The Dragon Games

Tudor's Manor

I sank deeper into the hot bath, letting it rise up my nose and eyes until all my sense were blocked. The water had to be changed twice, darkened from the dirt and blood caking my skin.

When we arrived, Duke Tudor was nowhere in sight. His maid let us into the Manor, casting a wary look at me, but keeping her mouth shut. I tried to ask Cassian what happened to the other pledges, but he waved me off, locking himself in Duke Tudor's study to think of a plan and send ravens to the duke and his closets allies. 

In the mean time, I wasted no time cleaning and dressing my wounds, then grabbed a loose shirt and britches from Duke Tudor's closet. I wound a belt tight to make his waist band fit my hips – not too tight, though. I ate half my body weight in the kitchen.

"Pledges aren't allowed to bring food into the arena anymore?" the maid asked, as she brought me a third plate of food. 

She wanted to serve me in the dining hall, but I was too hungry to wait. I annoyed her until she let me in to the kitchen, on the condition I didn't touch anything.

"We are," I replied, between spoonfuls of stew. I would have to stop soon, lest I overwhelm my stomach and toss everything back up. "But my group lost our supplies in a pond the first day."

"Why on earth would you go swimming?"

I shrugged. "Boredom? The water called to us, I suppose."

The door clanged, the iron handle clanging against the heavy wood frame. The maid turned for the door, but I held up a hand, stopping her in her tracks. Something in my expression made her pale. 

She gasped when I unsheathed my dagger. It was a good sign the intruder had knocked instead of busting down the door – we were not under attack, not yet . But if I didn't have my Divine to back me up, I at least wanted some steel.

"Miss," she hissed. "There will be no fighting in Duke Tudor's halls!"

"The fight's already upon us," I said.

"But–"

"Go."

She froze. Then she turned on her heel and ran out the back exit, her long skirts billowing behind her. I light-footed my way to the door, making sure I made no noise, then peered through the eye hole. Through the small gap, I could just make out a strong jaw, windswept hair, and warm brown skin.

I opened the door to find Atlas Windsor standing on Duke Tudor's front steps, all by himself. When he saw me, his eyes brightened, and a crooked grin broke across his face.

"Regan Black," he said, his eyes dancing. "I knew I had a good feeling about you."

—-----

I thought I ate an obscene amount of food, but Atlas put my appetite to shame within minutes of entering the kitchen. He wolfed down plate after plate, his fork never at rest, like he had ten stomachs, which each had ten more stomachs. I sipped some water, getting thirsty just looking at the food he was pounding down.

"So," Atlas said between mouthfuls. "Don't you want to hear what became of the other pledges?"

My face turned white, and the glass nearly fell from my hands. Bianca. "What news?"

"After Rainfall killed Blacktooth, Sisterblack became the second most powerful dragon in the arena. Only the bravest, most handsome pledge could have bonded with such a beast."

"You?" I deadpanned.

"Me indeed! As for the others, Grace Midlands had not managed to bond with any dragon, but 'luckily' – her captain's words, not mine – her poor performance caused her grandsire's heart to collapse, and his will bequeathed her a fierce Fey. Should she survive her injures, that is; I'm told that tree really did a number on her. Edmund Balthasar bonded with Greyback, but not even the finest doctors in the kingdom could save his dragon's eye."