Champion of Fire & Ice - Megan Derr Page 0,43

uglier. He'd had enough of Tekker and Grayne's scheming and cheating. This was the last straw.

The challenge would end tonight, one way or another.

CHAPTER NINE

Davrin clapped along with everyone else as the jugglers finished their performance and signaled a servant for more wine as it faded off. Beside him, beautiful and imperious, Korena already looked more like a queen than a princess, while on her left His Majesty looked like a slovenly drunk who'd sat at the wrong table.

It only took skimming the room to see he was not the only one with that impression.

On His Majesty's other side, Tekker was speaking to him in low tones. Try as he might, Davrin could catch none of it. Neither could Korena, though it was clear she was doing all she could without tipping into drawing attention.

Whatever their latest scheme, Davrin would not let it succeed. A few more days and the final challenge would be called, and this whole affair would be behind them. Tekker and Grayne would be neutered of all their power; Ballior would be able to rest in peace; Davrin could focus on his pending marriage and his new relationship with Cimar.

Hopefully, he'd see Cimar later that evening.

Thanking the servant for the wine, he sipped at it and then set the cup aside. "What do you think—" he stopped, along with everyone else in the crowded great hall, as the main doors were shoved open, letting in a blast of frigid air. Normally, the doors were kept closed, only a smaller one cut into one of the big ones used.

Davrin shot to his feet as Cimar strode into the room, dressed in full armor and so angry Davrin half-expected his armor to shoot sparks. Behind him came Leonine, dragging along two men bound heavily in chains, and behind them were more knights wearing the tunic of the royal guard.

"Cimar, are you all right? Sir Leonine?"

"We're fine," Cimar said, "though only because we're both vastly more skilled than the cheap thugs Tekker and Grayne hired to kill Sir Leonine."

King Rorlen stared coldly at Cimar. "That is a bold accusation, knight. For your sake, you'd better have a way to back it up."

"I do," Cimar said, and motioned to Leonine, who dragged forward the captured guards. "Speak."

The mercenary on the left remained silent, but the one on the right said, "Him, right there. The lord in the red tunic and the knight beside him. They hired us. Wanted the young one dead so as to rattle the knight, so he'd be unfit for combat come some stupid duel."

Rorlen looked unimpressed. "Why should I trust that Sir Cimar is not paying you to speak thus?"

At that, the second man stirred. "He's not. That man right there in the red tunic, Lord Tekker. He hired us. Exactly like my friend said. Nobles do it all the time. They want an edge in a fight or some discussion of some law or another, in a trade session… whatever. This one was no different. Wanted the young knight dead so the older one wouldn't fight as well. Paid us a hundred upfront, with another hundred to be paid when the job was done. I still have the money."

At his words, one of the guards who'd helped drag them in threw a purse to the ground. The clink of coins was unmistakable.

"Further statements can be collected from the innkeeper and his wife, the bartender, and still others," Cimar said. "This is flagrant cheating, and worse, it was attempted murder, and this challenge was called to bring justice for a murder in the first place."

Rorlen looked furious, and beside him Tekker finally had the decency to start looking worried. Behind him, standing against the wall, Grayne just looked annoyed at being bothered. "So what are you demanding, Sir Cimar? An end to the challenge? To call it off on grounds of cheating and tampering?"

"No," Cimar said. "I want the duel now. I want this over and done with, once and for all. When it's over, I want those two banished for life."

"That is not your request to make," Rorlen snarled.

"It is when they cheat and try to kill my recently promoted squire!" Cimar bellowed, and Davrin would have sworn it sounded like his voice held an honest to gods growl.

Before Rorlen could order his head removed, which was clearly what he wanted to do for not just being disrespected, but in his own hall in front of his entire court, Tekker stood as well. "We answer