sudden and blinding speed, THESIUS flips the back of his spear up and overhead. He slams the blunt end of the weapon onto Krakon’s skull. Krakon stumbles backward, slashing hopelessly at Thesius’ ankles. He misses by at least a foot, and Thesius’ spear tip stops inches short of Krakon’s neck. It’s a kill. THESIUS only stopped because this isn’t a real duel. He could have pressed further forward easily, ending Krakon’s life.
They fight again and again, but Krakon loses every time. Worse, he doesn’t seem to get any better. If anything, he gets worse with each fight. It’s like they were almost evenly matched at first, but THESIUS is learning and adapting to Krakon’s style, while Krakon is making zero adjustments.
“How bad is this?” I ask Maya.
“THESIUS is very good, but he has full control. Dathros has no chance. He doesn’t seem to learn either. He’s competent, but that’s it. He doesn’t seem to be a quick learner, nor can he adapt to an opponent.”
Tears sting my eyes. What if Mi Treton is good? What chance will Krakon stand then?
34
Krakon
Catherine is holding back tears when I am finished. This was a mistake.
Maya looks at me with well-masked sympathy. “You fought well, Dathros. THESIUS is among the best.”
I nod and force a smile. “I’ll still win tomorrow.”
As we are leaving the gym, THESIUS puts a hand on my shoulder. “A word, Mi Eukarion?”
I nod. I don’t like the way he said my name. Something is off.
THESIUS looks at Catherine, then back at me.
“Wait outside,” I tell her.
I don’t need her tears right now. I can’t shake the feeling that she’s dragging me down. I agreed to this duel to appease her, and now Maya Mi Kiorus--who I don’t trust at all--has seen me fight.
When she’s gone, THESIUS gives me a hard stare.
“What’s your angle here?”
He doesn’t address me properly. It’s a grave insult, but he doesn’t seem to care.
“How do you mean?” I ask.
“You let me win,” he says. “Every duel. I couldn’t beat you if I tried. You really think you’re so much better than me that I wouldn’t have noticed that? That I couldn’t tell you were throwing it?”
I frown. The one way I was trying to salvage this was by throwing the fights. To make myself look weaker to Maya, and thus to Gethros. Now the fucking coach saw through it?
I can’t shake the feeling that Cat is dragging me down, that if I keep giving into her whims and keep putting her feelings over my instincts that I’m going to fuck this job up. That we’ll lose everything.
Was it all a mistake? Should I really leave the swarm for her?
And here I am, a snake in front of me ready to strike, and I’m thinking about her instead of the very real danger. I decide to drop the act and admit that I threw the fight. He won’t believe me otherwise.
“Look,” I say. “I threw the fights because of aristocratic backstabbing and politik. If we’re cutting through the bullshit, how loyal are you to Gethros?”
He shrugs. “I’m Mi Kiorus’ personal dueling coach. Been on the payroll for at least a decade. They pay me well, but…”
“But what?”
“Not well enough that I’m that loyal.”
This is dangerous. I don’t know where he’s going with this, but it could all be some kind of loyalty test. Maybe Gethros and Maya suspect I’m not what I say, and this is their ploy to get me to admit it.
“I just want to win the duel,” I say. “I held back because Maya was watching. I don’t doubt Mi Kiorus’ honor, but I must do everything I can to give myself an edge tomorrow.
“You’ll win,” THESIUS says. “Since you’re a swarm pirate. Now, let’s talk how much you can pay me to not fuck up whatever job you’re working here. Shall we?”
Shit. Shit!
I’m pacing back and forth in the drawing room. Cat is crying. I can’t tell her about THESIUS. I wanted her to actually be worried, so that Maya would think I really did suck at dueling. That was probably a bad call, because now I’m distracted by her. Again.
I need to get out of these rooms so I can contact Thraxa.
“I’ll be back,” I say.
“Where are you going?” Catherine says.
She looks real hurt. This isn’t a good time to leave her alone, but I need to talk to Thraxa immediately. There’s absolutely no time to waste. The duel is in just over twelve hours.
“Look,” I say. “There’s a lot going on