“Banner day,” Georgie said, like it was the most obvious thing. “It’s the day the Vandever family was crowned.”
“Gods, they deem everything a holiday now,” Manny lamented. “I swear, these kids never go to school.”
Killian huffed an incredulous laugh as he raised his eyebrows at his friend. “You literally never went to school.”
“I went to school,” Manny protested. “The streets were my school. I learned a lot of hard lessons.”
Killian rolled his eyes, but Georgie continued excitedly.
“We’re off for the whole week during the Sammerhan Games!”
Manny seemed personally offended by that. “What? Why? The games aren’t even here this year.”
“No, but a lot of my classmates’ families are going. Some of them work as vendors, and my teacher says that it’s important for their businesses.” He turned and looked at Killian with wide eyes. “Mum said you competed before. Are you going again this year?”
Killian bit the inside of his cheek. He tried not to squirm under the weight of Georgie’s gaze. The young boy was looking at him like he was a legend to be ogled at instead of a normal human man.
“No, only members of the Royal Guard are invited to compete,” Killian said, fighting the bitterness in his throat.
“Oh,” Georgie said awkwardly. He knew Killian had been fired from the Guard a few months earlier. He faced Manny. “What about you?”
“I wasn’t invited to compete,” Manny said with a shrug.
“Why not?” Georgie asked, a hint of judgment in his voice.
“I just wasn’t,” Manny replied.
“Hm,” Georgie said. His face morphed with disapproval. “Don’t you want to go?”
“Not really,” Manny answered.
“Why not?” Georgie asked, his voice rising. “It’s the most amazing thing ever! Sword fights and jousting and archery! And everyone will be there.”
“Not everyone,” Killian corrected. “We won’t be there.”
“But ten thousand people will! All the kings and queens and all the best fighters.” Georgie looked between Manny and Killian, truly stunned by their apathy. “I’m calling it the grand show!”
The hair on Killian’s arms prickled. The beginnings of a realization slinked beneath his skin. “What did you say?”
“The grand show!” Georgie repeated proudly. Then his expression abruptly fell. “Okay, I didn’t come up with it myself. I heard the Bulletin Boy call it that.”
An echo hummed its way from the back of Killian’s mind until its song was too loud for him to ignore.
It’ll be a grand show.
“Manny, can I talk to you over there?” he asked, gesturing with his chin toward the front door.
Manny gave him a wary look but followed Killian to the opposite side of the room.
“Am I in trouble?” Georgie pondered aloud.
“No, Georgie,” Killian called. “Help yourself to some cookies in the cabinet.
Georgie scurried from the chair and busied himself with scavenging for treats.
“What’s going on?” Manny asked in a hushed voice.
“That’s where Lazarus is making his move,” Killian said. He glanced at Georgie to make sure he was properly occupied, then whispered, “He’s going to attack at the Sammerhan Games.”
