Page 5 of Champion of Cards

His eyes shifted back to Kingsnake. “You want your snake to play in a card tournament while your older brother is abandoned in a foreign land?”

“We’ll travel soon,” Kingsnake said. “Cobra needed to take care of a couple things first…”

King Serpentine only looked more annoyed by that answer.

“Father,” Kingsnake said. “It’s not that much to ask—”

“I’ve just become ruler of all the Kingdoms, and you want me to begin my reign by allowing snakes to play in card matches?” he asked incredulously. “My subjects will think I’m a fool—and they’d be right to. He can’t even talk to anyone during the match.”

“Hiiiissssssss.”

Fang.

Now I wanted to bite his nose right off his face and spit it out for the rats.

“I can speak on his behalf,” Kingsnake said. “It’s just one tournament.”

King Serpentine crossed his arms over his chest. “No.”

“Hiiisssssss.”

Fang, shut your mouth.

He hatesss sssnakesss. That’sss what thisss isss really about. By our venom he isss ssstrong, but he remainsss prejudiced.

Even so, threatening him would get us nowhere.

“I can’t believe you’ve wasted my time even asking,” King Serpentine said. “Your brother sacrificed his freedom so we could spare the humans from the plague, but all you care about is a damn card match. You expect me to walk down there and pass down this new rule and look like an idiot? I may be a vampire, but we’re outnumbered by humans twenty-to-one. That is not how I’ll begin my reign. Now, return home and prepare for your voyage. I want my son back. I want my son to see everything we’ve accomplished.”

THREE

FANG

I hatesss him.

“I’m not his biggest fan either,” Kingsnake said as we left the city and walked to the stables to retrieve our horses.

“Why is he like that?” Larisa asked. “We fought for the kingdom that he now rules, but granting you a favor is too much?”

He hatesss sssnakes.

“I’m starting to wonder if that’s true,” Larisa said. “I’m sorry, Fang. I really thought my idea would work.”

It’sss okay. I was furious that King Serpentine refused to grant my wish, but I was more disappointed than anything else. That Golden Card would never circle my body. I wouldn’t have the opportunity to beat worthy opponents in the greatest match in this world. I was sure I could win, but now I would never know.

We rode back home, cutting through the warm fields and heading for the passage in the mountains. We passed Raventower then approached the hillsides, taking advantage of the sun as it hung low in the sky. I didn’t see anything…because I was too disappointed. I’d been playing cards all my life, but for what? To crush every opponent I faced mercilessly.

We stopped when it was too dark for the horses to see. They were fed oats and given water before being tied to the branches of a nearby tree. Instead of sharing their cot with them, I chose to sleep in the branches up above…alone.

“I feel so bad…” Larisa whispered in the hope I wouldn’t hear.

“It’s not your fault.”

“I really thought that would work.”

“My father is an asshole who doesn’t care about anyone except himself…and Aurelias.”

“I know how much this means to Fang. There has to be something we can do.” They continued to whisper to each other in the darkness, oblivious to the fact that I could hear every word. My disappointment was amplified by their disappointment.

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