The Dragon Games

The Lie

The sun rose over the mountains, painting the sky with crimson streaks. As I sat in the grass, staring into the horizon, Grace's shadow fell over me, blocking out the light. There was no hesitation in her eyes this time. Over night, she had come to terms with what she must do to secure the wyvern.

"Your blood has lightened again," she said.

I stared up at Grace, my face hidden in shadow. Behind my back, my grip tightened on my makeshift shank. At this point, I had nothing left to lose, no more incentives for good behavior. If Grace wanted to strike me, I would not make it easy for her. I would not be the only one shedding blood this morning.

"The other pledges drive me mad, you know," she said, dropping her voice to a murmur. "They are all here for the wrong reasons. Riches, fame, glory, it's all so crass. Meeting you, someone who puts the good of their family first – even a family as crooked and honorless as the raiders – was a breath of fresh air. It's a shame my success can only come at your downfall. I would have liked us to be friends." 

She paused, regarding me. "So, out of respect for you, even if it makes them uncomfortable, I will order someone other than Tobias–"

"I don't care who it is."

"Are you sure? Yesterday, he seemed to have an unusual ... interest ... in you."

"I don't care."

"Well, as you wish." Grace turned to the camp site. "It's time!"

Tobias slowly rose to his feet, his dark eyes pinned on mine. He would finally even the score after I bested him – and then some. But before he reached me, another volunteer stepped in front of his path. Elio. I narrowed my eyes, adjusting my grip on the shank. I didn't plan on attacking him today, but I'd gladly take the opportunity.

"Hold on," Elio told Grace. "If you beat her in such a fragile state, you run the risk of accidentally killing her."

I stopped short. What, was my death no longer sufficent? He wanted to prolong the event, make sure he broke my spirit, too?

"Well I must do something," Grace said.

"Of course," Elio replied. "But there are better ways to slow her healing without risking her life. Make her hike with a bag full of rocks and don't let her sit down during breaks. Then her energy will go to the hike instead of healing her blood."

"What if that doesn't work?" Grace said.

"It will; I am sure of it."

"And if you're not," Tobias cut in. "Will you take the punishment with her?"

Elio hesitated, but only for a beat. Then he shrugged like it was nothing. "Fine."

I was gaping at Elio now, wondering what the hell kind of game he was playing.

"Tobias," Grace said.

Tobias perked up, his hands curling into fists.

"Go fetch some rocks."

The following hike was exhausting, but it was a small price to pay considering the fate I had avoided. As I hiked, I kept turning Elio's actions over in my head, trying to look at them from an angle that made sense, and coming up dry each time. Finally, I gave up trying to understand and approached him.

Elio spoke before I could. "I was repaying a debt. Don't expect any more favors."

"What debt?"

"The Sword Brethren. I knew they had ways of making prisoners talk, but I never imagined..." He carried off, his eyes drifting toward my back before tearing them away.

I paused. When I had pulled myself out of the river and told Elio it was his fault, he must have assumed I was referring to getting the scars, not having them exposed. "You think the Sword Brethren gave me these scars?"

"Didn't they?"

"Psh," I scoffed without thinking. "As if."

Just like that, all the sympathy on Elio's face dried up, like an apple left to rot under the burning summer sun, and I realized what a stupid thing I had just done. My life flashed before my eyes, followed by Bianca's face. She wouldn't give me the time of day; at least, not until she walked in on me changing...

"It wasn't your father," I burst out. Then the darkest, foulest lie I have ever said – will ever say – left my mouth. "It was Sammy."

It was Elio's turn to stop short. "Sammy," he repeated dryly. "As in, Samuel Crenshaw, captain of the raiders? Your most beloved master did this to you?"

"Ay," I said. 

Elio was thoroughly convinced that Sammy had murdered his brother. Nothing I said would sway him to the truth, so what harm was feeding him a lie? If I made Elio believe I hated Sammy – that Sammy was responsible for my scars instead of Drax – Elio would stop thinking of me as the enemy, and his feelings toward Sammy would remain unchanged. 

It's not like he could hate Sammy any more. The only person that had anything to lose from this lie ... was the one person I did not care to protect.

"You swore on your life that Crenshaw doesn't harm women or children," Elio said.

"Ay."

"Raven. You're both."

"And I stand by that statement. Sammy wasn't torturing me. He was teaching me a lesson. I, uh, deserved punishment for my disobedience."

Elio's eyes narrowed. "Do you remember when we had to decorate our jackets to pay tribute to the family member we love most? Because I do. I remember that you didn't flinch when your parents were called deadbeats and drunks, then decorated a small shrine to Crenshaw. You worship the ground he walks on, yet you claim he did that to your back?"

"Well, it's called 'tough love' for a reason, Elio. He can hardly be expected to hold my hand through every little thing."

Elio stared at me for a long moment. "How stupid are you?"