Lannahi followed the second duel with no less curiosity than the previous one, only this time because one of the competitors was a woman. When it came to magic, women competed on equal footing with men, but when pure physical strength played a crucial role, it was often more difficult for them to stand their ground against a larger opponent. However, this wasn’t always the case.
Since Sirannar passed the preliminaries, the tall and well-built woman possessed an advantage over many men, but even if she hadn’t it—like now—she made up the difference with her agility and cruelty. While Ashared had weakened his opponent with strength and endurance, Sirannar did so by striking the parts of the body that weren’t shielded by armor and leaving behind bloody wounds.
The Tournament of Spears was more diverse in participants, but Lannahi’s focus began to slip. Every minute brought her closer to the moment when her Challenge would be announced. When she saw Ashared rejoining his companions amongst the landshapers, she suddenly wanted to withdraw from her plan. The swordman had connections with the family of the woman Lannahi chose as her opponent. What would he think when—
Letiri turned her head slightly, and Lannahi instinctively returned her gaze to the spearmen in the arena. Thinking about what Ashared would think was a waste of time. It was too late to change her mind. She didn’t want to hide in the shadow of her siblings or another powerful patron, hoping for their favor. She wanted to pave her own path, not the one Nihhal envisioned.
Time passed relentlessly. The Tournament of Spears was followed by the Tournament of Fists which surpassed the previous two in brutality. Lannahi forced herself not to look away, though it seemed like she felt every brutal blow. She tried not to think about broken fingers.
“The second round of the second stage of the Moon Games is over,” the Master of Ceremonies announced after the last contestants had left the arena. He pulled a message out of a miniature Trail attached to the ring on his finger. “But please remain seated. I received information that Arbiter Bastet has an important announcement to make.”
Lannahi watched as Bastet entered the arena in the company of a man carrying a brass tripod topped with a bowl. She felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing her insides.
Now or never, she thought.
Bastet and her aide stopped next to the Master of Ceremony.
“There was a Challenge issued today in my presence,” the Arbiter said. “Lannahi, daughter of Sarkal, King of Goldenshadows, challenges Lizaar, Queen of Goldfrost, to a duel for supremacy over her kingdom.”
After a dramatic pause, the woman added, “I ask the ladies I mentioned to stand up.”
Disbelief made Lannahi’s family react only when the people around them started to turn their heads toward her.
“This is a mist—” Sarkal began but fell silent as he saw his daughter stand.
Lannahi didn’t look at him. She knew he would feel betrayed, but what she needed at that moment was his surprise. The fae surrounding them had to understand that Sarkal had nothing to do with her decision. They had to see her as a singer with excessive ambitions, not as a tool of her father who dreamed of conquering distant lands.
“Lannahi—” Sarkal whispered, shocked, before Asirri discreetly caught at his arm, stopping him from commenting further.
In the stands on the opposite side of the arena, a red-haired woman in a brown dress rose from her seat. She was too far for Lannahi to see the expression on her face, but she instinctively felt that she was being pierced with an angry if not hateful gaze. She refused to think about the coincidence that Ashared was sitting next to the woman.
The Arbiter walked over to the brass bowl and took out three black cubes from a small pouch. When she tossed them into the bowl, the sound of them rolling echoed through the arena like the crash of thunder. When the dice stopped, Bastet leaned in slowly. Lannahi knew she wasn’t the only one holding her breath.
“The duel will take place in three days.”
Lannahi stood for a moment longer before taking her seat. She kept her gaze on the Arbiter, not wanting to address the heavy tension hanging in the air.
Three days. Number one on each of the ten-sided cubes. Today was indeed full of coincidences.
“This is the only announcement I have for you all. However, if you wish to speak, now is the time,” the Arbiter said and looked around the stands. After a pause that lasted an eternity for Lannahi, the woman continued, “Since there are no more formalities, I invite everyone to the Main Hall for the Royal Banquet.”
The Royal Banquet was nothing more than an opportunity to further socialize and gossip about what happened that day in the arena. It was the last thing Lannahi felt like doing so when Sarkal rose from his seat and said, “We’re leaving,” she felt relief even though his order resembled a growl and her siblings’ gazes were like a flash of golden knives.
She focused on what she could control. A straight back, calm expression, elegant movements. At first, she walked with her eyes fixed on Letiri’s back, but when they climbed the stairs to the Main Hall she openly met the gaze of others congregated. There was no point in pretending to be inconspicuous any longer.
She didn’t see open hostility on the faces of the fae as she passed, but even those who had previously smiled at her and invited her to their courts seemed distant despite their polite nods. Lannahi didn’t blame them, though she worried that they would suspect her father of intrigue. She hoped that those who sat closest and saw Sarkal’s true reaction would share their assessment of the situation.
Sarkal moved briskly and her family left the Main Hall long before it filled with attendees. Her family remained silent except for Asirri, who thanked the hostess at the entrance hall and made a request for a Guide.
This time the walk through the Trail was almost pleasant for Lannahi. Compared to the thousands of eyes watching her, the quiet, impassive blackness surrounding her was soothing instead of frightening. She left it with genuine regret.
She would rather stay in the dark than face her father’s anger.
Chapter 7
Her litter landed in the crystal-lit courtyard last, and when Lannahi descended, Sarkal was already halfway to the palace door. Asirri, on the other hand, didn’t move until her youngest daughter joined her siblings.
“Your father wishes to talk to you,” she said. Her voice was calm, but the gaze with which she pierced each of her children was careful and appraising.
