Free Call to Arms (The Girl In The Arena Book 1) by Lara Lee Hunter

who had been hauled into the arena with her, was it worth it? Were three lives worth one?
    Who could say? It was too difficult. It was not something she wanted to think about, much less try to answer. River reluctantly took some of the food and even more reluctantly began to eat, but after a few bites he gladly accepted more when she pressed it upon him.
    After River was gone and she was alone, Reena stood at her window, staring down at the city below her. She wondered how the people down there could stand it, how could they stand living in such close quarters to each other? How could they stand the stink of the gutters, the noise that was constant? There were no trees within the city, and no grass either — or at least none that she could see. The ground was covered with odd stones that looked as if they had been broken into bits many many years ago and put back together badly.
    She longed for her own home. If she managed to survive all these battles, if she managed to survive the arena, what then? Reena was not a fool — she knew very well that the Governor was not about to let her go. He would make her fight until she was dead and that he would still come up with an excuse to kill her father and all the others.
    There it was, the truth that she had refused to think about before.
    There had to be a way! Hector spoke up from behind her, interrupting her thoughts. “I have brought you something.”
    Reena turned, “What is it? Is it the key to this cell and the one holding my father as well?”
    “You are a funny girl.”
    “I see nothing funny about this Hector.”
    “Neither do I. That is why I am here; if I were caught here I would be killed. Since I’m probably going to be killed tomorrow anyway, I figure what the hell.”
    “Do you really think that I will not survive tomorrow?”
    “I just got word of who it is you are fighting. My prayers are with you, but I do not know if they will be heard.”
    “Who am I fighting Hector?”
    “You are fighting a soldier. He was a deserter, or so they say, and now he has been brought into the arena to fight. No matter what his crimes, he is used to fighting. He’s an older man and well- seasoned in battle.”
    Reena’s heart sank. So that was it then. She was going to fail, and everyone was going to die because of it. Why even bother? Why not just figure out a way to do herself in right here in a cell and save everyone the trouble?
    Hector held out an amulet on a rough leather string. She took it, looking at it closely unsure of what it could be. “What is it Hector?”
    “It is small enough that you could wear it around your neck and carry it as a weapon.”
    “Hector, it is an amulet.”
    “One that opens quite cleverly. It is, in fact, a tiny jar. Be careful, don’t open it now. You will need it to survive tomorrow.”
    “Hector, it’s a jar.”
    “Yes, it is. It’s just a jar. But even a jar can hold death.”
    Her heart filled with hope. “Is there anything in there?”
    “There is. The god’s fire is in there.”
    The god’s fire? It was impossible! Only the highest up of soldiers were allowed to use that, only the most skilled alchemist knew how to create it! What had this cost him? Dear gods, what if it escaped the amulet and touched her skin? Her very flesh would melt from her bones! “Hector, what have you done?”
    “Every gladiator is allowed two weapons. You have your knife, and now you have this.”
    “What am I supposed to do with it? Hand it to him and ask him to drink it?”
    “No, as soon as you’re close enough – throw it into his face. Make sure it goes into his face — hear me well on this one girl. It must hit his face for you to have any kind of chance in the arena tomorrow. You understand me?”
    “Yes.” She didn’t, not really. What was so important about it hitting the man in the face? Either way it didn’t matter. She was going to use it, she had no choice. This jar and the small knife were all the weapons that she had