Champion of Fire & Ice - Megan Derr Page 0,3

take too long."

"I do not see why it should be more than one, and best of, not points," Tekker said.

"If this is going to be a public affair," King Rorlen said, "then it should be done properly. Five is too many, but I'll grant three. I also agree to the points system, rather than best of. Lord Davrin, did you have tests in mind?"

Davrin wished he'd thought to speak with Cimar ahead of time on the matter, but he'd been so drunk and astonished last night that the details of the matter had escaped him. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"List them. Tekker will have the right to reject one, and I'll pick the final three from there."

That wasn't how it was meant to be done, but Davrin tamped down his frustration and only said, "The tests I had in mind were: Endurance, Quest, Race, Duel, and Joust." He'd picked them with care. Grayne would not be able to resist an endurance challenge or the duel. But he was, for a knight, a terrible horseman and would hate the race and joust, but he'd also hate the quest. Traditionally, the person challenged had the right to discard one test and replace it with his own, but even if he replaced it with one of the easier ones, that left Grayne to face two tests where he was weak. Even with King Rorlen's alteration of the rules, he was left with one guaranteed weakness.

Tekker was a bastard, but he wasn't a fool, and the look on his face said he saw the trap and hated it.

"Lord Tekker, which would you discard?"

Tekker glanced briefly at Grayne, who after a long, strained moment jerked his head. Looking back to King Rorlen, Tekker said, "We discard the race, Your Majesty."

"Very well. I'm discarding the joust. That means, knights, that you will face a quest, a test of endurance, and a duel. I will announce the quests tonight at supper, and you'll have until the opening ceremony of the frost fair to complete them."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the knights chorused.

"Dismissed." He walked off while they were all still bowing and replying.

Korena cast Davrin a bare look, a whisper of a smile on her lips as she nodded in farewell. Good luck as plainly as she was allowed to say it.

Tekker and Grayne departed without looking at them, though Davrin had every faith if they could have committed murder right then, they would have. If they'd shown restraint with Ballior, none of them would be here.

When they were gone from sight, and Davrin and Cimar were alone, Davrin said, "Thank you again for taking up arms for me. I will never forget you did this for me."

Cimar smiled. "The honor is mine. You chose some fine tests. I think Grayne soiled himself when you listed the race and joust. He might have wished for one of those two, however, because the quest is always the most difficult."

"I hope I did not pick any of your weaknesses," Davrin said with a faint smile. "I cannot imagine you have any."

"Endurance could be, depending on the exact nature of it, but I suspect, given the season, that it will be a matter of standing out in the cold in nothing but what the Goddess gave us."

Davrin laughed. "I sort of hope that's true, because Grayne will hate it, but I also do not want you to suffer so." There was also that Cimar was smaller than Grayne, likely to grow cold much faster, but Davrin would not return Cimar's noble gesture by failing to trust him.

"Unlike Grayne, I grew up in this weather." Cimar turned his horse. "Would you like a ride back to the castle, my lord? Why did you walk all this way?"

"I avoid horses as much as possible. They don't like me, and I don't like them. One broken leg was more than enough. Have you had breakfast?" When Cimar shook his head, Davrin said, "I'd be honored if you'd join me in my chambers for a meal, then."

"I am happy to accept that offer." Cimar held out a hand. "Now get on the horse, my lord. I promise you'll come to no harm. I'm an excellent knight, and Frostbite is a fine horse."

Davrin grimaced but took Cimar's hand and clambered up behind him, settling stiffly as they rode off.

"Relax, my lord, and the ride will be much more comfortable."

"If you say so." Davrin rested his head against Cimar's shoulder to ward off the wind biting his face.

But he had