Page 36 of Once the Skies Fade

Their comments I could ignore. Their scathing looks proved harder to disregard, especially while gathered in a small room listening to Isa explain the games—how the trials were designed, how points would be awarded, and how a victor would be determined.

“How many males have been invited?” Fern asked sweetly, as if we were hosting a masquerade ball instead of a deadly competition.

“One from each village in our kingdom and Emeryn,” Isa answered. “So, twelve total.”

“Thirteen, actually.” Every head turned. Graham stood in the doorway, a tense mess of hand-wringing and weight-shifting.

“Excuse me?” Isa asked, though there was no hint of surprise in her tone.

Graham dropped his hands and cleared his throat. “I would like to enter the competition.”

Isa swung her gaze over to me, and a knowing smile played at the corners of her mouth. I couldn’t be bothered to be annoyed by his decision. I’d expected him to do this, even while I hoped he wouldn’t. The thought of marrying him was almost as difficult as the thought of remarrying at all.

Almost.

“Very well,” Isa said, turning back to Fern. “Thirteen. They should begin to arrive over the next day or two and will have until the end of this week to show up lest their spot be forfeited.”

“And will replacements be assigned in those cases?” Fern asked.

Isa shook her head. “No. With the queen’s deadline fast approaching, we simply do not have time to wait beyond the end of the week. Calling and approving any replacements would take too long.”

Ursula’s harsh voice cut through the stale air. “And who is to act as the royal advisor if Graham competes? Whether he perishes or wins, he will need to be replaced.”

Isa opened her mouth to speak but closed it when I stood.

Glowering down my nose, I addressed the vile female. “Ursula, those are not the only two outcomes. This tournament—as Isa has plainly explained ad nauseam—is not a ‘last male standing’ affair. Will some die? Possibly. Probably, even. But we do not expect, nor desire, for all but the future king to survive. Hence the use of a point system, which would be moot if we were just planning to kill everyone off.”

Ursula’s eyes narrowed and her lips twitched as her jaw tensed, but I continued unfazed.

“As to how to replace Graham: The crown can afford to rule without an advisor for the short duration of this tournament. We are not currently at war. The position can remain vacant until the victor is crowned. Should the need arise to replace Graham for whatever reason, that will be a decision for my new king and me.”

The last words rent my heart as they spilled from my lips. My sorrow swarmed me—fresh and heavy, compressing my chest and stealing my breath so that my vision blurred and my head turned light. Giving a sharp nod, I pivoted on my heel and retreated as fast as possible before I collapsed.

Chapter 18

Matthias

Storm nuzzled my hand as I ran the brush over her shoulder and back.

“I’m sorry I can’t take you with me,” I said. The mare nipped at my fingers in response, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “I know, I know. You don’t need to make this harder than it already is. But it’s safer for you here.”

She huffed out a breath and shook her head as if to express her disagreement. Gliding the brush down her legs, I stroked her neck and sighed. Storm had been with me since she was a young mare. Her mother, who had been my mount during the war, had grown too old to continue joining me on adventures.

“I don’t know what I’ll face?—”

Swinging her head toward me, her big brown eyes locked on mine in a derisive stare.

“Fine, you’re right,” I said. “I do know what awaits me. At least partly. Can you blame me for not wanting you to face a Shadow Keeper though? Not that I like putting Sorel in that position either, but I can’t risk the queen recognizing you and ruining my cover.”

“Do all soldiers talk to their horses?” Lieke’s voice pulled my head around to find her leaning against the doorway of the stable.

I shrugged. “The good ones do.”

Lieke pushed away from the wall and approached Storm, holding her palm out for the mare to sniff in search of treats. Finding none, Storm blew out a snotty exhale into Lieke’s hand, and Lieke laughed as she reached into her pocket and produced a carrot.

“You don’t think I’d come empty-handed, do you girl?” she asked. Storm answered her by snatching up the food without hesitation. Lieke reached up to scratch behind her ears while Storm chomped away happily. “I’ll look after her while you’re gone, Matthias.”

“You’d better,” I said. “She’s irreplaceable.”

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