Sentinels: Forsaken Knight by B.H. Savage Page B

knew before it started, but she also suspected he wasn't going to tell her anything that would deprive him of an advantage.
    "Straight to business it is," he commented. "My people, the Azubuike tribe, are renowned in our lands amongst the other tribes for our strong connection with the powers of the world, what is most commonly referred to as magic. Everything in this world is connected to it. Think of it like a giant world-wide spider web, with every individual thing acting as a point which the strands connect to. You can use this web to connect to a person's mind if you know how. I am one who can do so."
    "You can read my mind?" Anye replied sarcastically. "Forgive my skepticism, Amadi, but I've studied the uses of magic extensively. There is no such ability or connection."
    "And that is why you do not understand your significance, Anye," he said quickly. He shifted his gaze past her for a second, but quickly looked back at her. He looked extremely serious. "I left my village to pursue something, and you are the key to unlocking it. I can help you understand your potential, what you tapped in to earlier, but I require your assistance."
    "My help?" Anye replied. "And why should I trust you?"
    "Because I know what the Sky Fire was and who your parents were," he told her bluntly. “That is why you are here, regardless of the circumstances that brought you to this place. You are not a traitor to your king or home, Anye. You are an honorable person. This I know to be true.”
    Anye turned her head sharply, staring directly into the boy's dark brown eyes. "And how could you possibly know that? You're barely even old enough to be considered a man. What could you really know about it?"
    "Do not let my age fool you," he told her coldly. "Come, we are about to be called to the arena." Amadi stood and walked towards the opening, tapping his staff to the ground with every right footstep. "I will prove to you that I am no mere boy ."
    Anye's emotions were running rampant through her mind. The confusion and powerlessness she felt from earlier still lingered, and was now coupled with a strong sense of disbelief and anger. Amadi's comment about the Sky Fire caught her off guard, and everything else had infuriated her. She had studied extensively in the castle's library as a child in Delrich, but information about the event was scarce and was never discussed by her instructors in any great detail. How could a boy from the savage frontier know anything about it?
    Her thoughts were interrupted by one of the attending workers grabbing her attention. She had apparently missed her name being announced in the final round against Amadi. Begrudgingly she got to her feet and walked to the opening. At the very least Amadi was correct that they were about to be called. He had already walked outside to the arena by the time she reached the open walkway.
    The crowd had decided to either forget the earlier battle or thought of it as something to be celebrated. The cheers and chants directed towards her shook the very ground she walked on. That, at least, made her feel a little better. When she reached the center of the arena the announcer began his proclamation.
    "Ladies and gentlemen, Lord Taggart expresses his greatest appreciation to all of you for attending this year's tournament. As always, it is his great honor to provide you with entertainment, and he is grateful to our competitors for keeping the deaths to a minimum. Now, without further delay, let us begin the final round between our victors!"
    The announcer gestured towards Anye. "With fame and glory now within her grasp, the mysterious mercenary need only overcome one final challenge. For the final round, the miraculous mercenary…Amy Karst!" he yelled. The crowd went wild as she strode towards her corner. "His intentions are unknown, and the mysterious mage of the frontier has left any who stood before him pleading for mercy…if they could speak at all! Will he do the same to our mercenary?