“Good.” He nodded, then drank from a glass of wine. “You won’t be sitting in my private balcony, but you’ll have the next best view. If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you.” I knew I shouldn’t push my luck, but I had to. “Actually there is something I want to ask.”
King Elion smirked, waiting for me to continue, and I immediately got the feeling that it was all formulaic.
“I was wondering if Bran could attend the tournament with me.” Half of me was asking for Bran’s sake. He told me a little bit about the etiquette of the Vargothi while he helped me get ready this morning. Unless a servant was hosting, they didn’t get to attend—ever. I knew he’d be elated if he could watch, but I alsoneededhim there. I wanted to be able to ask any questions I had freely, and if Bran felt like he owed me a favor, I knew he would answer. He was also one of the few people here I trusted. Well, trust wasn’t exactly right. I didn’t trust anyone anymore. But he was authentic at least. I knew exactly what I was getting with him. He was who he was, and I found it intoxicatingly gravitating.
“Why do you want to watch the Vargothi with aservant?” the king tsked, his amusement fading to disgust. He had a slight crinkle around his eyes I hadn’t noticed earlier, and whenever he wasn’t smiling, it gave him a harsh demeanor.
“I’ve never seen it before, and I’m sure I’ll have a lot of questions. I didn’t want to bother anyone with?—”
“I don’t let just anyone witness it,” he cut me off. “The Vargothi is a prestigious event. The only servants allowed are the ones working it.”
I stopped eating, a pit forming in my stomach, as I turned to look at him. Maybe I went too far…
“Despite not being from my kingdom, I extended an invitation to you as a show of my good graces, and you mock me by wanting to go with a servant,” he sneered and I cursed myself, wondering if he was going to uninvite me. I needed to watch it. I had no way of finding out who Hael was without seeing him in person. Elion leaned back in his chair as he assessed me.
“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling my cheeks blanch at his words.
“Arrik will escort you to the tournament,” he said after a long pause. I was about to ask who that was before he added. “Since he brought you here, he can answer any questions you have, and maybe teach you basic court etiquette.”
I tried to compose my expression as realization dawned on me that I was going to have to spend the entire tournament with the rider who found me. At least I knew his name now.
“I appreciate your kindness,” I forced myself to say carefully.
“I don’t offer things out of kindness.”
The table was starting to fill around us, but I refused to look. I kept staring at the king, waiting for what he was getting at, as my heart pounded faster and faster.
“I expect a show of your Token once the tournament’s finished.”
My posture relaxed a fraction when he turned toward Cash and started talking about something else, but I couldn’t get myself to eat the rest of my breakfast. The little bit of sweets I already ate stirred, turning my stomach.
It wasn’t until everyone was clearing the room that I looked up and noticed the drakin rider was staring at me. He hadn’t moved from his seat, but Cash had.
Cash walked around the table before standing in front of me. “I’llbe in the same balcony,” he said, looking me up and down before winking. “If you get tired of Arrik, come find me.”
His smile shifted into a smirk before glancing back at Arrik. The latter had a withering look on his face, like the idea of having to sit through the tournament with me was punishment for something.
I honestly didn’t know what to say. Years of talking to absolutely no one had completely ruined any socialization skills I might have possessed when I was fifteen, and now, I barely knew how to act. I almost just got myself uninvited to the tournament.
A chair scraped against the floor and echoed across the room. Arrik stormed toward me with a scowl on his face.
“Come on,” he growled. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Fifteen
Blood and Drinks
MAGNOLIA
The Dome rose ahead, rivaling Elion’s castle. Thousands of stairs split the various sections, creating walkways between the stands, and the crush of people flooding into them was staggering. I hadn’t realized there were this many Vivenians before, and this was only a fraction of the people, only select civilians from Soffikane and the Grigg—the First and Second Provinces—something I just found out at breakfast.
I tried to steady my breathing, praying my Token wouldn’t manifest as we were ushered inside. Cash lingered by my side as I followed Arrik, staying close enough that my skin was prickling. Mercifully, he didn’t try to touch me like he did during our training, but it didn’t matter. I was hemmed in on all sides, shoulder to shoulder with the mass of Vivenians all surging forward, trying to find their seats.
Arrik, on the other hand, walked like he’d be happy to lose me in the crowd.
It was infuriating and made keeping pace with him near impossible.
