‘And that landing on the mountain,’ Linden added, shaking his head. ‘That didn’t feel good, I bet.’
Asta looked back and forth between them. ‘Wait, you guys watched the races?’
‘Of course!’ Maeve seemed genuinely shocked at the question. ‘Uncle Carl and Aunt Leona came over. And Grandma and Grandpop.’
Asta almost laughed out loud imagining them all in the farmhouse, gathered around the TV. ‘But you hate dragon racing,’ she said to her father.
‘You should have seen him and Grandpop, Asta,’ Maeve interrupted before he could answer. ‘Shouting at the TV, jumping up and down. And with his back, too. If anyone has dragon fever, it’s your father.’ She smoothed her slacks with satisfaction.
Gem put his arm around his uncle’s shoulder, a proud grin on his face. ‘Our girl’s not bad, right?’
‘She was the best one,’ Linden said, quite sincerely. A boyish light flashed in his eyes. ‘How did you do that thing with the rope?’
But before Asta could answer, Gem pointed to the television, and they all turned. Flávia Gameiro was stepping up to the microphone for the press conference. Linden sat on the edge of Gem’s bed. Maeve turned to face the screen mounted on the wall, but she grabbed hold of her daughter’s hand. Gem turned away and began to pace the room.
‘After the unprecedented events that took place during yesterday’s championship race for the Silverscale Grand Prix, the National Federation of Dragon Racing Authorities board members held an emergency meeting to determine what, if any, disciplinary measures should be taken against competitors in the race and to what extent this would impact the results. Following a thorough and spirited debate, we have disqualified the presumptive winner of the race, Asta Ekenberg, for the possession and use of unauthorized racing equipment, for the improper use of the racecourse, and for knowingly endangering her competitors. This will result in a lifetime ban from all NFDRA competitions from this day forward.’ Asta’s mother gasped and squeezed Asta’s hand.
A chill ran over Asta’s body. A lifetime ban. She had expected a fine. Probation. Maybe a year’s suspension. Not this. She had aimed to make herself a pariah but not an exile. It was as if someone had heard what she said to Allie Vorajee and was holding her to it, but she wanted to tell them that she didn’t mean it. She didn’t hate racing. It was everything to her.
Please, please not this.
But Flávia was still talking.
‘Additional questions have been raised about the quality of the track itself, and while no formal tampering charges are being brought against Ms. Ekenberg at this time, an investigation is forthcoming.’
Asta’s parents turned to look at her. She shook her head. ‘I didn’t do anything to the track.’ She felt sick.
‘Unfortunately, bound by existing regulations stating that all competitors must successfully trigger the entire field of racing beacons to be said to complete a race, the board has been forced to recognize only four teams as finishers of the 194th Silverscale Grand Prix. After disqualifying the first-place finisher, Natalia Bruce riding Vulture has been declared the winner of the race.’ Flávia seemed to choke on Nat’s name as she said it.
Asta leaned toward the TV as Flávia named the two other teams that Asta had accidentally triggered after the canyon, awarding them second and third place. Asta was confused. She had skipped Felix, but his armband had been triggered in the canyon. He should have been named in second place.
Flávia pushed on, her eyes glancing down at the piece of paper in her hand. Cameras flashed as she spoke.
‘The board has decided that two honorary titles will be awarded, although these awards will not appear in official record-keeping and confer no privilege for next year’s competitive season. That said, the board would like to present Basma Bohra, riding Stryke, and Adam Soroko, riding Magnolia, with an award for excellence in competition and naming them honorary Silverscale finalists.’
Asta couldn’t understand it. ‘That’s not right.’ Again, Flávia had left Felix off the list. Beacon or no, Felix, not Soroko, had finished after Nat. It was her, Basma, Nat, Felix. Had they figured out who made the cord for her? Did they think he was complicit? But who would have told them?
None of this was right. None of it was fair. And it was Asta’s fault. She had screwed with Silverscale, and for that she was being punished. For that, she would be loathed for all time. And maybe she had earned that fate. Certainly Basma had every right to hate her. Asta had played a mean trick on a good woman. Basma deserved better.
I owe you a win,Asta thought to her through the television screen. If she ever had the chance, she would make it right.
But right now, Asta’s worried thoughts returned to the fact that Flávia had not even mentioned Felix’s name. What did it mean?
As if reading her mind, a reporter from the crowd called out to Flávia. ‘What about Felix Seraphin? The standings show that he finished the race.’
Deep lines appeared around Flávia’s mouth as she frowned, choosing her words. She lifted a hand and briefly fiddled with her earring. ‘The Seraphin team has retroactively withdrawn from competition in this year’s Silverscale Grand Prix.’ A murmur of amazement ran through the gathered reports. Questions were shouted to Flávia, but she put up a hand to stop them. ‘The Seraphins will release a statement later today addressing this matter.’
Asta looked at Gem. ‘What does that mean? What happened?’
He shook his head, bewildered. Asta’s mother prodded Gem, and he spoke again.
‘Asta. You heard what they said, didn’t you? You’re permanently disqualified. Banned. You won’t be able to race anymore.’
Asta just stared at him, trying not to hear his words.
‘I’m so sorry, sweetie,’ her mother said, and pulled her into her arms again. ‘I’m so, so sorry.’
For a moment, Asta told herself that this show of support, though sweet, was entirely unnecessary. For a moment, she tried to convince herself that the only feeling sweeping through her, starting at her feet and rushing up her legs, through her stomach and chest, and over her head, was pure relief. She had done it, after all. She had kept the Bruces at bay, given them what they wanted, and no one had gotten hurt. Whoever was mad at her today would eventually forget. Leia had taught her that. They would all forget her name eventually.
