Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
He sure goes all the way with his make-believe. Likely behind those screens, there is the same scarred aklo he made slink past his bedroom window.
“Honestly,” I murmur to Nicostratus, “the ‘king’ can’t see much through those screens. Why does he bother?”
He fastens his mask at the back of his head and helps me with mine. “He doesn’t care to watch the game, supposedly. But,” in a lower voice, “more people come if he’s here and they each pay a hefty price for a seat. Money my uncle generously allows Constantinos to use as he pleases.”
“As he pleases?”
“Last year he donated to the Pavilion Libr—”
A figure on horseback draws to a stop at the fence nearby and suddenly has all my attention. Half his face is masked, enough to make his appearance indistinct, and his hair is knotted with a simple black ribbon. He’s flanked by two men on black horses. The black knight. He’s speaking to Veronica, who’s standing at the arena fence dressed in plum riding gear and jiggling a basket. “Dare to match my bet?”
I almost choke when he replies. He’s even had a mage deepen his voice. “We’ll match it.”
“And raise,” says a similarly masked rider to the black knight’s right.
“Who’s he?” I ask Nicostratus.
“That’ll be one of our uncle’s aklos.”
The aklo pours a pouch full of money into Veronica’s basket, and then urges their third player, a grim-looking giant, to do the same.
Overconfident.
Veronica looks nervously into the basket but lifts her head with a smile. “Winner takes all.” She turns her head, spots us, and comes striding over, basket extended.
Nicostratus laughs and empties his purse.
My gaze lifts from the basket to our opponents. The black knight sits silently, watching me. His eyes have a dare in them when they meet mine, and I straighten. He’s too much! So sure he’ll win; so sure he has everyone fooled.
Well, no matter how many acts he has, they can’t all be perfect.
The aklo leans in and whispers audibly into the black knight’s ear. “Hesitating.” He chuckles and my eyes sharpen on him. How brazen.
The black knight responds with a curled lip and a secret whisper. That is . . . that is . . . His wife is right here!
And he calls me shameless.
“Have you no money?” Veronica says, suddenly realising my awkward position. “I can get some on your behalf.”
Nicostratus hums and his hand slides over my shoulder. “The game is about to start. Wager with this.” With a tug, my clasp comes off in his hand and he drops it into the basket.
My hand flies to my shoulder and catches on falling fabric.
Nicostratus gently pulls the cloak free. “You’ll warm up quickly.” He smiles. “Don’t worry, I’ll get it back for you.”
I glance at the shiny clasp in the basket, then at the black knight, whose gaze is tight on the pool.
Aklo touches his arm and Quin gathers his reins. He raises his chin. “When we win, you can have my share.”
My step towards Nicostratus stutters; Veronica grabs my arm. “You’re growling.”
“This black knight isn’t anywhere near as intimidating as he thinks he is.”
“He’s been the bane of my drakopagon existence for years.” She pulls her mask down over her scowl.
“Let’s teach him a lesson.”
We jump astride our saddled horses and ride out; Nicostratus races around the arena, a graceful show that mesmerises the crowd. I jerk my finger at the black knight in the centre of the field, bouncing the game ball on end of his drakopala, twisting the mallet at each turn. “Look at him, showing off.”
“Not to everyone. More for the aklo drooling over him.”
I suck in a breath. Even Veronica sees it.
This . . . this is a problem. Not the core values of a good king. As the nurturer Skriniaris Evander said I need to be, I’m responsible for nipping this in the bud.
I urge my horse swiftly across the grass and catch the ball in the air on the end of my drakopala, balancing it as I ease to a stop between aklo and knight. “A ridiculous game,” I say.
“Ridiculous?”
Like that spelled voice of yours. “Hmm.” I bounce the ball, every bit as in control as the black knight had been. “Horses and drakopalas and no magic.”
I manoeuvre the ball away from Aklo’s attempt to steal it.
“Most people don’t have magic. This is a game anyone can play.” Aklo snickers, eying me. “Just look at you.”
The black knight delivers Aklo a sharp look, but my laughter is sharper. “In what reality do ‘most people’ own horses?”
Aklo hisses. “The king is in the stands. You don’t want him hearing you talk like that about the official game of the kingdom.”
“He can hear anything I have to say. I hope he also listens.” I hit the ball in a wide arc over Aklo, forcing him to race away to retrieve it.