Harkor stomped over, grabbing Lop by the collar. “Say that again.”
“Enough, enough!” The attendant beseeched them for calm. Harkor released Lop, albeit reluctantly. “You see, in life, there are times where an unexpected advantage comes only for some, but it is how we handle adversity that truly empowers us.”
“Then what about the explosion?” Menna asked.
“The knights have already found the person culpable and have removed them from the stands.”
Eira glanced around. Was anyone actually believing this? Judging from most of their expressions, the excuse the crown was trying to spin wasn’t going over well.
“This is why Lumeria has awarded you an individual merit. You rose to the challenge, Eira. You didn’t have to warn your competition, but did anyway. Both an act of heroism and a propensity toward fairness.”
The woman smiled as she handed Eira the ribbon bearing the seal of Meru.Take your award and be quiet. That was what Lumeria was really saying. Perhaps Vi was the one who really sent it. Eira bit the insides of her cheeks and swallowed everything she wanted to say. She managed, “Thank you. Could I perhaps ask for this reward to be a word with the head of Lumeria’s knights?”
“Unfortunately that’s not a part of this award.” The attendant stepped away.
“I don’t believe it, at all.” Menna surprised more than Eira with the statement. “Look at them, scrambling to clear it up. Keeping us in this limbo. Trying to rush the signing and get it over with. Hadn’t they said a day for closing ceremonies?”
“They had,” Graff said.
“Perhaps Meru doesn’t have matters as in control as they want to appear,” Sorrah said skeptically. “This whole tournament has been a mess; think about how the treaty itself will go.” It mirrored the concerns Vi had expressed. The royal’s worst fears were slowly coming true.
“I’m sure it’ll all be fine,” Eira forced herself to say. She had to stand by the royals, for the wellbeing of all the states. Plus, the sooner this maddening treaty was signed, the sooner they all could invest their full attention in finding Ulvarth. “It was probably some kind of miscommunication about how best to set up the course. And, besides, managing a treaty is very differentthan a tournament. I know I, for one, would rather my leaders be better at statecraft than party planning.”
That prompted enough discussions and murmuring that Eira could step away from the rest of them, wandering back toward the opening that faced the arena in search of Deneya. Almost all of the water had been removed, slowly and carefully. The royals’ box was being dressed up with ribbons and fresh flowers. Everything was coming together exactly how Vi wanted it—said it needed to be—even if it had to be forced and rushed.
Luckily, her friends knew her well enough by now that they shielded her from others so she could have her space without Eira needing to ask. They created a buffer between her and the other competitors approaching, starting up conversations. But two people made it through: Ducot and Olivin.
“I just don’t understand it,” Eira said softly.
“They wanted to kill us—you. What’s so hard to understand about that?” Barely contained rage burned underneath Olivin’s words.
“It’s more than that,” Eira murmured, realizing she’d yet to tell them something critical. “Ducot, I need you to slip away.”
“What?” He blinked. She couldn’t blame him for being startled, given the sudden shift in conversation.
But rather than facing Ducot, she looked to Olivin. She knew what this revelation might mean to him, but she had to do it anyway. There wasn’t time to tiptoe around the matter. “The day we left Risen, a Pillar threw a rock at me. I listened to it last night, and I heard an echo from a woman who I think is your sister.” Olivin’s eyes widened slightly. Now Eira turned back to Ducot. “The Pillars are going to move against the castle during the closing ceremonies. I think it’s why they attacked the competitors—to force us to sweep the coliseum, thinking they’re here. To keep all of our attentionhere…” Eira quickly recounted what she’d heard in the stone. “They’re tryingto force disorganization. For things to happen on their time. But if Deneya sends knights now on good horses, or whatever manpower the court has here, maybe they can get there in time to protect the castle.”
“She could at least send word. I’m sure they have communication tokens,” Olivin said hastily.
“I’ll get to Deneya.” Ducot stepped away, in the direction of the lavatories that Alyss had stood guard by when Eira had sneaked into the clerics’ room.
“Do you think they’ll get the warning in time?”
“Whether they do or don’t, they have a chance, thanks to you.” Olivin gave her a slight smile. It was too weighted with worry to be overly excited.
“Let’s hope so.”
“After this, when we go back to the village…can you play the echo for me?”
“What?”
“Is there a way I could hear it in my mind?”
“I don’t think so,” she said gently. “I’ve never tried, granted…but I don’t know how it would be possible.”
“It’s likely for the better.” His gaze was distant as he stared beyond the preparations being made in the arena. Eira wondered what would compel him to want to hear his sister’s voice.
“Eira!” Her uncle’s call startled her from Olivin. Fritz rushed over to them.
