Before I can answer, the prior-at-arms lifts a gloved hand. "Wrath," he says, "is a sin. Our path is littered with frustrations. One must always be even-handed and steady in mind. No matter where they may arise.Wheneverthey arise.”
My throat tightens.
I don’t want to believe it. He’d really sabotage a bout just to make sure that Kai would play it cool—especially knowing full well there was no way that would actually happen?
And at the same time…
At the same time, there is nothing I can say.
I could go to the armorer and report the interference, in theory, but I can't just tell on a White Brother like that. It'd be unthinkable. Besides, the referee was right. Kai could have always asked for a re-inspection, but he didn't. He just blew up. That's the line he crossed, and there's no going back.
This was not right. Yet there's nothing I can do to undo it now. The rules are the rules.
“Caliburn versus Mountstuart," calls a referee. "Foil fencers, get prepared."
"That's you," my father says tersely. "Isn't it?"
I nod.
"A yellow card already," he says, even lower, so maybe only I can hear. "Don't make it worse by being late."
I nod again, more diligently.
My chest and throat are burning as I return Kai's saber to the sidelines and take my place.
Whatever focus I had is obliterated.
The rest of the tournament is a blur. Mechanical, automatic, swift. I take Mountstuart easily, Villa Loyola with a bit more effort, but come out on top both times. Cal wins too, both with healthy point margins, and Lanz…
"I'm sorry, King.” Lanz chews his lip hard, rubbing his forehead. "I haven't really been training saber enough, and that Mountstuart guy is fast as hell, and…”
“It’s okay." I grip my water bottle and drink it. Watch from our bench as the officials tally the remaining points. "We still won."
"Yeah, but it's not enough, is it?"
Kai. He's reappeared from wherever he went to. Arms folded.
"Not with the league standings,” he goes on.
On my other side, Callahan blinks, his hair stuck damp to his forehead. "What do you mean?"
I tense my jaw, doing mental math on the scores. I don't want it to be true, but Kai's right.
"We're still going to the final," I say. "But we're second in league standings now. Behind St. Ignaty."
Callahan nods. "Right. I mean, isn't that what we expected? One and two, us and them?”
"Yeah, except usuallywe'reone," Kai says shortly. "If they're one, that means…
“That means St. Ignaty is going to host the final,” Lanz interrupts, eyes wide. “Oh shit.”
"Oh shit is fucking right," says Kai. "Hope your passports are all up to date, boys." He sends me a look that doesn't need words to convey its meaning.
Luther Pendragon’s not going to like this.
“Nothing to be done about it now,” I say out loud. “Let's just go be gracious winners and hosts.”
NINETEEN
