Page 15 of Rune Assassin

He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. I leaned for something a little more fulfilling but Tegan drew back and grinned. “You should get some sleep. I have no doubt these next three days will be very long.”

Damn him and his being right.

CHAPTERNINE

I awokethe next morning feeling as refreshed as a flattened flower. My groggy eyes creaked open and the unfamiliar surroundings confused my foggy brain for a few moments before I recalled the previous day’s adventures. A groan escaped me and I buried my face deep into my pillow. Lusio was definitely a connoisseur of fine feathers.

“Time to rise,” Tegan called from the dresser where he was freshening up.

I glared at him with one eye. “I’ll rise but I’m not shining.”

I crawled out of bed and slipped into my clothes. Tegan waited for me at the door and we stepped out together. Voices on the ground floor caught our attention and we ventured to the balcony that overlooked the front hall.

“What do you mean I will be going first?” The complaint came from Cordelia who stood before our host with a look of fury on her face. “I object!”

Lusio gave her a soothing smile that did nothing to assuage her ire. “The women have always had the pleasure of opening the games. It is merely a custom and you-”

“If I am to be treated as a lady then the lady demands that I go last!” she insisted.

“You will have a chance during the final two games,” he countered. “Those are decided by the die. Now please present yourself in a better glow in front of the audience. They expect the best out of our contestants.”

She shook her head. “I still-”

“And they expectfourcontestants,” he interrupted.

The meaning was clear to Cordelia and she snapped her mouth shut. Lusio smiled and nodded. “I’m glad you agree. The games shall start promptly at noon. Please be ready to present yourself on the beach. Miles will give you further instructions at that time.” He offered her his arm. “Now shall I escort you to breakfast?”

Cordelia grudgingly accepted his arm and slapped a smile on her face that was as sweet as a sour ball. “I would be delighted.”

The pair strolled off in the direction of the dining hall. I looked up at Tegan who was amused. “What was that all about?”

“The first person to play the game is the first person to figure out exactlyhowit’s played,” he pointed out as we proceeded down the stairs. “The others can work off what they learned and do a better job.”

“Why doesn’t Lusio just have the other contestants hide away until it’s their turn?” I wondered.

“For sport, young lady,” a voice spoke up as Beringer joined us at the second-floor landing. “Our host is a great believer in luck and skill, and weighs them more heavily than experience.”

“You’ve seen the tournament before?” Tegan wondered.

Beringer shook his head. “I haven’t had the pleasure, but the gentleman with whom I spoke, the past winner, was kind enough to give me some advice.”

“Did he say anything else?” The question came from above us as we reached the bottom of the stairs. We moved to the center of the hall and looked up at the second-floor balcony to find Fidel leaning over. Duncan was perched on his shoulder and a smile lay on his face. He waved to us. “A bright morning to you all!”

“I take it you slept well, young man,” Beringer mused as Fidel hopped down the stairs and quickly joined us.

Fidel placed his hands on his hips and nodded. “Better than I ever have. Our host doesn’t spare the sheets or the mattress stuffings.”

I lifted my nose and sniffed the air. “Or the food.”

A delicious aroma of breakfast floated around us and we quickly made our way to the dining hall. Cordelia and Lusio were seated in the same chairs from the previous evening and we did the same. I was glad when Morrigan didn’t join us.

Our host was as giddy as a schoolboy on the last day of school. He could hardly sit still and ate faster than any of us. The rest of us were only half done with our plates when he pushed his empty one back and stood. “You will have to excuse me, but I must see to the final preparations of the trial.” He didn’t wait for a reply, but bowed his head and hurried from the room.

The moment he left, Cordelia stabbed her eggs with her fork. A scowl marred her beautiful features as she twisted the tines. “Damn him and his stupid chivalry!”

“It’s only the first trial,” Fidel pointed out and he received a look of death from her.

She yanked her fork from the eggs and wagged it at him. “Then are you offering to take my spot?”

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