Chapter Forty-Eight

 

Kuma paced through the suite while Pandora sat on the couch with the wraithhawk mask in her hands, staring at the gift from Hylakane. He couldn't stand still and kept checking the clock on the wall.

"It's an hour before the fight. Where are they?"

Without looking up, Pandora said, "We have to assume they're not coming. Something must have happened."

"I don't know if we can do this if it's just you, me, Camina, and Adrenalynne."

"You go into battle with the force you have, not the one you want," said Pandora soberly. "It's not like we technically need them. If I win the final, I'll have a shot at killing my grandfather and ending this. The Alliance will fall apart without him."

"But you'll be dead."

"I might get away," said Pandora with a blank expression.

It was a lie, but he couldn't bring himself to call her out. She had too much to worry about already. He couldn't imagine what she was going through and was surprised he hadn't seen her counting primes. Was that a good or bad thing? He didn't know.

"The distraction worked at least," he said, trying to bring a positive mood. "I saw Titus leaving by the southern exit earlier."

Pandora said nothing as she stared at the dark mask. The face covering unnerved him due to the wispy shadows that drifted from the surface like mist.

"Are you planning on wearing that during the fight?"

"Do not forget from which it came, or why it was made," said Pandora, repeating the halting diction that Hylakane often spoke in.

"What does that mean?"

She shook her head. "I wish I knew. Or why he gave it to me."

"I should find Navos," he said suddenly. "I know Choo-Choo wanted to reach out, but we're out of time."

"How will you get to him?"

"Choo-Choo said he doesn't come all the way from the headquarters with him. Navos and the other bloodstone guards wait outside the arena until your grandfather arrives."

"You should go, then."

Kuma gathered his gear, strapping on the curved blades that had been his weapons since he was old enough to hold them. The wooden handles were scuffed from the years of battle and the edges were recently sharpened. He laid them carefully against his flesh so he didn't accidentally cut himself while walking. As he opened the door, Pandora called out, "Don't forget your mask."

He grabbed the knavth mask from the table, sliding it into the pack he wore and approached Pandora. Her jaw pulsed and her brow furrowed with thought, so he kissed her on the forehead before leaving.

The energy in the Terreno was electric. He could hear discussion of the fight on everyone's lips. The crowd was rooting for Valor, but no one counted Lady Saha out based on her previous performances. Beating Noctus had turned some in her favor. He wondered what the crowd would think if they knew who she really was.

The main entrance to the arena was blocked. They would start letting people in shortly, but that's not where Kuma needed to be. He snuck out of the Terreno using the exit behind the old Razor bar and circled around to the northern entrance to the arena, where he hoped Navos would be waiting for Dominion, but he didn't recognize any of the guards. Kuma crouched in the shadows and fingered the blade hidden in his uniform.