Crafters of Bone

Creator of Bones - Chapter Three Draft #1

Enjoy the awkwardness of the unedited, unrevised chapter three. ~

Chapter Three

 Nearly all composure she had mustered was lost, her knees threatening to crumble beneath her with her entire body going frigid with tension as she fought against her it's overwhelming desire to fall apart.

Freedom . . .

A word simple enough yet as it danced through her mind it seemed so foreign, so incredibly unfamiliar and hopelessly unobtainable. It took all the strength she was able to conjure to keep the rays of shimmering light and glowing assurance that so desperately wanted to sprawl out through her mind at bay. She refused to allow the resurrection of the hope that such a luxury could still be available to her of all people to transpire.

Silence fell over the room once more as she opened and closed her mouth a few times, searching for the words she so desperately felt needed to be uttered. "You . . . You would grant me freedom," is what finally left her lips in a strained, meek voice before becoming tensed with disbelief. "As in, release me from my chains and set me free upon the world once more?"

"Of course not," Lord Calvin exclaimed, his dark eyes narrowed venomously towards her as if to punish her with his gaze for believing such an outrageous notion. "Surely his Exalted Highness does not mean such a radical su-"

"On the contrary," the prince interrupted, his tone light and musical despite the harsh gaze he cast upon the Lord. "I mean it in every sense of the word. In exchange for her skills and success in her tasks. Auden Velius will be granted a full ardo for her crimes and given freedom in every form it can be held by a citizen of Thaeles."

Hesitation came before Auden dared to ask in a strained neutral tone, "And these tasks would consist of fi-"

"Competing in the Tournament of Redemption, yes," the prince stated proudly. "And winning, of course, would be a large part of the agreement. You simple need to dominate your fellow competitors."

She raised her brow to his phrasing. "Dominate?"

"I won't sugar coat it, Bhaespir," he uttered with a sigh. "The Tournament is a bloody one. You would be fighting against some of the strongest fighters in all of Rava and quite a few will need to have their throats cut for you to succeed in these challenges. Though I hear this is your area of expertise."

A twinge of annoyance sparked through her at his declaration of her reputation. "You expect me to believe that you intend to release me from my life of confinement within these walls in service to your country in order to continue the criminal work that lead me to this place to begin with," her voice weighed heavily of self defense as doubt and mistrust seeded their way into her mind and she found her body subconsciously shifting into subtle a protective stance as if she would be able to defend herself against the tempestuous sea of elite guards.

"Watch your tongue, Velius," Calvin hissed, his tone was engulfed by sharp ice and the evident struggle he held within himself against his apparent desire to flog her on the spot; his raging glare piercing into the side of her head which took all her strength to ignore.

Was this preposterous arrangement part of an elaborate conspiracy to finally bring an end to her? It seemed like an excessive and ridiculous notion that they would go through all the effort to involve a Prince of Thaeles but it was far more believable than what he was suggesting.

"As absurd as this offer may sound," the prince mused with a steady neutral gaze upon her as if he was reading her mind. "I can assure you this is no stratagem. My proposal is most definitely a genuine one. In exchange for winning the Tournament for me, you shall be granted your undeniable freedom. Though I would like to think of it as simply a second chance at life."