Book 3 - Page 60 (2/2)

Aric nodded. “That’s how the game came about. They grew bored.”

When he didn’t elaborate, I had to speak up. “And? What happened after boredom set in?”

“You wish to hear the origin story?”

“Uh, yes.” I pa.s.sed him the bottle.

“Very well.” He drank, handing it to Jack, starting another round. “A G.o.ddess of magic devised a contest to the death for select mortals. She invited deities of other realms to send a representative from their most prestigious house, all youths. Each one bore their G.o.d’s emblem upon his or her right hand.”

My heart raced . . . I had been one of those youths.

“These players would fight inside Tar Ro, a sacred realm as large as a thousand kingdoms, harvesting their victims’ emblems; only the player who’d collected them all would leave Tar Ro alive. Naturally, the G.o.ds cheated, gifting their own representative with superhuman abilities, making them more than mortal. Secret abilities. That’s why we’re called Arcana.”

“Hail Tar Ro,” I murmured. “The High Priestess told me that.”

“An old-fas.h.i.+oned greeting. She’s quite knowledgeable about the games. Very respectful of the old ways.”

Probably not who I should be talking to about ending the game. “Why did the G.o.ds give us a call?”

“Shortage of heralds?” Arcana humor.

“Saw your hand earlier,” Jack said. “You’ve taken out four cards in this game?”

Death had, but he’d hated doing it. I cast about for a change of subject.

“Four,” Aric said, that single word imbued with weariness.

Keen Jack observed, “A Grim Reaper who’s sick of reaping?”

Aric schooled his features. “Ending cannibals and slavers is sport. But they’re different from most Arcana. All things being equal, I’d rather not.”

Jack seemed to be mulling this over as he pa.s.sed the bottle to me. “You believe this game can be ended?”

“I’ve failed in the past to do so. But that doesn’t mean it’s not possible.” Then Aric told me alone, —I’m particularly invested in believing that.—

Because he wanted to take me back to his isolated castle of lost time. Have kids with me. Live a long life, but not a never-ending one. In answer, I handed Aric the bottle.

After seeing the misery out in the world—the spreading plague, the cannibals, the hobbled women and shackled girls—could I abandon everything?

Our situation was becoming larger than the game. We hunted the Lovers, not only because they’d taken Selena, but also because they’d rained down so much terror on innocent people.

After all my evil in past lives, shouldn’t I atone in this one?

“Some cards will have to be destroyed regardless of the game.” Aric’s free hand clenched. Was he thinking about the Emperor? “They will never come to heel. Just as the Lovers refuse to.”

“We woan have to worry about those two much longer.” Jack absently rubbed his bandage.

“You shouldn’t wear their mark, mortal.”

Jack scowled. “Ain’t like I got a choice, me.”

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