“Cheater,” I grunted, doing everything I could to keep my shoulders off the mat. “I thought the warborn were honorable in combat.”
“We win wars,” Hyas said as if that excused it. He must have counted on me not lowering myself to his standards, or he’d simply overlooked my powers. With my body contorted and my muscles straining against his hold, I had mere seconds before Hyas would have me pinned.
“Roll over and play dead,” I commanded, then repeated it twice more until Hyas obeyed, releasing my limbs and turning over to show me his belly. I crawled on top of him with the last of my lucidity and pinned him. It was likely the most unusual turn of events anyone in the crowd had ever witnessed.
I rose to claim my victory, just barely, then stumbled toward you, making it only a few paces before I fell to my knees. My vision blurred and my head was dizzy. I could barely keep my eyes open.
“The warborn’s a cheater,” I slurred, my tongue thick in my mouth. “And you are mine.”
“And we won Monaco,” you said with a giddy smile.
“Monaco?”
Then my body hit the mat.
