Page 2 of Champion of Cards

If I could play, I know I would be the champion. That trophy would be mine, and I would get the Golden Card to wear upon my neck. It would look sssooo beautiful againsssst my gloriousss ssscalesss. I would give the gold to Kingsnake to donate to our people. The honor and the pride I would feel…would be unmatched.

“I know my dream can’t come true, but there’s no reason yours can’t.”

But no sssnakesss.

“Kingsnake’s father is the King of Kingdoms now. There’s no reason he can’t let you play.”

I’d despised Kingsnake’s father for a long time—since he killed all the golden serpents just to hoard his power. Not all snakes got along. Some of us were sworn enemies of each other. But to eradicate an entire race of them…was despicable. He’sss a sssnake killer, and I wisssh him a painful death…

“I know, but he’s your only chance.”

Never. I looked at the ocean again. I was far too stubborn to ask for a favor from my enemy.

“What if Kingsnake asks?”

I remained quiet.

“I know he would ask for you. He would do anything for you, Fang.”

And I would do anything for him.

“Then let me speak to him. I want you to play, Fang. And I want to sit there and watch you win.”

* * *

I lay in my chair in the other room, my long body dispersed across the branches with my head turned toward the window. It was dark now, the sun setting behind the storm clouds that blocked out the sky.

The door opened and closed, and I heard Kingsnake enter the bedroom. The first thing he did was embrace Larisa, kissing her as he squeezed her ass. I couldn’t see any of this, but I just knew.

“How was your day?” she asked.

“Viper found the new settlement for the orcs. He wants to hunt them down, but I want to leave them be.”

Her smile was in her voice. “Because you’re a good man, Kingsnake.”

“I’m just not barbaric. My brother likes to tie up loose ends.”

“I want to ask you something…”

“I’m listening, baby.”

“Fang and I were talking…”

Thanksss for sssaying hi…

His annoyance was audible in his voice. Hello, Fang.

Larisa continued. “He really wants to play in the Champion of Cards tournament.”

“The what?” he asked incredulously.

“It’s a card tournament in the Kingdoms. But I guess it’s for humans only.”

“If it’s for humans only, then why are we having this conversation?”

“Because he deserves a chance to play,” she said. “He shouldn’t be disqualified because of his race.”

“Not his race. His species.”

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