"I'm fighting a duel, Nema."

"You're what?" Shock verberated through her wand's tone.

She repeated the words through gritted teeth. "I'm fighting a duel. And with Brael."

"You know, you don't stand a chance in any level of Mage's Desolation of winning this thing. Not even I can pull it off."

"Thank you for the vote of confidence and the reminder, Nema." Hawk tossed a rag over her wand just to shut it up. Whoever had thought it was a great idea for inanimate objects to have speech had never dealt with Hawk's wand.

The medallion around her neck picked up where the wand left off. "How do you get into these things, Hawk? Nema's right, you don't have a chance."

Hawk hadn't seen Brael in over twelve years, but she'd seen a portrait of the famous wizard in the Hall of Mastery. At the time, the picture hadn't inspired thoughts of one day taking the mage on in a wizard's duel. The arrogantly handsome features had fascinated Hawk as had the body clad in the tight Mastery robes. She'd wanted to be fucked by the man, not end up on the business end of his wand.

"Do I have a choice?" Hawk's short question silenced the muffled protests of the wand and impertinent commentary of the medallion. No, she didn't have a choice. Master Ejada's ambition had placed her in this position. The mage who held her by slave contract could command Hawk to do whatever he wanted.

The aim wasn't for Hawk to win this duel, but to withstand enough of the mage's magic to remain standing. It would earn enough points to place in the tournament. No, Hawk wasn't at all looking forward to this. After taking the rag off her wand, she picked it up. "Just shut up and help me get through this in one piece."

Striding to the flap of the tent, Hawk pushed it open and stepped outside. An air of gaiety had infected the crowds gathering for the day's events. Brightly colored flags waved in the light breeze, signaling the houses that were to battle in the tournament. The open air arena had been home to the Annual Masters' Tournament for over five hundred years.

The tents of the other wizards surrounded Hawk's in the field outside the arena. Not too far off, she could see the red and black tent of the necromancer, Brael. The flap was partly open and Brael stood near it, arguing vehemently with one of the tournament's officials. As she moved closer to pass the tent, Hawk heard Brael's angry words.

"I don't care how Ejada managed this, but I will not stand for it."

"If you wish to withdraw from the tournament, that is up to you. Otherwise the rules are clear. You must battle those who are chosen to contest against you."

When Brael looked up and stared right at her, Hawk found herself frozen by the blaze within the red eyes. The unusual shade was a rarity among mages and signaled Brael true proficiency at his craft. Seeing the mage up close and personal was far different from seeing his portrait, and Hawk's breath stilled but her heart raced, leaving her mind completely befuddled. Forcing herself to look away, Hawk continued to the stands to watch part of the tournament.

She knew she could very well die, but that little fact didn’t concern Ejada. As long as Hawk remained standing long enough to place, Ejada would be pleased. If Hawk actually managed to live afterward, she had no clue what else Ejada would involve her in. She wasn't sure she wanted to know.