“Watch yourself, buddy,” Gideon snarls, forcing hissmaller frame in between the two men, chin tilted upward to meet Taron’s frozen stare. “The Principal Guard could have your head for talking to the Young Prince like that.”
Taron leers at Gideon. “A big title doesn’t give him the right to push people around.”
“I didn’t push anyone,” Cyrus insists. “Not anyone who counts, anyway.” He gives me a dismissive look, and Taron works his jaw.
His reaction is surprising, considering his otherwise indifferent nature – and the fact that we barely know each other.
I didn’t think he would care what anyone said about me. Maybe he doesn’t, and it’s just the arrogance of an entitled royal that’s tipped him over the edge.
Either way, Taron doesn’t strike me as the type of guy who’d seek this kind of public confrontation, and yet, looking at him now, silently staring Cyrus square in the eyes, he almost seems relaxed, despite his anger. As though he has done this before.
“What’s the matter?” Cyrus taunts when Taron doesn’t move. “If you’ve got something to say, say it.”
“I doubt your fragile ego can handle it.”
Cyrus growls as fury sparks across his face. He lunges forward and shoves Taron hard in the chest, but Taron barely registers the blow. This only seems to fuel the Young Prince’s anger.
Extending his arm towards the window, Cyruscatches the sunbeam he toyed with before. It snaps off in his hand like a twig, and the light briefly melts into his palm like putty before jutting forward in the shape of a sword.
Murmurs ripple through the tavern, and the golden-haired girl I served earlier sprints over with her hands raised in a gesture of peace.
“Come on, guys,” she says, stepping between Taron and Cyrus. “It doesn’t cost much to be civilized.”
“Out of the way, Kara,” Cyrus orders, clearly familiar with her.
“Not until you shatter your blade,” she says. “Need I remind you, harassing staff members in a reputable tavern is a surefire way to tarnish yourpreciousreputation. You could be booted out of the tournament for this. You know that, right?”
Cyrus hesitates. Just when I think he is about to ignore her and charge at Taron, he shatters his blade on the floor. The beam dissipates into shimmering flecks of light, which dissolve into the air.
The Young Prince takes a step back to compose himself, although his focus remains fixed on me and Taron. “You’re lucky Kara’s here to make me realize what a waste of time you both are,” he says, boredly flopping back down in his seat.
I startle when his fist suddenly bangs on to the table. “Hello? Does anyone useful work in here?”
Within seconds, Mr Bo emerges from the kitchen. He rushes over, red-faced and frazzled. “Oh … my sincerest apologies, Your Highness. Is everything in order?”
“No, not even close,” Cyrus says. He gestures at me and Taron. “These two are refusing me service.”
“Well,” I argue, “he was being incredibly rude and…”
“Get His Royal Highness a crock of our finest Solaran red,” Mr Bo barks at me, his nostrils flaring. “On the house, of course.”
“Thank you, my good man.” Cyrus leans back in his seat, all smug satisfaction. As I pivot on my heels to get the drinks, he can’t resist a final, arrogant jab in my direction. “And be quick about it, Freckles.”
Chapter Twelve
I burst into the cramped bedroom above the tavern. The door swings shut and I chuck my bag on to the narrow bed with a groan.
“What an arrogant, self-entitled idiot,” I grumble. “Could you believe that? Snapping his fingers at me like that, expecting me to jump to it.”
Taron closes the door quietly, looking annoyingly calm. He sits down on the edge of the bed and surveys our home for the night.
“And what about that minion of his, Gideon? A real doormat, if you ask me. Going around tending to his master’s every need…”
Silence.
“Hello? Aren’t you going to say something?” I probe.
“Oh, sure.” Taron shrugs, and I’m baffled. How is he acting all nonchalant about it now, when only a fewhours ago, he looked ready to punch the Young Prince square across the jaw? “He’s a complete tool. But, if you ever read the headlines, I thought you would’ve known that already.”
