They were in a clearing on the edge of the northern forest, not far from the looming shadow of the Tower. The mist was thin, crawling low between the pines, and the silence was broken only by the lances she spun with irritating perfection.
She hadn’t said a word since the day she defeated him in the forest.
Until Luiz arrived.
— Little brother… I see you two already met.
Lukas clenched his jaw. Búdica didn’t even turn.
— What the hell is this, Luiz?
— Looks like the welcome was… warm, Luiz said mockingly. — I wanted to introduce you two more calmly, but it seems she decided to do things her own way…
Lukas crossed his arms. — And where did she come from?
Luiz raised a brow. — You didn’t recognize her?
Lukas shook his head.
Luiz then smiled, though it was more serious than usual. — She was one of the champions of the Barbarian Kingdoms of the North. Her capital fell six months ago. The last fortress to resist before we planted the Copas banner.
— You fought her?
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
— I did. Three days. Three nights. She didn’t fall. Only stopped when… Luiz paused. …when she realized she couldn’t defeat me. And that I wouldn’t kill her. Then I made her an offer.
— And she accepted?
— Of course not. But a month later, she appeared in our camp. Silent. With her lances. And said: “Copas defeated me. Copas will have me.”
Lukas swallowed hard. He looked at her again, as if seeing another kind of monster.
Luiz finished, more serious now: — Don’t play with her, brother. She comes from a world where love doesn’t survive, where respect needs to bleed to exist. You want to understand Búdica? Don’t try. Endure.
Lukas didn’t answer. He only felt his pride ache again. — Why is she here?
— Because you’re going into the Tower. And the Copas can’t always be at your side. So I left someone worthy.
Búdica spun the lances with absurd precision. In a blink, the two fused together, becoming a long silver bow, its string made of enchanted tendons. With another sharp motion, she split them back into two lances.
Lukas had gone pale.
Luiz grinned. — Ah, forgot to mention: those lances were a gift from me. Forged by the dwarves of the far North. Each one has a name. But she’s never told me.
Lukas whispered: — And… does she speak?
Luiz winked. — Only when she wants. And apparently, today…
Búdica turned at last. Her gaze was colder than the northern mist. — You are weak.
Lukas drew a deep breath, struggling to contain his wounded pride. — And you are arrogant.
She walked slowly toward him, eyes of steel. — Too weak… to carry that surname.
Luiz stepped aside, smiling. — Well, now that you two are in love, I’ll leave you to it. Take care of him, Búdica. He’s Copas’ responsibility now. Valquíria will take care of Leli. But Lukinhas… he’s yours.
Lukas was about to protest, but Luiz was already vanishing into the mist.
Búdica didn’t wait another second. She passed by Lukas as if he were nothing but air.
But as she did, she murmured low, sharp as a bare blade: — If you blink… I’ll pierce your heart.
Lukas stood frozen.
He felt the sweat on his back… and a strange urge to grow stronger. Not for pride. But so he wouldn’t be… disposable.
End of Chapter 11.