Hidden Before Their Eyes

Chapter 29: The Show Must Go On

"That is insanity!" I exclaim as Codra finishes explaining her idea. "There is no way you are going to be able to pull that off!"

"Yes I can, just you wait," she smirks.

"And if it fails," I inquire.

"Then you do it, except meeting him after the fight," she says confidently.

She seems to have completely figured this out. My mind races as her plan clicks in my mind. How she plans on pulling off the part of rigging the battle I have not the foggiest clue, but the idea in of itself is not only intriguing it is also a bit genius. A splash of pizzazz and a bang and this might just be the absolutely most ridiculously over the top way for myself to return to being Esklan, betrothed to the heir. Although I have some tweaks in mind that might help tone it down a little.

"We can get the materials over the course of the week, I will buy the stuff that might give you away as to disguise our movements," Codra comments.

"Sounds like a plan. But for now, when can I leave the medical wing?" I inquire.

"Well now I suppose. It has been over thirty minutes and you show no symptoms of something having gone wrong," Codra answers.

We both leave the room and head our own ways. As long as this week goes without a hitch the plan is home free for Codra to rig the system for me. I take a few deep breaths, clearing my mind. Time to go act like nothing has changed.

When I meet up with Lily and Ealric they both look slightly injured and exhausted by their battles. They had been scheduled for a half hour after my own battle so I had to wait a little while outside of the arena for them to come back out.

"I beat her good!" Ealric exclaims happily.

"I didn't go down without a fight though," Lily says assuredly.

"Oh, you two fought?" I muse.

They both nod and we head out to town. Ealric and Lily are pumped to walk around town since they have yet to have been to the festival, and both have not left the Academy since last year's. As we walk around the town is buzzing around the festival square but relatively quiet elsewhere. We duck into some of the shops around town and Lily oozes over a dress in a shops window, while Ealric and I roll our eyes.

Soon enough the midday meal comes around and we had back within the Academy. During the meal I have two sizable portions and Ealric and Lily do not even notice, having long since gotten used to my eating habits. After the meal Ealric and Lily head to the training arena for our level and I am left to my own devices.

Deciding it may prove useful, or atleast provide entertainment, I head to the arena to watch some of the ongoing battles. When I get there I keep to the back, where it is mostly empty. The distance is a bit hard on the eyes but I am watching more for sport than actually information gathering.

I barely notice the women and two men that sit beside me, that is until she speaks to me. "Hello again," Queen Lilinlyss says.

"My queen, hello," I respond politely, turning slightly to face her.

"Drop the formality for now, it is best to hold a conversation looking into ones eyes after all," she says sweetly. Almost too sweetly.

I carefully look up and see her piercing green eyes digging into my soul. She clearly has not forgiven nor forgotten yesterday in the slightest. I smile lightly and hope my suspicion is not clear as day upon my face.

"So, how do you know my Dracix?" She asks softly, but an edge of irritation slips through her collected exterior.

"We met when I was sent on a quest with him and three others," I lie. After all that is not even the first time I saw him here at the Academy.