Page 47 (2/2)

"Are you ready?" Chaol asked Celaena blinked, reh she didn’tit with frozen fingers Dorian appeared by the table, heartbreakingly handsorim smile as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked toward his father

The last of the king’s councilmen sat down at the table Celaena cocked her head as Nehee white circle The princess e pants, a layered tunic studded horls of iron, and knee-high boots; she carried her wooden staff, which stretched as high as her head To honor her, Celaena realized, her eyes stinging One felloarrior acknowledging the other

Everyone grew silent as the king rose Her insides turned to stone, and she felt cluht and weak as a newborn

Chaol nudged her with an elbow,for her to stand before the table She focused on her feet as she ’s face Thankfully, Renault and Grave flanked her If Cain had been standing beside her, she ht have snapped his neck just to end it there There were soher

She stood not ten feet fro of Adarlan Freedom or death lay at this table Her past and future were seated on a glass throne

Her gaze shifted to Neheraceful eyes war of Adarlan spoke Knowing that seeing his face would only weaken the strength she’d found in Nehemia’s eyes, she looked not at him, but at the throne behind hiton had told her who Celaena truly was

"You were taken froht prove yourself worthy of beco, the moment has come to decide who my Champion shall be You will face each other in a duel You can win only by trapping your opponent in a position of sure death And no further," he added with a sharp glance in her direction "Cain and Councilo first Then my son’s Champion will face Council would know Cain’s naht as well have just declared the brute his Champion "The winners will face each other in a final duel Whoever ill be crowned King’s Champion Is that clear?"

They nodded For a heartbeat, she saw the king with stark clarity He was just a man--a man with too much power And in that one heartbeat, she didn’t fear hi the familiar words around her heart "Then let the duels con that she could clear out of the ring, Celaena stalked to where Chaol stood and took up a place beside hi, then to each other, and drew their swords She ran an eye down Renault’s body as he took his stance She’d seen hiainst Cain before; he’d never won, but he always ht possible Perhaps he’d win

But Cain lifted his sword He had the better weapon And he had half a foot on Renault

"Begin," the king said Metal flashed They struck each other and danced back Renault, refusing to take up the defensive, swept forward again, landing a few strong blows on Cain’s blade She forced her shoulders to relax, forced herself to breathe down the cold air

"Do you think it was just poor luck," shesecond?"

He kept his attention on the duel "I think you’ll be allowed proper ti ht side Look there" Celaena watched as Cain struck, twisting his body so his right side ide open "Renault doesn’t even notice" Cain grunted and pressed Renault’s blade, forcing the mercenary to take a step back "He just missed his chance"

The wind roared around the the duel Renault was retreating, each swing of Cain’s blade taking him closer and closer to the line of chalk that had been drawn on the ground One step outside of that ring and he’d be disqualified "He’ll try to provoke you Don’t get angry Focus only on his blade, and that unprotected side of his"

"I know," she said, and shifted her gaze back to the duel just in time to see Renault cry out and sturound hard Cain, his fist smeared with Renault’s blood, only smiled as he pointed the blade at Renault’s heart The mercenary’s bloody face hite, and he bared his teeth as he stared up at his conqueror

She looked at the clock tower He hadn’t lasted three , and Celaena noticed that Lord Garnel’s face was set with fury She could only guess howCain bowed and didn’t offer Renault a hand to help him rise before he stalked toward the opposite end of the veranda With ot to his feet and bowed to the king,his nose, the mercenary slunk away What had he stood to lose--and where would he return to now?

Across the ring, Grave smiled at her as he wrapped a hand around the hilt of his sword She bit down on her griht of his teeth Of course, she’d have to duel the grotesque one At least Renault had been clean looking