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“Father wouldn’t let me. He insisted we all had to come.”
Brody chuckled. “I knew you wouldn’t be here if you had a choice.”
“I’m sure it won’t be so bad, Perce,” said Bianca soothingly. “It’s actually pretty fun to watch the tournament.”
“That’s right,” Brody chipped in. “The rest of us have been doing it for years.”
Percival snorted. “I’ve certainly never seen you compete,” he said, raising an eyebrow at his cousin’s lithe and un-muscled form. The twins were about Percival’s age, and Heath knew that Brody’s disinterest in sparring with his cousin had been a source of irritation to Percival since childhood.
Brody grinned. “Oh, I’m not allowed to. Didn’t you hear that anyone born with power is requested to take a supervisory role this year?”
Heath couldn’t help but laugh, but Percival just grunted, unimpressed.
“Somehow I don’t think anyone’s worried about you using your abilities with plants to win the tournament.”
“Ah well, we can’t all be gifted with the strength of five men, cousin,” said Brody, elbowing Percival jovially. “I’m just grateful I got something. Just think, I could be like poor old Heath, here.”
“Brody,” said Bianca, her tone reproachful.
Heath just grinned appreciatively, unfazed by his cousin’s humor, but Percival rushed to his brother’s defense.
“Heath has power. His eyesight is unbelievable.”
“Of course,” said Brody, turning to Heath with a sparkle in his eyes that belied his solemn tone. “No archery for you this year, Heath.”
“Actually,” admitted Percival grudgingly, “they said he can compete if he wants to.”
Brody gave a shout of laughter, which he quickly stifled at a long-suffering look from his sister.
“Not considered a threat, hey?” he said to Heath. “That’s a bit of a blow, isn’t it?”
Heath chuckled. “My pride is deeply wounded, as you can see.” He grabbed a drink from a tray being carried past by a servant. “But I’m not going to compete, obviously. I’ll be watching with Percival and you lot.”
“See that, Bianca?” Brody asked his sister in a wounded voice. “Heath has his brother’s back in his misfortune. Where’s that sibling loyalty when I’m out of favor with Mother?”
Bianca rolled her eyes. “There’s one small but significant difference—when you’re out of favor, you’ve usually brought it on yourself. Plus,” she added reflectively, over Brody’s splutters of protest, “as your twin, I have to work a little harder to distance myself from your bad reputation.”
Heath was chuckling again, and even the disgruntled Percival was smiling in spite of himself at his cousins’ banter. But Brody shook his head sadly.
“No one knows how I suffer.”
“Mother probably does,” Bianca pointed out. “Being a twin herself. And Grandmother, I suppose.” A look of alarm crossed her features, as if she was just figuring something out. “Oh no. I’m going to have twins one day, aren’t I?”
“Probably,” grinned Brody, elbowing her.
“Where is Grandmother?” Heath asked, looking around. “I was looking forward to speaking with her, but I can’t see her.”
“She and Grandfather only got back from Kyona yesterday,” said Bianca. “They’re resting today, but they’ll be at the tournament.”
Heath nodded, relieved. He had momentarily forgotten about the elderly couple’s trip. They had been traveling to the neighboring kingdom of Kyona every summer since their marriage, and they continued in the habit, even in their old age. His grandmother had been a princess of Kyona before her marriage to a Valorian prince, and her brother was Kyona’s king.
It was a nice tradition, but Heath was glad they were back. He was very fond of his grandmother, and often found that she had a very helpful perspective on things. He wanted to ask her what she thought about the rising prejudice against those in the court who had been born with magic in their blood. It was presumably a matter of particular interest to her, given that she was the one who had introduced the bloodline—she was the first power-wielding Valorian, really.
“I wonder how their time in Kyona went,” he said aloud.
“Yes, I wonder what it’s like over there,” Percival said, his tone still slightly disgruntled as his eyes flicked to the sovereigns at the end of the room. “With a power-wielder actually on the throne, I’m guessing things run a little differently.”
The conversation moved on, but Heath lost track of his cousins’ chatter. His eyes remained fixed on his brother, who was still looking toward the royal family. Obviously Heath hadn’t been the only one to hear the muttered comments of their onlookers earlier. Whether it was the expression on Percival’s face, or the ordeal that the tournament was sure to be, he couldn’t say. All Heath knew was that his unease was growing by the minute.
