But a match with that sword meant someone would die.
“I’m not fighting you,” I told Seth once again.
Jabari approached me, worry lining his dark brown face. “A champion can’t decline a fight,” he announced to the crowd.
Boisterous cheers erupted but Jabari stepped to my side. “Before a fight, anyway,” he added in a low voice only I could hear.
His meaning was clear. I can forfeit after the fight had begun. Unusual—at least in Pendara. Forfeiting at the beginning of a match was unheard of in the Regulation. Dishonorable.
I didn’t give a shit about honor here, though. Not if my death was all but assured.
I made my way toward the center of the ring, circling Seth. Zhi maneuvers and fighting techniques were nothing like Pendaran. They were physical fighters, their ancient war making blazingly fast. My father had always said that if Pendara’s army ever failed him, he’d turn to Zhi. Had Seth trained in those arts, alongside his Vangar skills?
Seth’s mouth formed a straight, hard line. “It’s not enough that you don’t deserve her—is it? You feel the need to humiliate her in front of everyone she knows.”
What?
He was trying to defend Seren?
As though he had the right.
It would be so easy to give in to the swell of malice clawing through me.
Which is what he wants.
The bell rang and I knelt immediately. “I forfeit,” I declared.
Silence descended upon the crowd.
Jabari rushed to Seth’s hand and lifted it. “The champion!”
The Vangar audience booed, hissing at me as I turned away.
Seth stalked toward me, cutting me off. “Fight me.”
Godsdamn, you have no fucking idea how much I want to. I didn’t want to lose to this fucking swiver. I certainly didn’t want to be called a coward for forfeiting.
But had I learned anything in the last two years? Patience was a formidable skill as any weapon.
I shoved him back. “No.”
“Coward.” The tips of his teeth bared.
“Perhaps. But I don’t trust you for a clean fight. That dagger stunt proves I’m right.” I made sure the crowd heard me, then moved past him, hopping out of the sparring ring and shoving past the ropes.
Amahle grabbed me by the elbow. “Come with me. You won’t have any friends around the ring right now.”
She dragged me through the crowd as jeers and vulgar gestures followed in our wake. As though I hadn’t been here for hours, growing their purses with bets. Fucking Viori.
We didn’t slow until we were far from the sparring rings. Amahle plucked an apple core from her collar, where someone must have thrown it. “That was quite a stunt.” She scanned my face. “Why didn’t you fight him?”
I couldn’t tell her about the sword. “I don’t trust him. He had hours to study my fighting techniques and I’m unmistakably his enemy.” He’s an unworthy opponent.
“You should know that forfeiting a fight is considered a great insult among the Viori.”
I smirked. “It’s considered a great insult among the Pendarans, too.”
“You’re playing with fire, Rykr. Seth wants you dead. He’ll punish you any chance he gets.”
