Chapter 3

Before dawn, I left almost all my savings beside Mother's bed. Our neighbor promised to check on her every day and refused the few coins I offered, insisting I keep them for food.

I picked up my bundle and headed for the caravan yard. Mr. Hale had only just promoted me, and I couldn't leave without speaking to him.

I found him beside a loaded wagon in his brown coat, checking the ropes. He smiled when he saw me, then lowered his hand from the canvas.

“What's wrong?”

I set my bundle down. “I can't keep working for you, sir.”

He had given me a job when I was fourteen, after everyone else had turned me away. Now I stood in front of him on the morning I was supposed to start better work, unable to meet his eyes.

“My mother's ill,” I said. “I'm entering the Claim.”

His gentle face grew serious. He waited while I explained the sickness, the royal magic, and the wish.

“I'm sorry,” I finished. “After you promoted me—”

“Lena.” He rested a hand on the wagon rail. “We're still going to Drakmoor. There's room for you.”

I stared at him. “Even though I'm leaving?”

“And if you want to come back to work, you can.” He picked up my bundle and put it aboard. “You don't have to decide that today.”

My eyes burned. I thanked him twice before I managed to climb into the wagon.

We traveled through the day and the night, and dawn was breaking when Drakmoor appeared beyond the canvas opening.

I pushed my shawl off my head and leaned out. Streets climbed the mountainside in crowded tiers, with a palace above them all; my entire port town would barely have filled a corner of the capital.

Outside the walls, people waited in lines that stretched along the road. Guards inspected carts and bundles, but our caravan passed through after Mr. Hale spoke to them and showed his papers.

Inside, I jumped down with stiff legs and hugged my bundle against my dusty skirt.

“Thank you for bringing me.” I looked up at him. “For everything.”

He smiled from the wagon. “Take care of yourself, Lena.”

I nodded and hurried toward Crownfire Arena.

By the time I reached it, the entrance was packed. Today was the last day to register, and people pressed forward whenever a little space opened near the tables.

A soldier lifted a sheet above his head.

“The preliminaries begin tomorrow! You will enter the Dragon Valley and bond with a dragon. Only dragon riders will advance to the main competition.”

He slapped the sheet down beside an inkpot.

“If you wish to enter, sign the waiver. You accept the risk of death.”

A man near me stepped out of line. “I came here to get rich, not to get eaten.”

Others followed him. The space ahead of me opened, and I walked straight to the table.

Mother had asked how she could know I would come home. There was nothing on this paper that could give her that promise.

I signed Lena Vale before the soldier had to ask.

He tossed a contestant's pass across the table. I caught it against the wood.

“Next.”

I followed the directions on my pass to the contestants' lodgings, arriving late that afternoon. After checking in, I headed down the corridor to my room, passing nobles in silk and commoners in patched coats.

So we really were staying together. Inside, I found a plain bed with a folded blanket and lowered my bundle onto it.

“I have to share with commoners?”

A blonde girl stood in the doorway, her blue eyes moving from my shoes to the bed. Her pale traveling dress had not gathered the gray dust ground into my skirt.

Behind her, a servant balanced her luggage against one hip.

“His Majesty wishes to show that he treats commoners equally, my lady,” the servant said. “You'll only have to bear it for a little while. After the preliminaries, plenty of rooms will be empty.”

The girl drew off one glove. “I should hope so.”

My hand stopped on the knot of my bundle.

The servant shifted the luggage and smiled at her mistress. Neither of them lowered their voice.

Empty rooms. My father had left one behind, too.

“You don't seem to care whether commoners live or die,” I said.

The girl turned toward me. For a moment, her face showed surprise that I had spoken at all; then she studied the frayed edge of my shawl.

“The slums,” she said. “That's where you're from, isn't it?”

“Yes.” I didn't back away. “Does that make what I said less true?”

She draped the glove over her wrist. “It explains your manners.”

She gave a small sigh and stepped inside. The servant followed, setting her luggage down without looking at me.

“I'll forgive your rudeness,” the girl said. “After tomorrow, I doubt I'll have to see you again.”

My stomach turned, but I stepped away from the bed to face her.

“What's your name?”

Her eyes returned to mine. “Viola Ashton.”

I held her gaze. “Then listen, Ashton. I'm going to survive. And I'm going to win.”

Viola laughed. “Don't be ridiculous. You're going to die.”

I didn't bother answering. I sat on the bed, pulled off my shoes, and lay down with my back to her.

Right now, I needed to rest before tomorrow's preliminaries.

She was still by the door when I pulled up the blanket and closed my eyes. I fell asleep before the servant finished unpacking.

A horn tore me awake while the window was still black. I sat up, listening for Mother's cough before I remembered where I was.

Boots hammered past the door.

A voice cut through the noise outside. “All contestants, assemble outside! We're leaving for the Dragon Valley!”