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NINA LET OUT A STRANGLED GASP, and that is how Lianna knew the convict who entered the arena was the very person they came for. Never before had she witnessed the Heartrender's face wear a look of such defeat. It was as if Nina saw her entire world collapse and swallow itself, leaving nothing behind when the boy emerged from the black hole-like tunnel. Kaz affirmed them the boy was there by his own desire – the way his eyes resembled two lighting bolts, striking hatred-driven electricity towards the roaring crowd led Lianna to believe otherwise.
The boy was high in stature and muscular – his bare, broad shoulders towering over the man dressed in the lion cape, tiny in comparison – like a sheep standing a stone's throw from a lion, but his skin was paler than bleached wood and hair shaved unevenly. He simultaneously seemed to dread every second spent in the arena ready to fight no matter what the enemy ended up being, beaming with fury but calmed by his gods. It was possible sometime ago, a lifetime away, in his past inarnation he was trained; as a soldier, a heathen barbarian, a warrior.
"Nina," Lianna found herself asking. "Is he a..."
"Drüskelle." Nina answered, eyes glued to the arena. "His name was Matthias."
Was, she said. As if she couldn't recognize the boy looking up from below. How could she ever had known a drüskelle, Lianna questioned more than why she did so no longer. His people devoted their lives to hunting and killing Grisha, those like them both – innocents, children or criminals, Fjerdans considered an abomination.
Kaz had called him Helvar before, she remembered, that must be his surname. Helvar. Matthias Helvar, the Grisha slayer.
He glared at the crowd and gave the wheel a hard spin that nearly made the construction fall over, onto the blood-soaked sand. The wheel ticked along until lastly it came to a stop.
"No," Nina protested.
Wolves. Fjerda's sacred animals. Drüskelles' most loyal companions. Killing them was severely punished; killing Grisha, encouraged.
This is what you deserve, Matthias Helvar. If there is any justice left in this world, now is its manifestation.
"It could be worse," said Muzzen. "Could have landed on the desert lizard again."
"You have to stop this," Nina begged, grabbing Kaz's arm.
"Let go of me, Nina."
"Please, you don't understand. He—"
"If he survives, I'll take Matthias Helvar out of this place tonight, but this part is up to him."
Nina gave a frustrated shake of her head. "You don't get it."
Even back in their days in the Little Palace, Nina had always adored learning about various cultures – the languages, the legends, the religions, the rulers. But Fjerda had been her special interest, moreso. Not because she admired the people. Because she wished to be the one who would defeat them.
