turned her back to me and enthusiastically chatted with her riders.
What was that about?
“Queen Leila!” King Solis—handsome, golden, and warm—strolled up to us, a smile gracing his lips. “How good it is to see you here today—and you, too, my fine fellow.” He extended his hand and Fax nickered, then rested his muzzle in King Solis’s cupped fingers.
“It’s good to see you, King Solis,” I said. “I’d say I wish your mounts luck, but it seems like most everyone is riding a sun stallion.”
King Solis laughed. “They are beloved—speaking of which, I heard from the Paragon I am to offer you and Lord Rigel my congratulations.” He was the first person to look from me to Lord Rigel without any open sign of anxiety or fear. Which meant either he was a very good actor, or he didn’t care who I got myself hitched to as long as I didn’t run the Court into the dirt.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Lord Rigel is a very strong, respected warrior—a good choice. Surely he’ll be able to protect you,” King Solis said.
“Aha,” I laughed weakly. “Maybe. Are you participating?”
“No—rulers traditionally don’t risk themselves in this sort of manner,” King Solis said.
“See! I told you!” Lord Linus glared at me over Bagel’s head—the donkey was grinning as King Solis rubbed his forehead.
“You can’t mean to imply Queen Leila is participating?” King Solis said.
“Me and the night mares,” I confirmed. “I should probably get up to the lineup.”
King Solis frowned. “Are you certain you should enter? It can be very dangerous.”
“Yep. All my riders backed out—and I’m not looking to win,” I said. “I just want to get through it.”
“Even if you only wish to come in last, it still is folly,” King Solis said. “It’s an unnecessary risk.”
“Listen to the Day King,” Lord Linus echoed.
“I trust my night mares,” I said. “Besides. Everyone seems to forget—I’m human. I grew up in Magiford.”
King Solis’s frown deepened. He glanced away from me, his eyes going to the other monarchs, before he leaned in and spoke in a quiet tone. “Very well, then I must warn you to stay away from the Fall riders—they’re the most brutal, and will attack with weapons if it means securing a front position. Also look out for Lord Umer from the Summer Court. He’s won every year for the past five years. It’s a given that he cheats, but the area is warded against portal magic for the derby, and no one has been able to catch him in the act. He’s avoided disqualification thus far, but he won’t react well if you try to follow him as a result.”
“Don’t worry, I intend to go on a less traveled path,” I assured him.
“Ahh, you’re going for a longer route then? Good choice,” King Solis said.
Lord Linus relaxed and dangled an arm over Bagel’s neck. “If you do that, the danger factor will drastically decrease.”
I conveniently remained silent, letting Lord Linus and King Solis make their own assumptions.
In reality, I was planning to push my knowledge of Magiford for my benefit. In this case, there were a few paths that would be a great deal faster, but also extremely dangerous for a regular horse and rider—those paths traditionally went unused as a result. Or so Skye told me when I walked the exterior of the course with her and asked her about a few of the alleyways and paths I knew of.
I glanced at Lord Rigel. I wonder what he assumes I meant by a less traveled path? Ah, wait, I think I can guess. He’s already probably lining it up with his conspiracy theory that I’m out to destroy the Court and frame it as losing on purpose.
“A participation trophy is enough to keep your current level of influence and power,” King Solis continued. “Even if you came in last, you’d be fine—and, as long as you finish, you won’t be last. There are always some riders that are hurt and are removed from the field before they can finish.”
A frown twitched at my lips. “You said some riders are hurt, how about the horses?”
King Solis gave me a blazing smile edged with the promise of pain. It betrayed the kind face he showed me and revealed the wildness within him. “Given that the majority of the mounts are sun stallions, no,” he said in a voice that crackled with power like a fire. “No one would dare harm or hurt one of my creatures.”
Ohh, now that was a promise of death.