Has this damned boy learned nothing? He can't seem to stop himself, anytime he sees an opportunity, no matter how poorly it is planned.
"Sword," the boy said, trying to get my attention. "Did you hear what I said?"
"I heard," I replied. "You have a death wish, then?"
The boy frowned. "What? No. As soon as he is dead, we run."
Even though I was in a sheath, I could still sense. There were at least ten different Aether's I could feel above all the rest. The people that were using Thorne's tonic.
Maybe even more.
Some were right around Thorne, guarding him.
Others were more spread out, or even trying to blend in with the crowd.
One of them was in the line two spots ahead of us.
"If you so much as move an inch," I warned, "More than 10 armed soldiers will be on you within a moment. There is no escape here. Once again, you're playing yourself directly into Thorne's hands. He is expecting you. Why else would he be here, personally signing these people up?"
The boy frowned. "You're right."
I mentally breathed a sigh of relief. "So, can we go now? Please? We'll find another way."
The boy shook his head. "I still need to get stronger. The only way to do that is to fight. I won't die in these duels. I'll only get experience. It's for the best, Sword."
Thorne got to his own soldier and began by asking for his name and weapon, even though he knew fully well what the answers would be.
Every single thing Thorne was doing here was a lie.
That was about what I expected from him. But it seemed the boy still didn't understand what was happening.
If he signed up for this duel, he would be dead as soon as Thorne figured out who he was. Then I would fall into his hands. And who knew what would happen then.
The stakes were always high for the fate of humanity, especially when I fell into a bad guy's hands. It didn't happen often, but when it did, it changed the course of history.
And that would happen again if Thorne got ahold of me.
If anything, the boy and I should just run away now, get as far away from Pralis as possible, out of Thorne's reach.
Then the world would be safe from my wrath.
But my wielder had to make the decision. I had warned him. Now the boy would have to deal with whatever consequences came his way from this.
Finally, it was the boy's turn.
He kept his head low.
"Approach," Thorne said. "What is your name?"
The boy did as he was told, almost out of habit. He stepped forward and knelt to the ground in front of Thorne.
That sparked a tinge of jealousy in me. What made Thorne so powerful? So feared?
"My name is Wren Parlos," the boy said. His voice was different than normal. As if he had made it deeper in order to disguise it. "I wish to join your duel."
Thorne looked down at the boy, his eyes narrowing. "Why the mask?"
"I am part of a royal family. They disapprove of their child entering the duel. But I decided I had to. For the good of the city."
Throne flashed a bright smile. "Good. I'm glad that my words have reached you. Now, what weapon will you be using?"
The boy unsheathed me. "I found this in my basement. It was the sharpest of the bunch. I can't swing a sword well, but I know I must."
I could only watch as Thorne inspected my blade.
Obviously, he didn't recognize me. If he did, he didn't care. Sign here, Wren," Thorne said, handing the pen to the boy.
"Thanks, my lord. Tomorrow will be the start of a new era. I am sure of it."
One of the guards stepped forward and pushed the boy away.
His chance to kill Thorne was gone.
"Next!" I could hear Thorne saying behind us.
The boy sauntered off, sheathing me once more. "That went about as well as I could have hoped."
"Very true. There were thousands of ways that could have gone downhill. It looks like we played our hand right. For now. But first, we need to get you some more training or you'll lose to your first opponent."