they are with a blade. Those who are not will have their own pet minstrels to compose verses for them. Why should you be any different?’
‘Because I am different. I will win this in my own way or not at all.’
‘It may well prove to be the latter.’
‘If that is the case, let it be so.’
‘You do not seem at all determined to win.’
‘Let us rather say that I am not determined to win at any cost.’
‘Then you start at a grave disadvantage.’
‘So be it. You mentioned Prince Perian of Valaste as being good with a sword.’
‘He is. Very good indeed. He fancies himself a bit of a wit too. A thoroughly unpleasant character if you ask me.’
‘I do ask you.’
‘He’s vain, arrogant, spoiled–’
‘A typical elven noble then…’
‘Wait until you meet him. He is a veritable paragon of elven flaws. If I wanted to pick one elf to exemplify all that is bad in our people, it would be him.’
‘I am starting to suspect you don’t like him.’
‘And to think people call you slow of mind. Such perceptiveness, Prince Tyrion…’
‘Most people assume that no one so beautiful could be so clever,’ said Tyrion.
‘I see you are ramping up your egotism to compete with Prince Perian,’ said Atharis. ‘A bold strategy.’
‘I am going to have to, aren’t I? It’s going to be like rutting deer competing to see who leads the herd, isn’t it?’
‘Not the metaphor I would have chosen, but yes. We really should get our tame poet working on your verses.’
‘Is there anyone else I should know about?’ Tyrion asked.
‘At least a dozen, if you can stand being bored with the details. And I am sure there will be those I have missed. There’s always some dark horse who enters these tournaments.’
‘You’d better get started then…’
Tyrion and Atharis sat inside his tent, lounging on pillows and sleeping mats and drinking fine old wine from filigreed silver goblets. Tyrion could smell food being cooked and hear his bodyguard sitting around gossiping outside. They had spent most of the afternoon discussing Tyrion’s potential opponents. There were no shortage of them.
‘Well, we are here,’ said Atharis, raising his goblet in a toast.
‘Yes. Our epic quest has been accomplished,’ said Tyrion. ‘After many hardships we have finally reached our goal. I wonder how we managed to survive days of riding through these deadly forests. I think I saw some particularly savage-looking sheep at one point that filled my heart with dread.’
‘There is no need to sound so satirical, my prince. We are a long way from civilisation now.’
‘How will we endure life among these rustics? Missing Lothern already, Atharis?’
‘I would not speak too loudly about the rustic charms of our present neighbourhood. Those Maiden Guard look as if they might carve you up for it. So do many of the yokels.’
Tyrion wondered whether his friend really felt that way, or whether he just felt out of his depth away from the city he knew and loved, and surrounded by the great woods and their inhabitants.
‘This is a lovely place,’ Tyrion said.
‘It might be lovelier if it were not so crowded. I swear there are more people here than in the streets of the Foreigners’ Quarter.’
‘There are certainly more elves. So this is where our people have been hiding all this time. I was wondering.’
‘This is probably the largest gathering these woods have seen in centuries. Warriors have come here from all over Ulthuan for the tournament. There are probably many still here from the coronation. They just can’t be bothered to set off home yet. The lazy bastards.’
‘I can understand that. There is something in the air here that encourages lingering.’
‘I trust you, too, are not going to go all rustic on us? I think that would be just too much.’
‘I meant it literally. I think there is some magic in the air here that clouds people’s minds. Can’t you feel it? There is a pulse of tranquillity about us.’
‘I thought that was just all the dreamsmoke in the air. I wonder where I might get some. It may make our stay here more endurable.’
‘I shall leave you in charge of that. I am going to take a look around.’
‘Don’t get lost, and try not to fall in with any of the local enchantresses. You may find that you never want to leave.’
‘I don’t think there is much danger of that,’ Tyrion said, rising to his feet and striding towards the doorway.
‘If you find any dreamsmoke vendors, bring me back some,’ said Atharis.