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A knock on the door sent Enzo skidding to the bedroom. The poor cat was still adjusting to life without Raina. Lyric promised me she’d take him in if the worst happened and I was sent away for good. It would be a double blow for the poor little guy.

Lyric and Madigan were at the door. “You missed a great practice,” Lyric said as she stepped inside.

Madigan had a five-inch scratch on her arm, but the blood was dry.

“Madi, what happened?” I asked. They followed me into the kitchen, and I started a kettle for tea.

“Stupid, lame-ass Ockmore got me with one of his wildly off-course arrows. The guy is a menace.” Madigan helped herself to a chunk of cold fry bread and sat down to eat it. “So wha’ is Reva training like a ma-man?” she asked around a mouthful of food.

I looked to Lyric for translation.

“Why is Revel training so hard? Like a madman, as Madi said.”

Madigan nodded succinctly and swallowed. “He’s putting the fear of Odin into every warrior out there. No one wants to spar with him because he keeps injuring people. Sent this guy Enson off in tears this morning.”

Lyric giggled. “It was kind of funny, mostly because Enson is a big ole blowhard who thinks he’s Odin’s gift to women.”

“I have no idea why he’s training like a madman.” My traitorous thoughts immediately went to the theory that he was working out to look even better so that there would be an endless line of women waiting for him.

Lyric sat down with a clunk. “I can’t believe there are only two days until—well—you know.”

“Yes, I do know, unfortunately.” I poured tea and set the cups down in front of my friends.

Madigan looked sadly at the empty room around us. “Just not the same without Raina.”

“No, it’s not. I can’t believe how fast everything went to shit. One minute, I think I’ve finally landed in a place I belong, and with my best friends, no less.” I smiled at both of them. “And the next, Raina is gone, and I’m about to be given away as spoils to a victor in a fight.”

“Seems to me Granier and Fenrick should have to fight themselves,” Madigan scoffed. “What wimps.”

“I agree,” I said. “It’s not exactly romantic knowing that my future husband sent in someone as a proxy to fight for my hand in marriage. Not that either prince is interested in that part of the deal. They just don’t want to lose their throne.”

“And why the heck wouldn’t they want your hand? You’re way too good for both of them.” Lyric blew on her tea.

“Sweet of you to say, my friend. But I assure you neither of them sees me as anything except a ball and chain that has been attached to them since I was born.”

I sighed. “I was thinking about taking a walk through town, a sort of farewell tour. I have to start facing reality. I’m going to be leaving Norvale soon.”

My words brought instant tears to Lyric’s eyes.

Madigan sat forward with an angry growl. “Stupid fucking sorcerers. They’re just bored, I think. Thought this might be entertaining. They used to have games between the regions, ‘goodwill sports,’ they called it, but there was a supreme lack of good will. Our regions are too different. I can’t believe this was the best plan they could come up with.”

“Let’s not dwell on it. The more I think about it the more my stomach gets bound in knots. Who is up for a walk to town?”

Lyric broke off a piece of cold fry bread, then crinkled her nose and put it back on the plate. “I’ll go. As usual I don’t have a damn thing else to do, and if I’m home Mama hands me a list of chores.”

Madigan drained her cup and tapped it down loudly on the table as if she was at a beer counter just finishing her pint. “I’ll walk with you to the bridge, but I’m not in the mood for town. I need to clean this slice in my arm, too. Stupid ass Ockmore. Someone needs to take that bow and wrap it around his damn neck.”

I grabbed my cloak, and the three of us headed out. The weather couldn’t decide whether to be pleasant and sunny or dreary and gray. The sky changed several times just on the short walk to the bridge. Madigan split off, and Lyric and I continued our stroll.

“What the hell is going on between you and Revel?” Lyric asked. It seemed she’d been waiting for us to be alone before asking it. Unfortunately, I had no good answer.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Oh, come on, it’s me, your bestie. I asked Revel this morning if he’d seen you, and he could barely give me an answer before walking onto the field. Did you have a fight?”

“You know what? I don’t have a clue what’s going on. Everything was fine until the sorcerers put out that stupid decree about the fight. Revel barely spoke the whole way home, and he was cold and distracted. And that was pretty much the end of it. I think he’s already made peace with the fact that I’ll be leaving. Obviously, it wasn’t too hard to do.”

Lyric’s tiny chin moved side to side in thought. “I don’t know about that. He sure didn’t look himself when I watched him out on that practice field today. There was something wild, almost feral about the way he was sparring with opponents, and I can tell you a feral Revel Greyhart is a fearsome and spectacular sight to behold.”