The Proving of Champions, Chapter 22 (Finale!)

Fleta felt nothing when she awoke to Marina and a cluster of colonies standing over her. Her ears burned, every muscle from her eyes to her toes pounded, and the weight of the clothes on her chest was as course and painful as sandpaper. But she couldn't feel any particular way about those sensations. She reached for relief, sadness, anger, and gratitude, but they were all gone. Marina smiled at her, and something warm flooded her and left without a trace. The colonies had fixed her broken tissues with their alien magic. Marina administered remedies for the chills, the shakiness, and the sensitivity, which she said were the after-effects of the position Fleta took during her fight.

Fleta dreamed of companions falling or screaming out of view. No matter how fast she ran, she couldn’t save them or even join them. Whenever her body tossed her sleep, pain flashed through her body, and she woke up. At some point, Daralis stooped through the flap of the leaf tent Valcots had constructed around her. The golden-haired disciple drew close after a whispered conversation with Marina.

"What happened to Terrell? I need something to tell our sworn men and women."

"He jumped into the mouth of the tarrasque."

"What?” Daralis’s voice jumped in volume, causing Fleta’s head to throb. “Why would he do that?"

"He took a gamble that the creature wouldn't know how to control his gift," Fleta said, still facing the side of the tent and tracing the veins in the stitched leaf next to her. "He was right. It blew itself inside out the next time it tried to roar."

"Clever,” Daralis sunk into one hip as she sighed. It probably couldn't control Terrell's voice if it couldn't control its own growth. His sacrifice helped save us, and your bravery."

"Don't forget about Alexei," Fleta murmured, only now turning to look around. The falchion lay sheathed at her side.

"Yes, of course," Daralis said.

"It... he wouldn't be moved from your side," Marina added. The two women left Fleta to sleep.

A cheer rose from the gathered camp when Fleta woke up, peeked out from the tent, and asked for water. She nodded feebly, accepted water from Esmond, and returned to her bedroll on the ground. 

During dinner, Daralis came and ate with Fleta. There were stories, songs, and loud cheering from without.

"Normally, I would eat with Terrell," Daralis said. "But I hardly know what to do with myself now."

"I'm sorry," Fleta said. I've cost us two mentors now, along with a fellow disciple and a few soldiers. And the only Deathless Faire person we’ve ever met."

"Hmm," Daralis said. “What do you suppose you call someone from the Deathless Faire? Bazaar, I suppose.”

Fleta didn’t laugh. “Guess it only matters if we meet another one."

"You didn't cost us anything,” Daralis said, dropping her light tone. You saved what remains of our camp," Daralis replied. And you happen to be the champion of this year's Proving."

"I wish I weren't," Fleta said, and they both chewed a gamy vegetable and chimera stew in silence. "Does it even count if the head's too big to fit through the gate?"

"You know the big one, over the Skald Chair?" Daralis asked. "They had to cut that one into four pieces and glue it back together. There are more than a few cleverly hidden nails as well. But I think we'll just grab a tooth and call it done. A tooth from that monster is longer than most of the skulls in the great hall. Where do you want to put it?"

"I don't care," Fleta said. "Why don't you choose?"

"If it were mine, I'd put it over the Skald Chair. Move the skull over." Daralis turned to Fleta. "I know you don't want to think about this, but the more time you have to think, the better. With Terrell and Alber gone, we need a new High Skald, or at least a first disciple and an appointed elder."

"You're right," Fleta said. "I don't want to think about it."

"With that tooth, you would have anyone's support," Daralis pressed.

"No, I don't want it!" Fleta said. "I volunteered for the Proving because I wanted to prove to myself that I had what it takes. I didn't want anyone sacrificing for me, and I wasn't doing it to win the title of first disciple!"

"Yes, of course," Daralis said. "No one is going to force you. I can take care of it, but I wanted you to have your say in the matter first. Let me know if you have a change of heart."

Daralis excused herself and took the rest of the dinner outside.