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Mila

I am terrified.
Leona and I sit at the very first row, next to a group of rowdy young people, who have presumably come to watch the ' illborn' as they refer to Mara, decree the fate of the boy who almost killed her.
From how I know Mara, the boy's odds are not good.
I've seen her wield a length of pipe with deadly precision and no pause, and that was when she didn't hold a grudge.
I'm shivering to imagine what lies in store for the cook's son.
I look up at her.
She looks so different than when I first met her.
Her hair had been combed to a burnished auburn, and the rags she was wearing have been replaced by a long dress the color of the sky. Her skin is clean, not covered by the thick layer of dirt that it has been back at the city. Her throat and face are covered with blossoming bruises that stand out vividly against her skin.
She's staring down at me, and I think I see fear in her face, though it might be a mere trick of the light.
" begin the fight!" the Emperor screams, and I turn back just in time to see the warrior Auriel rush at the cook's son.
I weigh up the odds, and I don't think Auriel stands much of a chance.
He may be the darling of the crowd, but he doesn't have the same amount of power as the cook's son.
The cook's son stands roughly three and a half head taller than his opponent, and his build is solid.
I see the cook start to chant, and the cook's son seems empowered, settling down into a stance that looks more than slightly uncomfortable.
The warrior Auriel rushes the son, and the boy drops his knife in favor of swinging his fist directly into Auriel's ribcage.
The warrior goes flying, and I glance up at Mara.
She has a calculating look on her face, and I don't like what the look implies.
Auriel struggles to his feet, and I see that he is strongly favoring his left side.
The cook comes and sits beside us, and I feel very, very, very small next to her.
" do you think the lady will spare my boy?" she asks, fingers worrying an amulet around her neck.
Leona shrugs.
" I don't know the Lady that well, but I believe she has more common sense than to let someone who hurt her badly live." Leona's voice has daggers hidden within it, and I wonder why she's so upset.
The cook sobs quietly, and her shoulders slump.
The warrior Auriel grabs his odd weapon and staggers forward, but he's weak, and the boy knocks him aside with no trouble.
I hear the group of people sitting next to us start whispering, and I try to ignore them.
One- the ringleader- turns to me, lips curled into a sneer.
" what of you? Do you think that that illborn creature should hold a place of glory?"
I shrug, trying to focus on the fight.
The ringleader shoves me to the ground.
" I asked your opinion!"
Gwyn pipes up from behind us, and I nearly collapse from the shock.
" you asked, and she did not tell. So leave her alone."
The ringleader stands, and I hope he doesn't hurt Gwyn.
He stares at Gwyn for a few minutes, and it is like he becomes a different person.
" my apologies, I did not catch your name." he says, grabbing hold of her hand and showing a smile that would have been charming if his front teeth weren't so... colorful is the only way I can describe it.
Gwyn looks more than slightly disgusted.
" that is because I didn't tell you my name." she hisses, yanking her hand from the ringleader's and fleeing up the stairs to be beside Mara.
The ringleader tries to follow her, but he stops when the Emperor's voice echos over the stands.
" the Lady now chooses whether the boy shall live... or Die."
Mara appears again in the box frame, Gwyn obviously supporting her.
" As my first choice as daughter of my Lord Batravian... the boy will live."
The crowd starts screaming again, and when they quiet down, I hear clapping from one of the high boxes.
Lord Albus stands, his hands coming together heavily.
" Perhaps your daughter should be called Mara the Merciful!" he calls to Lord Ferox, and I brace for the worst.
The cook's boy is sweating heavily, the warrior Auriel skewered with his own strange weapon.
Lord Albus speaks again.
" I would give the merciful lady some companions to help her through the noble life. The life you will leave will be a harsh one, and you will require guides to see you through. Therefore, I will present you with the former gladiator, the small girl, and the silver one, as well as the boy who won this round in the arena."
Mara looks suspicious, and I can't blame her. This offer seems far too good to be true.
Leona and I are grabbed by the shoulders and hauled up to sit on the floor of the Emperor's box.
I am hit by a wave of nausea so strong that I feel bile rise in my throat when I smell the overpowering aroma of bubbling food and drink.
The Emperor looks smug, and I'm not sure why, but they give me the chills.
" the fight is over Lady Northdaughter."
Mara nods, her face unreadable.
" I am aware of this."
Lord Ferox rests a hand on Mara's shoulders, and offers the Emperor a smile.
" I must be headed home your Excellence. My daughter needs to meet her family after all."
Before I can think, Mara is swept away, and Leona, Gwyn and I are hurried after her.