“I had a good teacher.” I beam at him. “But don’t allow that to go to your head.”
He holds up his hands. “Never.”
I smile, enjoying our banter. Ever since I began training, Devlan has been too serious, even more so than before I discovered he was a Rebel. True, it’s a serious time, but I always see another side of him when in the company of his friends. I wonder if one day he’ll consider me as such, or if I’m only ever going to be his duty.
I stand when Fallon approaches us with Xander and Silas in tow. The Rebel leader fists her hands on her hips. “Devlan, I believe Zara will be ready in another week. She’s a natural.” She glances at me. “Like her father, through and through.”
My chest aches with pride, and I blink a few times to clear my blurring vision. “You really think I can do it.” It’s not a question.
She nods once. “I do.”
I look to Devlan, and his face falls, his features quitting their earlier relaxed expression. His form tenses as he straightens his back and squares his shoulders. “I’ll have her ready then.”
Fallon turns toward Silas and extends her hand. He places a small vial with a clear substance in her palm. She hands the vial to Devlan. “I brought this along, just in case Zara was ready.” She looks at me. “As promised, we’re giving you all the help we can.”
As I watch Devlan hold the vial up to the moonlight, my body shudders.
Help or not—this is it. In less than six days, I face King Hart.
TWENTY-SIX
Before the start of the first tourney, I take off on the horse I now call my own. I named her Sterlyn, because her coat is a silvery, luminescent white, like the illumined ring that surrounds the darkened moon during an eclipse.
She’s my light in a world of darkness. I ride her every free chance I get.
Sebastian gave her to me last week, along with a key to the stable. It was tempting, at the time, to ride her out past the wall and disappear, but it was only a fleeting thought.
Nothing can deter me from my mission.
I ride hard, clearing my mind of all distracting thoughts. My new personal guard, Xander, gallops his gray horse behind me.
The irony that Sebastian has placed yet another Rebel as my guard hasn’t escaped me. Although I’m sure Devlan had some say in who would take over his post, I haven’t yet seen him to ask.
I press my palm against my chest, feeling the communicator tucked inside my bodice. I know he’s just the push of a button away if I need him, but I’ve become used to having him with me at all times. I feel as if something is missing, hollow—and I constantly look behind me, searching.
At least I don’t have to keep up pretenses around Xander. That would be too exhausting while also dealing with the knowledge that I only have five nights left to train.
Glancing up at the morning sun, I gauge how much I’ve already used of the day, wishing it would sink completely and I’d already be on my way to meet with Devlan.
“Whoa, girl.” I slow Sterlyn as we near the stable fence.
Xander trots his horse up next to us. “I’ve just been informed that Sebastian requests your presence at the tournament.”
I close my eyes for a moment, savoring the still quiet, then nod. “Let’s get this day over with.”
After we stable the horses, we make our way toward the back of the castle. The training ground has been transformed into an elaborate stadium. Bleachers rise toward the sky, and on each corner post, silver and blue flags flap in the breeze. In the center, knights gather to face off against one another as the crowd cheers.
Sebastian has given us a useful distraction. He’ll be preoccupied with the tourneys, and Hart will be planning his son’s initiation into his world of delusion. With so much going on, it should be easy to find time to myself to train extra throughout the day. Even if Devlan can’t be with me, I can sneak to the meadow to practice, knowing that Sebastian can’t follow.
I breathe a little easier as I weave my way through the crowd to find my seat. Xander points around my shoulder toward a boxed-in area high in the stands. The place where royalty and nobility are to be seated. As King Hart never leaves his secret chamber, Sebastian and I will be the only royals there.
Glancing around, I search for Hadley. Sebastian has denied my every attempt to invite her to the castle. He believes I should embrace my new friends—the Court ladies—and involve myself among them. Regardless, I still need to send word to Hadley somehow. Devlan feels we’ll have enough time once Hart is removed, and then I should be able to convince Sebastian to allow her into Court.
Until that time, I must play by the rules. Sebastian can’t suspect anything out of the norm. Our mission must come first.
I can’t spot my best friend anywhere, and I shake my head. Soon, I tell myself. After the mission is complete, I will find her.
As I reach the box, I look down the row for Sebastian, but he’s not here yet. I spot Cecily seated on the end and quickly plant myself in the first seat, farthest away from her. I’m strung too tight and, though I’m saddened by her situation, will snap at her if she tries to vex me. I’m in no mood to play her games.
Xander sits down next to me and I scrunch my brow. Where’s Sebastian?
The announcer below addresses the crowd, drawing my attention. He introduces the first contest as the melee. I remember Devlan saying it was the only one he’s entered.
The speaker continues. “The winner of this battle will face off with Sir Devlan Capra, last season’s champion, in the tourney’s last battle, to claim the title of reigning champion over the tournament!” The crowd cheers. My eyes sweep the stands for Sebastian again. I’m lost as to why he’s missing out on what he’s worked so hard for.
The announcer waves a white flag and the knights on the field clash, a metallic clanking of swords and armor. At first, they cluster into groups, teaming up and fighting against other groups of knights. The clang of weapons echoes throughout the stadium, and the sun glints off armor as the knights cleave the air with their swords.
No one has been injured so far. I recall Devlan running my finger along the blade, and explaining that the knights use dull swords in the tournament. Kill shots are determined by the regulators along the sidelines. I have to admit, after learning the sword and fighting tactics, the sport has my heart pounding. I’m invested in seeing who comes out the winner—who will take on Devlan in the last match.
The melee ground is frantic. The knights make instant judgments regarding companion and enemy, quickly taking out team after team. There can be only one knight left standing. Sooner than I expect, the field thins, and the members of the group that’s winning begin turning on each other. The knights dwindle from fifty to five. It’s now every knight for himself.
Xander points toward something on the field. I lean forward and squint. “The knight with the darkest armor,” he says. “Do you see him?”
I strain harder. “Yes, I see him.” The knight is teamed up with the odd man out, and together they take on another knight. “He’s good.” I look at Xander.
His brows rise as he nods toward the field. “That’s Sebastian.”
My head snaps back to the battle. “He said he only enters the joust. What is he doing fighting his knights?”
“He has something to prove.” Devlan’s voice comes from behind me.
My stomach flutters, but I keep my head forward, my eyes trained on the knights. “To me or to you?”
Devlan’s quiet a moment before he says, “Both, probably.” Then, as the stadium erupts with cheers, he leans down close to my ear. “See you tonight. Don’t be late.”