“Good job surviving his attacks,” Noelle said.
“Well done, to both of you,” Lop chimed in.
“Are you all right?” Varren asked Lavette.
“I’m fine.” She smiled. “A bit bruised and scuffed. Nothing serious.”
“That’s a relief. I’d hate to see you go to the medics. The last person who went got sick and didn’t come back,” Lop said as they began walking again.
“What happened to him anyway?” Kinnya’s soft voice was barely audible over the echoing of the other competitors in the tunnel.
“All I heard was that he fell ill. Who knows if he’ll return,” Lop said.
Eira worked to keep her expression a mixture of curious, concerned, and passive. She couldn’t look too invested. Nor could she betray with her expression that she knew all this already. Luckily, her friends were doing the same.
“Why wouldn’t he?” Cullen asked, pretending to be oblivious. Navigating noble court served him well because he put up a pretty compelling facade.
Lop shrugged. “He left the village and hasn’t been seen or heard from in a few days. I’d bet they had to take him somewhere with more intensive cleric care. Since we’re not supposed to leave to the point that they’d disqualify us for doing so, I have to believe that whatever it was must’ve been serious.”
“You don’t think he’s out of the tournament completely, do you?” Varren asked.
“Who knows?”
“It was hardly his fault,” Lavette said. “He didn’t choose to get sick or to leave. I’m sure he would’ve opted to get care here if they could’ve given it to him. It wouldn’t be right to disqualify him.”
“Sometimes that’s how it goes. At least it’s one less person for us to go up against.” Lop grinned. He didn’t care in the slightest about Yonlin. All he saw was another competitor to beat. He was acting friendly to them now…but how long would that last? Eira would bet her life on not very long.
“Don’t talk like that,” Lavette scolded. “He’s not just a competitor; he’s another person.”
“Yonlin,” Eira interjected. Even when Lavette’s eyes met hers, she remained calm, easy. In control of her emotions and the situation. At least on the surface. “His name is Yonlin.”
“Yonlin. Thank you.” Lavette smiled kindly at her. Either she was the only one oblivious to Eira and Cullen’s history, she truly didn’t care, or it was further proof that this was some kind of act to lull Eira into a false sense of security. Eira would remain on guard until she figured out which was true. “See, Lop, he’s aperson. And if they left it up to us, I, for one, would vote to allow him to return when he’s able.”
“I’d second it.” Kinnya raised her hand.
“Thirded,” Varren said.
“The motion passes.” Lop rolled his eyes.
“This sort of talk is unbecoming of you, Lop,” Lavette continued with a slight scolding tone. “You are a child of the republic. You know the importance of caring for others. For—”
“When we worry about others we no longer need to worry about ourselves as there will be many to do it for us,” Lop finished with an exhausted tone, as though he’d said the words many times.
“Yes.”
“Thank you for the reminder, future Head Minister.”
“If the people decree it.” Lavette smiled slightly, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Lop was acting like she was guaranteed to be the future leader of the Republic of Qwint. But there wasn’t a guarantee, was there? The people voted for their rulers.
So why would Yemir promise Cullen to her?The thought came out of nowhere and stuck right to the forefront of her mind. Yemir was searching to further his family’s aims and reputation at all costs. Why would he marry off Cullen to a woman who wasn’tguaranteedpower? Eira didn’t have an answer, but she would find one.
They emerged from the tunnel and back at the village, the portcullis closing noisily behind them.
In the center of the village was a long table with eight chairs. All manner of roasted meat and vegetable glistened temptingly. Eira could see noodles drenched in sauce on one end, a platter of pastries on the other. There were heavy clay bowls that the attendants removed the tops of, a burst of steam evaporating into the early evening air.
It was a feast that no doubt took hours to prepare. Impossible to do even if they began cooking when the game ended. Eira bit back a laugh. Minister Fawn must’ve known what she was going to do the second Lavette and Cullen stepped forward. Was it because she assumed Cullen would invite Qwint, and thus benefitting her team with her award even though she couldn’tgive it to them directly? Or were more people trying to push Cullen and Lavette together other than their fathers?
An attendant approached, bowed, and said, “Solaris and Qwint, per the terms of Cullen’s individual merit, we would like to present your victory feast.”
