The sensation was dizzying.
My muscles burned with effort.
My heart pounded in my ears.
A jagged outcrop loomed ahead.
With a twist of my wrist, I angledSoaring Preciousoutward, bracing for impact.
The blade struck the rock with a shower of sparks and I used the momentum to swing myself around the outcrop and onto a narrow ledge just below.
The landing was rougher than I intended.
Rocks skittered underfoot.
But there wasn't time to catch my breath.
My father was somewhere below, probably already waiting in the Arena of Echoes.
Come on. Don’t let him get down there to rest.
I launched myself off the ledge again. This time it was less a leap and more a controlled fall aided by Soaring Precious.
The sword’s razor-sharp edge bit into stone and ice alike as I descended in a whirlwind of motion.
At last, I spotted the Arena of Echoes far off.
The sparring ring was a masterpiece of shimmering blue stones where many Four Aces believed those stones granted unmatched strength and wisdom during combat.
Tonight, surrounding the arena, fire torches glimmered, placing dancing shadows against the already gathering crowd.
Beside the ring, a breathtaking waterfall cascaded. Its clear waters were rumored to possess healing properties. Fighters often submerged their injuries in its depths, trusting it to quicken their recovery.
Guarding the Arena of Echoes, imposing stone statues of mythical creatures stood watch. A dragon with emerald eyes coiled around one corner, while a phoenix with ruby eyes spread its carved wings. Nearby, a tiger crouched, staring at a graceful crane.
So close.
With a final spin mid-air, I angled myself towards the arena entrance and seconds later landed hard.
The ground beneath me trembled with the impact.
My knees buckled, but I managed to regain my footing.
The crowd roared in response, ready to see a fight.
I straightened.
There my father stood in the center of the Arena of Echoes.
But that wasn’t the problem.
What is that?
