Tentur led the draconi as they stomped off. The competitors from the Twilight Kingdom said nothing as they left. They hardly even looked at anyone. Meru followed behind them as the champions from Qwint approached.
“Don’t mind him,” the red-haired man at the front of the three Qwint competitors said. Eira recognized him as the one who had been walking by Lavette on the way to the garden party. “I don’t really think there’s any favoritism. Cullen did put his neck on the line and who else was he supposed to choose when it was gifted by our nation?”
“Right.” Eira glanced back to the arena. Cullen and Lavette walked side by side toward the portcullis, hands still interlocked.
“Besides, selfishly, I’m grateful. I miss the foods of my homeland. Strategic or not, I think Cullen earned you all some new friends.” He smiled. It was sincere and made slightly more adorable by his snaggletooth. “I’m Varren, by the way. I don’t think we’ve had a chance to properly meet.”
“Eira. This is Alyss and Noelle.” She motioned to her friends. “I know Lop.”
“You two met?” Varren glanced between her and Lop.
Eira nodded. “At the meeting with the nobles.”
“And I’m Kinnya,” the sable-skinned woman said from his left, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder. The motion was very reminiscent of Noelle and brought a smile to Eira’s lips.
“Nice to meet you all,” Noelle said warmly. “Now, I’m starving, so shall we see what this feast is about?”
“Lead on.” Varren smiled.
The rest of them led the charge but Eira hung back. Alyss did as well. The competitors from Qwint were being polite enough, but it was all an act. It had to be.
They knew.
They all knew Eira and Cullen had been something, were something, were trying with all their might every day not to be something. Qwint, out of everyone, had to resent her for it. Why wouldn’t they? Lavette certainly must and they were her allies. Perhaps they had a secret plot to undo her, just like Adam had used her affections against her in the Tower long ago…
A familiar hand slipped into hers. Eira was jolted back to reality. Everyone else was several steps ahead.
“It’ll be all right,” Alyss said softly.
“Will it?” Eira whispered.
“I promise.”
“Please stay by my side tonight, Alyss. Please. I can’t…”
“I won’t go anywhere. You and me, Eira. We’re in this together.”
Despite her chest slowly caving in, rib by rib, Eira managed to say, “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Alyss started walking, giving Eira’s hand a light tug and prompting her to walk as well. “Besides, you still have to tell me what you found earlier.”
“I will, but not with so many ears around.”
“Of course. I can be patient.”
They followed behind everyone else, heading down the stairs and back into the main hall. Eira looked ahead at Meru. Olivin still appeared to be with them. The illusions they used were shockingly seamless, especially while moving. Or maybe it was actually him, now. They’d perfected the ability for him to slip away seamlessly enough that it would be an oversight not to also perfect the ability for him to return.
Her thoughts were interrupted when the mountain of a man that was Harkor barreled past her, ripping her and Alyss apart.
“Excuse you!” Alyss shouted.
Harkor looked back over his shoulder and snarled, teeth on display, lips curling back. He then continued on, forcefully bumping into everyone he passed as he stomped right down the middle of the competitors.
“He’s annoying,” Alyss grumbled.
“That’s putting it mildly,” Eira agreed. But not very loudly.
“I’m just glad his attempts at winning by force didn’t succeed. I think it’d set a bad precedent for the competition,” Cullen interjected, seemingly arriving out of nowhere. Lavette was still at his side. Eira’s gaze fell to their clasped hands on instinct, but she quickly returned to their faces. At his voice, the other Qwint and Solaris competitors stopped.
