“So much for the competition bringing us together,” Eira murmured.
“The draconi won’t accept help from any of us here. Twilight, perhaps, at one time… But not now that King Noct is trying to make genuine connections with Meru.” Ducot shook his head. “The draconi are too proud for that.”
“Why?” Noelle asked Eira’s question for her.
“They see this tournament—the whole treaty—as yet another form of subjugation. The draconi were the first to be pushed off Meru for their perceived ties to Raspian.”
“I thought I remembered reading something about elfin’ra being pushed away during the splintering of Meru that made it a crescent shape,” Eira interjected. She hadn’t read it; Ferro had told her during one of their meetings. But the idea of bringing up their secret meetings, even if they all knew, made her nauseous. She would never mention him again if it meant she could somehow deny he’d ever existed in the first place.
The dots on Ducot’s brow raised. He was impressed she’d known. “That is a long-ago legend of a splinter of the elfin who supported Raspian—an evil god who runs counter to all Yargen stands for. There’s not been word of any twisted elfin since the legends were born.”
Though there was mention of Raspian by Ulvarth as well. He seemed inclined to use fears of the evil god to motivate the people of Meru. Perhaps even beyond, digging at old wounds that led to the morphi and draconi being pushed away in the first place.
“The draconi were hunted by early Swords of Yargen just as bad…worse…than the morphi were.” Ducot’s mouth pressed into a hard line. “They once held a good portion of the mountainous, northern reaches of Meru, but were banished to the island Dolarian centuries ago.”
Carsovia must be a fierce enemy indeed to turn those with such troubled, dark pasts into unlikely allies.
“Everyone in the treaty is equal,” Alyss pointed out. “There shouldn’t be any fears anymore of accepting help.”
“Old slights aren’t forgiven, or forgotten, that easily.” Noelle’s eyes drifted to the draconi’s house, her expression rendered somber.
“The royals speak of equality… But the crown princess of Solaris is marrying the Voice of Yargen, the second-in-command of Meru. Arguably the first, depending on who you ask. Two of the largest players in the treaty will soon be aligned in a way deeper than the rest of the nations. It makes this treaty hard for those of us who have been under Meru’s heel to stomach without worry or fear of history repeating itself underneath a new boot.” Ducot wasn’t just talking about the draconi anymore. Eira wondered just how many people saw the treaty as more of a necessary evil than a shining opportunity.
She wasn’t the only one who realized just how much power Vi Solaris was amassing…and how dangerous that made her.
“Speaking of stomachs.” Noelle put a hand on hers. “I’m starving.”
“Me too,” Alyss agreed.
The other competitors seemed to have the same idea as they were all heading to the common house as well.
“There’s something I’d like to discuss.” Ducot slowed his pace a little to walk closer to Eira.
“Oh?”
“Not now, later. When we can be more private.”
“What is it?” Eira asked.
“Later,” Ducot emphasized. “After dinner.”
14
Dinner was roasted vegetables and braised chicken. It was the simple sort of food that Eira was accustomed to from her childhood. Ducot sat with his teammates. Cullen had come wandering in and ended up sitting with Qwint. While he smiled politely and chatted, she could see his discomfort behind his mask. But Eira pointedly ignored him, keeping with Alyss and Noelle.
The conversation varied from the tournament as a whole, to the game earlier, to the draconi and their history, before ultimately fading. It had been an obscenely long day that seemed to be crashing down on all of them at once.
Noelle yawned. “I think I should head back. I’m exhausted.”
“We should have comforts waiting for us by now, right?” Alyss stood.
“Oh, we should!” Noelle quickly found a late burst of energy.
“Ducot wanted to speak with me.” Eira glanced toward the morphi’s table.
“I’m sure he’ll catch up soon enough.” Noelle was practically vibrating with excitement. “Let’s go see our house.”
Eira relented. Ducot likely wouldn’t want her making a show of collecting him. Instead, she made it a point to talk loudly asshe left, ensuring he would hear her voice fading away. It must have worked, because they’d only made it about halfway back when Ducot dashed over.
