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Nothung was its name

"You have all been retrieved fro your country"

It was easy enough to tell the nobility from her competitors Old and wrinkled, each nobleman wore fine clothes and decorative swords Beside each of thee, all of theuards

Twenty-three h bulk to warrant a double take, but when she scanned their faces--often scarred, pockmarked, or just plain hideous--there was no spark behind their eyes, no shining kernel of cleverness They’d been picked for muscles, not brains Three of theerous?

A few of the if they thought she was a competitor or just a court lady Most of the coritted her teeth The dress had been ayesterday?

Ah, and she willed her face into neutrality while his gray eyes took her in He was tall and lean, but not gangly, and he inclined his head to her She studied hiht to his left, to what feature he first noticed when his eyes argantuan ton, who seemed crafted of muscle and steel--and took pains to display it with his sleeveless ar a horse’s skull It wasn’t that he was ugly--in fact, his tanned face was rather pleasant, but there was so nasty about his demeanor, about his obsidian eyes as they shifted andspoke "You are each coht-hand sword in a world bri with enemies"

A flicker of shame sparked within her What was "Champion" but a dressed-up na for him? She sed She had to She had no other choice

"Over the next thirteen weeks, you shall each dwell and compete in my home You will train every day, and be tested once a week--a test during which one of you will be eliminated" Celaena did the calculations There were twenty-four of the her question, the king said, "These tests will not be easy, nor will your training Soht die in the process We will add additional elimination tests as we see fit And if you fall behind, if you fail, if you displease me, you will be packed off to whatever dark hole you ca Champions will face each other in a duel to win the title Until then, whileheld ae, scarred hand to encompass the roo on your part, and I’ll stake you to the front gates"

By accident, her gaze slipped onto the king’s face, and she found his dark eyes staring into hers The king s to the bars of her ribcage

Murderer

He should be hanging froallows He had killedand defenseless He’d destroyed cultures, destroyed invaluable knowledge, destroyed so ood His people should revolt Erilea should revolt--the way those few rebels had dared to do Celaena struggled to aze She couldn’t retreat

"Is that understood?" the king asked, still staring at her

Her head was heavy as she nodded She had only until Yulemas to beat the bellowed to the roorateful for this opportunity? Do you not wish to give iance?"

She bowed her head and stared at his feet "Thank you, Your Majesty I a in with the words of the other Cha’s hilt "This should be an interesting thirteen weeks" She could feel his attention still upon her face, and she ground her teeth "Prove trustworthy, becolory will be yours eternal"

Only thirteen weeks to win her freedom

"I am to depart next week for my own purposes I will not return until Yuleive the command to execute any of you, should I hear word of any trouble, or accidents" The Champions nodded once more

"If we’re finished, I’m afraid I must take my leave," interrupted Dorian from beside her, and her head snapped up at the sound of his voice--and his i his father He bowed to his father, and nodded to thewaved his son away, not even bothering to look at hi fro said to the Cha questions would only guarantee a trip to the gallows, "then you have et that you are here to honor one, all of you"

Celaena and Chaol didn’t speak as they strode down the hallway, quicklyof coered to speak with one another--and size each other up With every step away fro warmth returned It wasn’t until they rounded a corner that Chaol let out a deep breath and reed to keep yourshe was in her nodding and bowing!" said a cheerful voice It was Dorian, leaning against a wall

"What are you doing?" Chaol asked

Dorian pushed off the wall "Why, waiting for you, of course"

"We’re to dine this evening," Chaol said