Olive’s sword slammed down on Vale’s. A keen wail tore free from the weapon as if it were screaming in fury — though she only knew by the violent vibrations that tore down her arms. She skipped a step back to avoid Vale’s counterattack. Her senses buzzed a warning in the back of her head and Olive threw herself into a roll, coming up to see she’d narrowly avoided getting grabbed by Rime. Her hearing was still completely shot. The only thing that reached her ears now was an angry, shrill whine. Every one of her other senses was working in overtime to keep her alive — but she was dancing on the edge of the knife. The fight hadn’t been going for all that long, all things considered, but Olive couldn’t spare the attention to determine exactly how long it had been. She didn’t have the liberty to think about anything other than the fight. Every single scrap of her attention was completely focused on Vale and Rime — on all the moving pieces that went into fulfilling her role. She couldn’t press any advantage too hard without risking leaving Maeve open, but she couldn’t play too hard on the backfoot or one of the two Blackguard would break away and target someone else. Any thoughts of proving that she was the superior swordsman in skill alone were long since in the dust. They hadn’t even entered her mind during the tournament. Olive’s foot scuffed against the ground as she kicked up a cloud of dust and rubble, sending it spraying into Vale’s face as she spun to dodge away from Rime. She sprung to the side, driving the pommel of her blade into the armor covering Vale’s groin with all the force she could muster. Her efforts were rewarded with a loud, ringing clang and a slew of curses. Vale definitely hadn’t been seriously injured, but nobody liked getting their jewels rung like a church bell. It was dirty fighting. Not something that any honorable swordsman or woman would ever lower themselves to. She drew on every single trick that Reya had ever taught her, spitting and clawing her way through the fight with every scrap of resolve she had. She’d loved to have asked what Vale was talking about, but it was clear he was about to bring his impossibly fast sword straight down on her head. The time for talking was just about over. “This is completely unfair,” Olive said, her teeth clenching. “I know. I am sorry.” “I wasn’t talking about you.” Olive clenched her fists. Then she dropped her sword. It clanged against the stone ground, ringing like a chime. The noise echoed through the arena. Elias spun. He launched himself away from the Blackguard, sprinting to make space as the pieces of armor covering his body started to hum. Maeve’s equipment did the same. Strands of undulating blue energy snapped to life between all three of them — and then, one by one, they snapped. Vale tilted his head to the side. “Some form of ability meant to boost your equipment’s strength at the cost of theirs? It seems to have failed.” “It wasn’t a boost,” Olive said, gritting her teeth as power drove into her chest like a hammer strike. Her teeth chattered as her jaw clacked together and power raced through her body. Lines of brilliant golden orange raced along the surface of her armor as it activated for the first time since its creation. “It was a seal.” What felt like hot magma pumped through Olive’s veins. Her armor heated, the power running through it continuing to intensify until it was only a half-step away from unbearable. A presence prickled against the back of her mind, both foreign and familiar at the same time. Her cursed arm trembled in delight, and she felt its connection to her intensify. This was what the arm had been waiting for. Vale’s sword blurred through the air — and it slammed to a halt against Olive’s palm. Her wooden arm had moved of its own volition. Give me the reins, Olive. A voice curled through Olive’s mind like wisps of smoke. And even though she’d never heard it before, she knew exactly who it belonged to. Arwin said that not even he knew the full extent of what this suit of armor would do when the seal keeping it down was released, but he did give me two warnings about it. She grit her teeth as the arm’s presence drove into her thoughts — and she felt the armor respond, reinforcing her mind. No. You obey me. Not other way around. I will make you the best swordswoman to ever live. You’ve seen how powerful we can become, but we have to work together. You fight against our nature. You are mine. This is not a partnership. Not yet — and I don’t care if I’m the best swordswoman or not. That time has long since passed, and if you understood me at all, you should already know that. “What is this?” Vale asked, yanking his sword free from Olive’s arm. He stared at her in disbelief. “You blocked my blow?” Kill him. I want to kill him. The words slammed into Olive’s skull, ringing it like a hollow drum. The arm was trying to steal control from her. Her teeth gritted. The arm did not rule her mind. It was part of her body, not the other way around. No. You’ve had your blood already. You will obey me. If you want to taste battle ever again, you will do what I say. We fight this my way. Not yours. And what will that get us? What will it get me? Giving me control will make you far stronger than you are now. I don’t care. I’m not winning a fight because you carry me through it. I’m doing it with my own two hands. This is my body. You will do as I command. And if you take control now — I can promise you’ll never be attached to anyone again. Either rise to the top with me or I’ll turn you to kindling. If you’ve got any foresight, you know which one is the right path. …today, you have denied both the Mesh and me. What do you even want? You turn away every gift offered. Are you truly so scared of power? You would not cease to be if you let me in. We would become more. Greater than we were before. You know your options. Fight with me or against me… but make your choice here and now. Give me your aid and I will give you what you want when the time calls for it. But, when we face opponents that don’t deserve death, you will obey me. Let me show you what I can do. It was a flicker of a second before the arm replied. Very well. Demonstrate. “You were holding this much power back?” Vale asked, his glowing eyes wide in surprise. “That is bold.” “I’ve been holding a lot more back than just this,” Olive said. Her lips twitched into a grin as she flexed her hands — both of them. Her limbs were fully hers. “And, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry about this as well. I was really hoping to avoid using this. It feels cheap.” She extended her wooden arm. Power raced down her shoulder with a crackling roar, twisting into her hand.