Belvedor and the Four Corners (Belvedor Saga Book 1) by Ashleigh Bello Page B

some trainers encouraged their apprentices to initiate a Warrior’s Challenge for the sake of practice. Some trainers, yes… but not hers. 
    Arianna melted in with the crowd. Everyone wrapped their cloaks around them as the night grew cooler. Rain drizzled overhead, and she saw Grinda waiting, radiating strength, in the center. She looked more hostile than ever as she leaned her weight against a tall double-bladed axe, her weapon.
    Grinda chose a very similar outfit to Arianna’s, save for her shirt of the same blood red as their cloaks, and her boots tied all the way to her knees. She shed her robes, her hair skimming the collar of her shirt as she cracked her neck. Lanterns flickered everywhere within the crowd to light the way of the battle, and the lightening in the sky gave way for an eerie effect over the sea of buzzing red figures itching for blood.
    Arianna’s heart leapt as a booming voice quieted the crowd. “Slave number twenty-two, make your way to the center if you’re among us,” said the cool voice of General Ivo from the comfort of a throne-like chair.
    Arianna choked on her voice. Beads of sweat dripped down her face under the warmth of her fur, and her eyes fixed open, unable to blink.
    “Slave twenty-two, the time is now if you wish to preserve your honor,” he continued in a bored voice.
    Her feet froze to the ground in the soggy snow, and her limbs numbed from the cold. “Arianna Belvedor!” He stood up from his chair, his roar tearing through the dead silence, the sound jolting her body awake. She lifted the hood from her face and stepped forward into the center.
    “I’m here, General.” She bowed low, and the crowd roared.
     

 
    CHAPTER SIX

THE STORM
     
    “Why thank you for gracing us with your presence.” General Ivo returned to his chair. “You may begin at your leisure,” he said with a flick of his hand.
    She felt the burn of hundreds of eyes on her back.
    “Ready when you are.” Grinda changed her stance, her axe now summoning Arianna to make the first move.
    Arianna turned away from all of the shouting faces, trying to regain some clarity on her unfortunate situation. Mantras of Risso and Belvedor echoed throughout the crowd, the voices bleeding together in a haze. She slowly removed her cloak and let the cloth slip from her fingers. Before it could touch the ground, a hand reached out and caught it.
    “Don’t want this gettin’ all wet, now do we? I think it might rain later, ya know.” She turned to find Noah with a feeble grin on his face.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier,” she said, looking at her feet. “I felt so stupid.”
    “It's okay. Don’t worry about it, Ara. Just take care of yourself out there.” His tone turned serious which just made her feel worse. Noah never really acted seriously about anything. 
    “I’ll be fine,” she said. “Remember what you told me? If the sun is shining in the Four Corners, then it must be a good day!” She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, forcing a smile. “I can take her.”
    She looked past Noah and found Liam gazing down at her with worried eyes. Her heart melted as fear spread across his ashen face. She should’ve confided in him.
    Liam always kept her hopes high, and when she found herself in trouble, as she quite often did, he had always protected her… looked after her. Sometimes, like now, she found those three simple words of affection on the tip of her tongue, threatening their friendship.
    She remembered them from a fairytale, but the feelings scared her. In fact, she couldn’t even decide if her feelings were real or just a reaction of the onset nerves. Regardless, she didn’t want to lose him out of weakness. No way would she risk that. Besides, she knew not to believe in fairytales, so she buried her words in her heart.
    “I can win this,” she said as she took his hands in hers. The firmed, calloused skin felt rough on her fingers. He shook his hands free and instead cupped