Chapter One-Hundred-and-Eighty-Five

Adam landed on the hard glassy floor of the challenge arena. Crimson glass spread out below him and up the stands, where many of his patron’s adherents watched in anticipation. Since his target also worshipped the Flayed Lady, the theme went all the way across the arena, though there was still a seam down the middle, denoting which side belonged to which player.

He was about to fire off all five fingers of his right gauntlet when Iona lifted her arms in surrender.

I don’t think either of us gets to leave before the other is dead, and there’s no way I’ll spare her.

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