Page 32 of Court of Talons
Agents of the Imperium.I hadn’t even imagined that. Would they…could I go to someone like that, tellthemwhat happened to Merritt, show them the broken arrow? Would they hear my case, help me find justice? Perhaps even offer protection to the Tenth House?
Or, more likely, would they kill me on the spot for daring to wear the warrior band as a woman? The same as Rihad would, if he ever discovered my secret. Fortiss too.
Without warning, another blast of the trumpets nearly levels us.
“I hate that!” Caleb spits as we both slap our hands to our ears. We turn as one with the rest of the field, even the men on the fighting platforms breaking apart to stand at attention.
Fortiss calls again, his voice carrying over the silent crowd. “All warrior knights are honor bound to take part in the Tournament of Gold, for the glory of the Protectorate and the service of our people. Assemble now, that you may be officially entered!”
I freeze, even as Caleb bounces on his feet, his chatter starting up again. “Oh, that’s good, that’s smart. That’ll reel in the ones on the fence, encourage more warriors to come running. Not all of them are here, of course, but a lot of them are. Even the Fourth House and Sixth House are here, you see?” He points. “Sky blue and purple.”
“But the Sixth House already beat the Fourth.”
Caleb shakes his head. “Solely a demonstration. If pressed, either side could say that they were acting for the entertainment of the crowd.”
“Acting.” I scowl. “The warrior for the Fourth House wasbleedingby the end of that demonstration. That was no act.”
Caleb shrugs. “I told you, he wasn’t hurt that badly. And the exhibitions aren’t official. Until the Tournament of Gold begins in earnest, everyone is on a level playing field. Even if they lose during the demonstration rounds.”
I miss what Caleb says next as a large figure in red and white shoves me to the side, bowling me into the spectators surrounding us.
“Move aside, runt.” He smirks with what seems like unreasonable malice, his teeth blackened and foul smelling. I’m not sure what he’s been chewing, but he reeks of heavy spices and sweat.
“And you.” He rounds on Caleb, who stands his ground, though his face has gone pale and bloodless. “I heard what you pulled with Hantor. Unless you want your other arm cut off, you’ll be smart to stay out of the pits.” He sneers. “Not that you’d have a chance anymore. Divhs thrive on strength, not pity. And pity is all you’re good for now, isn’t it?”
“On the stage, Jank,” another man in red shouts down from the main stage, laughter in his voice. “You can taunt the horde another time.”
The burly warrior grins and holds up an arm. His fellow Second House warrior pulls him up with a hearty tug. The second warrior’s gaze falls on Caleb, and his face shutters. He looks away quickly, like a dog who’s been whipped. Then, as if he’s forced, he looks back, nodding at Caleb’s green tunic. “You’ve found a new House. That’s good.”
“It is good.” Caleb’s voice is cold as flint, but there’s still no color in his face as I glance sideways. What’s going on here? Are these men responsible for his injury?
“Warriors of the Second, Fourth, and Sixth Houses, honor the Exalted Imperium!”
A roar goes up from the crowd, and I stare at the men upon the stage as they raise their left hands high into the sky, their right fists against their hearts. These aren’t boys, in the main, though in their midst I spy the young Hantor, whom Caleb fought. Most of these warrior knights are grown men of twenty, even thirty years. Men who have trained to fight these battles, and who’ve trained the boys in their ranks.
My own arm band tightens painfully as my thoughts shift from the lines of men on the stage to the looming castle of the distant First House, high in its mountain embrace.
“Warriors of the Seventh, Ninth, and Eleventh Houses, honor the Exalted Imperium!”
I swallow hard as a second round of men on the stage raise their left hands, with more coming in from the crowd to clamber up. I’ve no idea which houses are still on their way to the tournament, or which won’t send representatives at all. And, of course, the Tenth and Twelfth Houses have no representatives. The child warrior of the Twelfth House is probably still waiting for his bride in the northeast corner of the Protectorate. While the warrior of the Tenth House…
Anger boils up within me, thick and hot.“Don’t enter the pits,”Nazar had said. That wasn’t my place. But these men aren’t standing on the fighting platforms. They’re standing above them, on a separate stage. Honored by all who see them.
Honored.
I remember Merritt’s words, so full of life and excitement.“But I’m going to enter the Tournament of Gold and bring honor to our house…”
A surge of emotion assaults me, leaving me dizzy with both a hollow grief and a razor-pointed rage. One of the houses on this stage took my brother from me. Took his dreams, his hopes and boyish fantasies, and speared them on the tip of a dead gray arrow. One of these houses committed the ultimate crime and wouldneverpay for that crime unless I…unless I…
I wheel to Caleb, who’s staring at me intently, the ghost of a smile curving his lips.
“Go ahead,” he says, his certainty sending icy shivers along my warrior band. “This platformisyour place, really and truly. Even Nazar knows it. He wouldn’t have sent you here if he didn’t, and he’s smart, I’m telling you. I think he’sreallysmart.”
Fortiss’s voice rings out again. “To all who would?—”
“Wait!” shouts Caleb, before I can stop him. My heart thunders, but he’s no longer standing beside me. Instead, he kneels and offers me his hand and shoulder and—almost without thinking—I step into his grasp and leap to the central stage as he stands again.
I land lightly on my feet. The men all turn, surprise evident in their features, and Hantor’s reedy whine comes first.