Griffin crouched in front of her, his expression calmer. “See? That’s the problem. You cry like that and I feel bad for what I said. But imagine if you get hurt. I’m considering our guests and visitors, but I’m also considering your own well-being.”
Zora felt so worthless, so powerless. And even worse that he was using her tears as a reason to get her out of the games. Then a thought came to her, quick as lightning: Seth wouldn’t be crying and feeling sorry for himself. He’d stand up proud and demand his right to be part of the Blood Cup. She didn’t have to accept it either.
She gave him an icy smile. “That’s all great. Change the rules for next time. For now, I won my right to be here fair and square.” She pulled her bag and showed him the letter. “My name is here: Zora Sunborn, and it was the choice of the Dark Valley according to your rules.”
He smiled, unfazed. “My rules. Exactly. And I can change them.”
Something came to her mind. “Didn’t you say you were competing? Your highness.” She really had to get better at using these titles.
“What’s the difference?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Maybe your highness is afraid of getting your high ass kicked.” His eyes had a dark glint. She took some courage and smiled. “Again.”
He stared at her for a moment, then burst out laughing. “No. That’s certainly not the case.”
She ignored his laughter. “Then you have nothing to lose. If I’m weak like you think, I’ll be out in the first round. If I’m not, then what’s the problem? People will realize I’m a competitor like the rest, a person, not just a cute little pretty thing that’s only good to serve men.”
“I never meant that.” He got up suddenly, frowning and looking as offended as if she said he ate puppies for lunch.
She narrowed her eyes. “Then what did you mean?”
Griffin stared at her as if thinking. She’d nailed it. Then there was a knock on the door and it opened.
A handsome young man stepped in. He had dark blue eyes and brown hair with some braids with blue beads on the bottom and wore a satin white overcoat and dark blue velvet pants.
“Brother?”
So that was either King Kiran or prince Larzen.
The newcomer then smiled. “I had no idea you had female company or else I wouldn’t have—”
“This is the champion the Dark Valley sent.” Griffin closed his eyes, as if annoyed.
“Oh. Lovely.” The newcomer approached Zora, knelt on one knee, took her hand, and kissed it. “Prince Larzen.”
Zora was so stunned it took a while for her to reply. “An honor, your highness. I’m Zora Sunborn.”
He got up and smiled. “Born from the sun indeed.”
It didn’t make her feel good. She didn’t want them reminding her she was a girl, and then telling her she couldn’t compete. “I’m a fighter, too. I’ve been facing shadow creatures since I was a little girl.”
“No doubt,” the prince said. “Or you wouldn’t have been selected for the Blood Cup.”
“Larzen.” Griffin’s voice was a warning and he shot Zora a look that pierced like a sword. “I don’t think she’s a good fit for it. We were working on a solution.”
“I earned my place in this competition,” Zora insisted.
“And you should be proud.” Larzen smiled. He turned to Griffin. “Our rules never stated that only men should compete. Wasn’t it you who decided to allow women in the army? In the Royal Guard?”
“Strong fighters. Or archers, doctors, strategists, not—”
Larzen waved a hand. “She’ll do fine. Or not. But that’s not up to us to decide. If she’s the champion they sent us, we must trust that they knew what they were doing. I think our guests will love her.”
Griffin crossed his arms and looked away. “Whatever, then.” He stared at her. “If you get hurt, I don’t want to see a single tear.”
Zora could also shoot daggers from her eyes. “You won’t.”
“She’ll need special accommodations, right?” Larzen asked.
Griffin nodded while rolling his eyes.
“I’ll take care of it,” the older prince added. He then turned to Zora. “Follow me.”
As Zora followed Larzen through more and more corridors, she could barely believe that the worst was over, that she was in the competition, that Griffin didn’t want to imprison or execute her for what she’d done in the morning. She was still hurt by his words saying that she should look for a husband instead of fighting, though.
But on the bright side, she was walking with a prince, a real prince, like the ones she’d dreamed about. Not that she wanted anything romantic with him, but it still was like a wish coming true. Griffin, on the other hand, didn’t give her the same impression, didn’t feel like a prince. This morning she’d thought he was some kind of mercenary, now she thought he was an annoying hurdle on her way.
They entered a room, but this had two beds, rugs, and a big window with curtains. It wasn’t anything like the prison-like room from the house of champions. There was a suitcase already in a corner and one of the beds was unmade. So many dark spots Zora wanted to jump at, except that she had to control herself.
“You’ll share a room with Loretta.” Larzen pointed inside. “She’s from Gold Port and I think you’ll like her.”
“That’s great. Thanks.”
He was chuckling, then. “You got some talent, girl.” He mimicked her voice: “I earned my place in this competition.” He bent down laughing. “Even I almost believed you.”
Zora felt the blood drain from her face but didn’t think he’d notice it considering how tanned she was. She smiled as if confused. “I don’t understand.”
He pointed to her. “Excellent, that’s what I’m talking about.”
She tilted her head. “Are you, erm, is your highness going to explain what’s so funny?”
He took both of her hands in his. “No highness, dear. Just Larzen. My dear prince works, too. I’m your friend. So much your friend that I didn’t tell my lovely brother that you’re an impostor.”
4
The Other Prince
Zora kept her face blank, just a little surprised. “Where did you get that idea?”
Larzen laughed. “Girl, you’re good. Now, the thing is, we got letters from all the regions. In the case of the Dark Valley, their champion wasn’t a girl.”
She wasn’t going to quit that easily, she had to keep fighting. She shrugged. “Of course. I placed second. Our champion got ill the night before he was supposed to come.” It was always a good idea to keep the lie close to the truth.
“Interesting.” He raised his eyebrows. “And you wouldn’t have anything to do with this mysterious, sudden, illness?”
Illness. That was a brilliant idea that hadn’t crossed her mind, but she just laughed. “Why? You’d think I’d knock on the champion’s door offering a drink and he’d take it? Who would be that stupid?”