“The matches are just a show. They don’t matter,” Tadg spat. “Why do you think the Exhibition was moved to Midwinter?”
“I don’t… I don’t know,” Barclay hissed. “What do you mean, that the matches are just a show?” Tadg was fidgeting, agitated. He wasn’t making any sense.
“Do you really think you’d get this far if they weren’t? Some of the students already have Masters, and the Exhibition isn’t even over.”
At that, his gaze shifted to the tents behind Barclay. Barclay turned to see what he was looking at, and he spotted Soren, drinking with Erhart and several other Masters. Barclay stiffened.
“Are you threatening me?” Barclay asked him. “Well, you and Soren—”
“Me and Soren, what?” Tadg took an aggressive step closer.
“You’re working together, aren’t you? Like how he and your father were writing his next book together?Youalready have your Master.”
Tadg jabbed his finger into Barclay’s chest.
“Whatever you think you know, you’re wrong. I can’t say anything or he’d find out. And I don’t trust any of your friends. But if I were you, I’d leave Sycomore tonight and go back to that town of yours. If you warn them now, maybe you can—”
“And let you win tomorrow?” Barclay scoffed. He saw exactly what Tadg was doing.
“To be clear,” Tadg said flatly, “you wouldn’t win.”
“We’ll find out.”
“To beclearer,” Tadg hissed, “I’m warning you: if you compete tomorrow, you’ll regret it.” He lowered his voice. “Run off and mention this to Runa if you want, but she won’t be able to stop me.”
And with that, Tadg stalked off, leaving Barclay furious and alone on the field. He wouldnotbe scared out of competing tomorrow. He had a Mythic class Beast, just like Tadg. He had come this far for Runa, and he wouldn’t back down now.
“What happened?” Ethel asked when Barclay rejoined the table.
“He was trying to convince me not to fight,” Barclay said. “In fact, he said I should leave Sycomore.”
“That coward. I knew it,” Abel muttered.
“There’s more—I think you’re right. I think he’s already Soren’s apprentice.”
Viola furrowed her eyebrows. “Did he say that?”
They already knew that Soren and Conley Murdock used to be partners. And when he thought about it, Tadg had been shocked when Barclay had returned from the Woods after Soren attacked him… very shocked. As though he hadn’t thought he’d come back at all. As though heknewhe wouldn’t.
And then there was Runa forbidding Tadg from going to the Bog’s Inn, how he’d gone to Soren’s lecture over hers…
“He tried to deny it,” Barclay said, “but it was obvious what he was doing. He wants me to leave. He’s scared of losing.”
“If he reallyisSoren’s apprentice,” said Viola carefully, “then maybe you should tell someone. Like Runa. You could be in danger tomorrow during the match.”
“Erhart won’t call off the match,” Abel said, “even if Runa wanted him to.”
“Of course not! Erhart practically worships Soren.” Barclay nodded at where they were seated together across the field, drinking from those flaming goblets. “Tadg even said Runa ‘won’t be able to stop me.’?”
“I don’t like this,” Viola murmured.
“Youhaveto fight,” Ethel told him.
“You have towin,” Abel finished.
Barclay had every intention of winning. He had not journeyed across the Woods, nearly getting himself killed or eaten on multiple occasions, only to back down because of cruel threats. This was the one time in Barclay’s life that he wouldnotrun.
He would get his life back. The life that his parents had wanted for him.
