Page 30 (1/2)
PROLOGUE
Fifteen hundred years ago…
Or
A o…
(Just depends on who you ask)
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, the bi-century Harpy Games ended with le one of the survivors knew fourteen-year-old Kaia Skyhaas to blame
The day began innocently enough With the h the overcrowded camp hand in hand with her beloved twin sister, Bianka Tents of every size littered the area, andchill The scents of filched biscuits and honey coated the air,her mouth water
Forever cursed by the gods, Harpies could only eat what they stole or earned If they ate anything else, they sickened horribly So Kaia’s breakfast had been a on of water, both of which she’d pilfered from a human’s saddle
Maybe she’d appropriate a biscuit from a member of a rival clan, she mused, then shook her head No, she’d just have to rery Her kind didn’t live by many rules, but the ones they had, they revered Such as: never fall asleep where humans could find you, never reveal a weakness to anyone and, le morsel of food from one of your own race, even if you hated her
“Kaia?” her sister said, her tone curious
“Yes?”
“Airl here?”
“Of course” Kaia didn’t even have to look around to confirirl in the entire world Soh, and had to be reminded
While Kaia had a disgusting old eyes, Bianka had luxurious black hair, shie of their exalted mother, Tabitha the Vicious
“Thank you,” Bianka said, grinning with satisfaction “And I think you’re the strongest By far”
Kaia never tired of hearing her sister’s praise The more powerful a Harpy was, the , Kaia craved respect “Stronger, even, than…” She studied the Harpies in the area, searching for someone to compare herself to
Those ere old enough to participate in the traditional tests offor the one re Swords whistled as they were tugged froers were sharpened
Finally, Kaia spotted a contender for her co to a brute of a wo scars adorning her arms
The injuries that had left those scars must have been severe indeed; immortality caused their race to heal quickly and efficiently, rarely allowing any evidence of hard living to show
“No question,” Bianka said loyally “I bet she’d run and hide if you decided to challenge her”
“No doubt you’re right” Actually, ouldn’t run from her? Kaia trained harder than anyone and had even felled her own instructor Twice
She didn’t want to boast, but she’d always trained harder than any other Harpy in their clan When everyone else stopped for the day, she continued until sweat ran down her chest in rivulets, until her er support her weight
One day, perhaps even one day soon, her o, Tabitha had slapped her on the shoulder and said her dagger throwing skills had almost improved Almost improved No sweeter praise had ever left Tabitha’s mouth
“Co at her “If we don’t hurry, on’t have time to wash in the river, and I really want to look ain”
Just thinking of the prizes her mother would collect caused Kaia’s small body to puff up with pride
The Harpy Gao as a way for clans to “discuss” their grievances without causing a ell, without causing anyallied clans to showcase their superiority, even against each other Elders froreed on the competitions and awards
This time around, each winner of the four battles earned one hundred gold pieces The Skyhawks had already earned two hundred of those pieces The Eagleshields had won one
“Out of your head…that’s a good girl,” Bianka said as she quickened her steps, forcing Kaia to quicken hers in turn “You daydream too much”
“Do not”
“Do, too”
“Not!”
A sigh from her sister, an admission of defeat
Kaia grinned The two of them drew a bit of notice from nearby Harpies, and shefroifted her with hers a few th almost as much as she treasured her twin
Most everyone who ed to a rival clan Those who didn’t…no Harpy would dare attack another while on neutral ground, so Kaia didn’t worry about possible conflict Actually, she wouldn’t have worried anyway She was as brave as she was strong
At the very edge of cae and halted “Those roup of bare-chested males Some roamed freely, a feere tied to posts and one was chained To her knowledge, a over there?”