THE DRAGONS’ LORD

“How do you feel?”

Dagnan watched as the priests took away this last man. Then he glanced up at the open sky above him. “How much longer?”

“There is still an hour until sunset. Can you continue?”

Dagnan thought about this. His hesitation made her rephrase the question. “If you had to face your brother right now, could you?”

“As dural, yes, I think so.”

Kalyani’s eyes narrowed. She knew Dagnan could and would push himself to the limit, dangerously so, but ultimately this, too, was part of being Dragon Lord, knowing just how far was too far.

“However, that won’t be necessary. My brother doesn’t want this, and of the remaining three Families, the Tarhantins will respect Shalesta’s upcoming marriage to me and won’t Challenge. Gadarin is the Lord Primary’s heir and only son, so that Family likewise cannot or will not field a candidate. The only other possibility would be Fenn Imilarh. Technically, he is a Te Daelan by blood and looks it, even though he will likely be Lord Imilarh one day when his uncle dies. I have never gotten the impression from him that he wants this. I don’t think there is anyone else.”

“You may be right. Very well, proceed.”

Dagnan stumbled on his first step and then very deliberately returned to the stairs to cheers. They, too, knew the end was near.

For the fifth time, Dagnan spoke the ritual Challenge.

Even longer now the crowd was silent. They began to grow restless and finally Dagnan was about to give up waiting. His body began to relax and he put one hand against the column beside him to prop himself up. Kalyani saw that from behind Dagnan, and then saw someone emerge from the crowd.

“I challenge your claim.”

It was Frayne Kristanic.