Page 9 of Legend

“I don’t beat you that badly.” I swung my gaze from woman to woman but they all stared at me. “Okay, I might win most games…”

“Tryall,” Jess said, with a pointed look.

“It’s only because I’ve practiced more.”

Britta eyed her. “And being a famous strategist doesn’t hurt.”

Ariana threw an arm around my shoulder. “We’re just teasing you. Don’t feel bad about being good at something. That’s why you’re going to beat Vyk and shut him up once and for all.”

Britta’s and Jess’s mouths gaped.

“You’re going to play against the security chief?” Britta’s words were barely a whisper.

Jess blinked at me. “Are you sure about this? That guy does not seem like the type to play games.”

I resumed walking toward the female tower, forcing the rest of the women to follow me. “It was my idea. I want to beat him and prove that humans—especially females—aren’t weaker or less capable than Drexians.”

“You challenged the academy’s security chief to a game of cards?” Britta looked at me like I’d lost my mind.

We all went quiet as the Academy Master and his adjunct swept by us with silent nods in our direction.

When the two Drexians had passed, I gave a shrug. “He told me to pick a way so he could prove that he’d changed, and I knew he was going to be at the staff card game.”

“So you picked cards?” Jess rubbed a hand across her forehead as we continued through the main hall. “Why didn’t you make him clean the latrines or be your personal servant?”

I hesitated. Now that she mentioned it, those did sound like pretty good options.

“She’s an Assassin,” Ariana said, before I could respond. “Of course, she’s going to pick some kind of game or puzzle that she can win.”

I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not, but it was accurate. My mind instinctively went to strategic challenges, not mental tasks, although the idea of Vyk in a ruffled apron did bring me more happiness than it should have.

“It’s not like I’m guaranteed to win. We are playing Drexian cards, and you know that’s harder than poker or blackjack.”

“Drexian cards,” all the women murmured at once.

That sent a shiver through me, and for the first time I had some misgivings about the challenge I’d accepted.

“When is this game?” Britta asked.

“It’s part of the staff card game that he’s joining. I challenged him to play me there.”

Morgan inhaled sharply. “So, it’s soon.”

Jess jogged ahead and waved for us to catch up. “Hurry up, then. We don’t have much time.”

I exchanged a glance with Ariana. “Time for what?”

“Time for you to get in more practice against us.” Jess walked backward a few steps. “I know we aren’t the best players to hone your skills against, but we’re all you have.”

A figure stepped from an intersecting corridor to block our way. “That is not necessarily true.”

Chapter

Seven

Vyk

Iwaited until Fiona was gone, savoring the hush of the Stacks as thoughts of Fiona's challenge swirled through my mind. I drew in a breath that was heavy with the scent of crumbling books and layers of dust and let it out slowly to steady the breath that had quickened at her provocation.

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