vampire’s eyes on her, Kaderin hopped up, the only one in the Lore who would dare such a thing. She plucked a scroll from a pile of them and unrolled it. Every competitor would get the same list of tasks—and each list included the talismans or sought objects, the coordinates for finding them, and a brief description. As usual, there were about ten choices of tasks in any given round.
Once Riora was finished with her spate of PR, she said, “And how are your parents, Kaderin the Cold?”
Kaderin knew Riora was inquiring about two of her three parents. Kaderin’s birth mother had been mortal. “They sleep still, Goddess,” she said absently, reading. Gods derived power from how many prayers and offerings they received with each passing of the sun, hence Riora’s Internet attempt to garner more. But there were so few who worshipped Freya and Wóden that the two slept to conserve their energy. “Interesting talismans this Hie,” Kaderin observed.
In the past, Kaderin had always gone after the closest talismans first. Now, with more than one real contender, she would devise new strategies, shake them all up. She would go for the far-flung points and the more difficult tasks at the outset.
“I thought so,” Riora said. “Pity I’ll only get about half on that list. You know, because of all the accidental deaths.”
Kaderin nodded in sympathy. Then her gaze landed on the option for the highest points offered in this interval: twelve points to retrieve one of three mirror amulets. The most she’d ever gone for was a prize worth fifteen points. This task wouldn’t be so much about life-threatening peril but more about logistics. Whoever could arrange to get there first—won.
Though the destination fell outside the Accord’s network, Kaderin had other resources, and for the first time in a Hie, she was going to ask her coven for help. Just please don’t let Regin answer when I call…
Kaderin heard helicopters outside, engines humming louder as their bows dipped to surge forward. Strike hard, strike fast. Yes, that one. She rolled the parchment up and dropped down.
Before she could leave, Riora asked, “You disapprove of my vampire knight?”
Kaderin faced her. “I’m well aware that you couldn’t care less about my approval. Or my extreme and absolute lack thereof.”
Why was Riora studying her so closely? Kaderin flushed under her scrutiny. Riora had always seemed to take an unaccountable interest in Kaderin, but this was intense.
“You seem different.”
’Cause I can freaking feel! “New haircut,” Kaderin mumbled instead. Could Riora sense her new emotions—most particularly, her shame over her attraction to the vampire? Her gaze darted to Sebastian.
“So, the interest flows both ways, Lady Kaderin? How inconvenient.”
“Pardon?”
Riora tilted her head and perused him. He leaned against a wall, staring at Kaderin with his arms crossed over his muscular chest above his injuries. “Of course, if one were to be interested in a vampire, that one you could almost justify.”
“Riora, I never said I—”
“I’m merely saying it appears as if some gods blessed my knight in form.”
Kaderin felt her expression tighten. “Did they bless your knight with a raging appetite for blood?” she snapped, shocking even herself.
“Watch your tone, Valkyrie.” The flames hissed and swayed. “This isn’t a coffee klatch.” Behind them, Scribe leapt back, swatting when his sleeve caught fire.
Kaderin ground her teeth, then said, “Yes, Riora.”
She sighed. “Go.” Her tone gentled. “If you win the race, you can bring back your sisters.”
Kaderin’s eyes narrowed. “You know about them? I’ve never told you of my loss.”
“I already knew of you when they were killed.”
“If you understand how important this is, then would the incandescent Riora like to bestow some tips on the race?”
Riora gasped, playful once more. “You treat me as if I’m a one-nine-hundred chess
Once Riora was finished with her spate of PR, she said, “And how are your parents, Kaderin the Cold?”
Kaderin knew Riora was inquiring about two of her three parents. Kaderin’s birth mother had been mortal. “They sleep still, Goddess,” she said absently, reading. Gods derived power from how many prayers and offerings they received with each passing of the sun, hence Riora’s Internet attempt to garner more. But there were so few who worshipped Freya and Wóden that the two slept to conserve their energy. “Interesting talismans this Hie,” Kaderin observed.
In the past, Kaderin had always gone after the closest talismans first. Now, with more than one real contender, she would devise new strategies, shake them all up. She would go for the far-flung points and the more difficult tasks at the outset.
“I thought so,” Riora said. “Pity I’ll only get about half on that list. You know, because of all the accidental deaths.”
Kaderin nodded in sympathy. Then her gaze landed on the option for the highest points offered in this interval: twelve points to retrieve one of three mirror amulets. The most she’d ever gone for was a prize worth fifteen points. This task wouldn’t be so much about life-threatening peril but more about logistics. Whoever could arrange to get there first—won.
Though the destination fell outside the Accord’s network, Kaderin had other resources, and for the first time in a Hie, she was going to ask her coven for help. Just please don’t let Regin answer when I call…
Kaderin heard helicopters outside, engines humming louder as their bows dipped to surge forward. Strike hard, strike fast. Yes, that one. She rolled the parchment up and dropped down.
Before she could leave, Riora asked, “You disapprove of my vampire knight?”
Kaderin faced her. “I’m well aware that you couldn’t care less about my approval. Or my extreme and absolute lack thereof.”
Why was Riora studying her so closely? Kaderin flushed under her scrutiny. Riora had always seemed to take an unaccountable interest in Kaderin, but this was intense.
“You seem different.”
’Cause I can freaking feel! “New haircut,” Kaderin mumbled instead. Could Riora sense her new emotions—most particularly, her shame over her attraction to the vampire? Her gaze darted to Sebastian.
“So, the interest flows both ways, Lady Kaderin? How inconvenient.”
“Pardon?”
Riora tilted her head and perused him. He leaned against a wall, staring at Kaderin with his arms crossed over his muscular chest above his injuries. “Of course, if one were to be interested in a vampire, that one you could almost justify.”
“Riora, I never said I—”
“I’m merely saying it appears as if some gods blessed my knight in form.”
Kaderin felt her expression tighten. “Did they bless your knight with a raging appetite for blood?” she snapped, shocking even herself.
“Watch your tone, Valkyrie.” The flames hissed and swayed. “This isn’t a coffee klatch.” Behind them, Scribe leapt back, swatting when his sleeve caught fire.
Kaderin ground her teeth, then said, “Yes, Riora.”
She sighed. “Go.” Her tone gentled. “If you win the race, you can bring back your sisters.”
Kaderin’s eyes narrowed. “You know about them? I’ve never told you of my loss.”
“I already knew of you when they were killed.”
“If you understand how important this is, then would the incandescent Riora like to bestow some tips on the race?”
Riora gasped, playful once more. “You treat me as if I’m a one-nine-hundred chess
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