“Where do I find the time to sleep?” Eira played off the remarks as a joke, but she knew better. These thoughts and feelings posed a risk and it seemed the longer she was inside the tournament, the more the rumors flew. Could she do anything to stop them from inside? Likely not…but at least keeping tabs on them would be a good start.
“Take it from me, it’s easy to be the subject of Meru’s rumors. They have a long history of spinning untruths as it suits them.”
“I suppose the question then becomes, who does it suit to make me the enemy?” Her tone remained casual, but Eira allowed her words to have weight. She could begin to counter, or live up to, the Pillars perceptions of her among these nobles. Perhaps she could spread her own rumors. “I’m just a young woman from Solaris, not much of a threat at all. Just ask Ducot.”
He snorted. “She’s more likely to hurt herself than someone else.”
Ducot was a valuable ally. Knowing he would make her sound inept would be an asset. She just had to be mindful of her displays in the tournament. But, perhaps, confusion could be its own tactic. If no one knew what to expect from her then everything seemed likely, or equally improbable.
“I’ve noticed that there seem to be many royals missing,” Eira shifted the subject. “Will your king be in attendance?”
“King Noct will be arriving hopefully within the next few days. There’s some magical management of the shift surrounding the Twilight Kingdom that needs to be sorted before he leaves our homeland. To ensure we’re properly protected,” Arwin said.
“Is there a threat of attack?” Eira asked earnestly.
“We know better than to leave ourselves undefended.” Fallor folded his arms. Eira didn’t miss how his gaze darted to the dignitaries from Meru. Only for a second, but long enough to show where his mind was truly. The treaty might be mere days away from being signed…but there were many still unconvinced.
Arwin gave Fallor a sharp look but her face softened immediately when she looked back to Eira, continuing to speak as though he hadn’t said anything at all. “The safety of one’s people is a concern for any state. If a leader says otherwise they’re either naive, oblivious, or the ones who are about to attack. But my fatherwillbe here to sign the treaty at the end of the tournament.”
“I see.” It was clear Arwin wasn’t going to give any more away on the feelings of the morphi surrounding the treaty. Perhaps she could gain more from general inquiry. “Tell me more about the Twilight Kingdom?”
“What do you want to know?” Arwin asked.
“Anything and everything.”
“The Twilight Kingdom is really only one city…” Arwin began. The three of them told her of a shimmering city of starlight, ever expanding as needed, cradled in a cocoon of magic. Eira drank it up eagerly, learning as much as she could. And, the moment she felt like she was on the verge of overstaying her welcome, she excused herself.
After that she scanned, looking for another opening. There was one with some nobles from Qwint. Swallowing the bad taste Cullen had left in her mouth, she made her way over. She knew the least about Qwint and it would be letting Cullen dull a part of herself if she didn’t naturally inquire.
“Greetings,” Eira said warmly.
“Another Solaris competitor making the rounds,” the noblewoman said, though not unkindly.
“It seems a better use of my time than drinking in the corner alone.” Eira lifted a flute off a passing tray and tipped it in her direction, relieved the woman clinked her glass against Eira’s in reply. “Good to see you again.” She nodded to the other competitor present. It was the brown-haired man from the night before. “I don’t think I’ve had a chance to catch your name.”
“Lop,” he answered.
“Nice to meet you, I’m—”
“Eira, we know.”
That was a running theme. As Eira worked to meet everyone she could and learn what she was able about them and their various lands, she also got a sense of what they’d heard about her. Eira learned of how in Qwint their leaders changed every five years, based on what they called a free election—a concept so strange she was still working to wrap her head around it when she took a brief break for another refreshment. The closest thing she could think of was the Eastern Senate, far before the annexation by the Empire. But that was different from this “democracy” notion, as it was predicated on only certain noblesbeing eligible to lead…much like the current senate adopted in Solarin.
“You’ve been busy.” Olivin seemed to materialize out of nowhere.
“I do what I can.” Eira glanced at him from the corner of her eye as she took a sip from her flute.
“I couldn’t help but notice you spoke with the group of elfin that I wasn’t a part of. Coincidence?”
Eira hummed, making a show of considering it. “I didn’t want you to think I was a ‘lost puppy.’”
“Don’t pay Menna much mind. She’s obnoxious sometimes—oftentimes.”
“Harsh words for one of your teammates.”
“I only speak the truth. If it’s harsh, then the truth is harsh.” He extended his elbow expectantly.
Eira stared at it, dragging her eyes up his arm to his face. “Yes?”
