He raked a hand through his hair. “Three months ago, the director finally told me I was being considered as a candidate along with three others. I didn’t know who the others were, but I knew you had to be one of them. When they threw us into the coliseum together… I knew to put my own wishes above yours would prove I valued the position more than I valued my friend.” He shook his head. “And I couldn’t do that.”
For a moment, I was touched. But then my outrage returned. “This was your graduation day too. You should have fought your hardest and let the decision be made fairly. Better yet, Director Endre should have paired us up with different people so that our friendship wouldn’t influence the outcome.”
“Perhaps this is my punishment for not being more helpful in recovering Bryn. Endre led me to believe I had a chance and then forced me to give up what I wanted. It’s brilliant, when you think about it.” Viggo frowned. “Do you suppose General Halvar asked each nominee to murder their opponent?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” I said with a scoff. “He’s barbaric enough. But Endre wouldn’t sacrifice two perfectly good warriors simply because they lost a match. The victors must have been stopped before they could administer the killing blow because they had proved their obedience.”
“If that was the case, why were you given the position? You refused to obey.”
I sighed and grudgingly murmured, “Because the king was kind enough to spare my friend.”
“And in the end, the king always has the final word.” Viggo retrieved a jar of white paste from his drawer of medicines and held it out to me. “We were lucky he was in a favorable mood. Put this around your eyes. It’ll keep the swelling down.”
I swiped the jar from him. “You should go to the director and demand a rematch with an opponent you’ve never met. It’s only fair. Most, if not all, of your instructors thought you worthy of the position or they wouldn’t have nominated you. You and I are not the only ones who believe you deserve to be a Defender.” I applied the paste around my eyes. “Endre’s meeting with the king as we speak. Perhaps the king will be on your side if his good mood has lasted.”
Viggo rolled his shoulders and neck, and winced. “Can’t you simply rejoice in your victory?”
I capped the jar and tossed it at him. “A victory is earned, not given.”
“We’ll grapple another time, Asta,” Viggo said, catching the jar with ease, “and we’ll see who the true victor is then. Would that satisfy you?”
“Perhaps.” I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “Tell me again, what do you know about the king?”
My friend shrugged. “He’s professional whenever he addresses the people. He’s proven to treat his subjects kindly when they bring their petitions before him. At the island’s anniversary celebrations, he’s cordial to anyone who approaches him no matter what their status is.”
“But the face he puts on for his people could be an act,” I said. “Are you sure there has never been talk of him mistreating his servants? Any rumors about his actions on the royal hill that would hint at there being… malice in him?”
Viggo rolled his eyes. “How many times must we go over this? By all accounts, King Torvald is a good man. Why are you so intent on finding fault in him?”
Because General Halvar murdered everyone I cared about and tortured me for fun, I wanted to say. And I can’t believe the king is not involved somehow. The general simply couldn’t be so smart and sneaky as to deceive his king completely and without suspicion. But he had managed to fool everyone else in this country into believing he was honorable. I couldn’t bring myself to break Viggo’s illusion of the perfect hero.
“I’m simply struggling with the concept of such a man,” I said instead. “No one is that good.”
“You’ve been hired to be his shadow. I’m sure you’ll find out the truth about his character,” Viggo said. “You’ll be leaving for the hill soon. Prepare yourself.”
“How exactly am I supposed to do that? I don’t have anything to pack.” I gestured down to my feet. “Even the boots I’m wearing aren’t mine!”
Viggo smirked. “You could bathe. You look like you were forced to sleep with the swine.”
He stood when someone came marching down the hall. I turned. It was one of King Torvald’s guards, dressed in a special kind of armor. It resembled the chest and back protectors we wore in our Battle Strategy class, only this guard was completely covered in plates of different shapes and sizes corresponding to the body part being protected. He also carried a pouch that looked and sounded suspiciously like a coin purse.
He stopped before the open door and nodded respectfully. “There you are, Lady Isa. I am Samir. I will be your chauffeur this afternoon. The king has been made aware that you have no possessions of your own. While he eats with the director and the general, he requests I take you into the city so that you can purchase shoes, clothing, and anything else you might need. We are to meet him at the hill at dusk.”
“What’s to stop her from stealing the money and escaping you?” Viggo asked, much to my surprise. “You saw her in the pit. She could easily overpower you.”
Samir’s mouth twitched. “I am to be her chauffeur. Her escort will follow us in their own carriages.”
I winked conspiratorially at Viggo. “Carriages. As in plural. That means they’re safe.”
He scoffed. “No one is safe from you now that you’re free.”
I am free, aren’t I? He and I both. I smiled at my chauffeur. “Would you be so kind as to wait downstairs? I’ll bathe and join you shortly.”
Samir nodded and retreated down the hall. When I turned to Viggo, his countenance had changed. His glowing eyes were fixed on the window and his face was closed, as if he refused to become emotional. “I suppose this is goodbye then.”
I punched his arm. “Not yet. We still have to meet Bryn at his mother’s former herb store. Or have you forgotten?”
Viggo rubbed his upper arm. “How will you manage to get away from your escort?”
I shrugged. “Perhaps I can remember I’m in need of some herbs while on our shopping spree. Would it be my fault if the store we go to just so happened to have closed down while I was in the academy?”
A genuine smile broke across Viggo’s purpling face. “I’ll meet you there then.”
I looked for Brandt, Rainer, and Frode before I left. They had been good friends and supporters this year. I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye. Who knew when I’d see them again? I found them in the Feasting Hall, sitting at our usual table, eating their last meal at the academy. I wouldn’t forget them and told them so. They clapped me on the back, shook my hand, and told me how proud they were to know me. I thanked them and wished them luck.
“Look for us in the city when you’re able,” Rainer said. “We would love to hear about your new life on the royal hill.”
Brandt and Frode agreed.
After promising that I would, I made my leave.
I twisted around in my seat as we left Dotharr’s Academy. I watched the depressing buildings until we turned the corner. It felt as if I’d only just arrived. And now I was leaving. I turned and faced forward, swallowing hard. Perhaps the academy had been too strict in its punishments, meals, and schedules, but it had helped me grow into my abilities. It had strengthened my body and mind. It had given me goals to accomplish, something else to focus on instead of the loss of my home and family. It had saved my life.