36
A minute later the door opened and the woman came in holding a torch. She pulled the door shut. I began to stand up. She gestured at me to stay seated. I didn’t argue. It wouldn’t have achieved anything.
‘Tomorrow you are going to die, Fauxine,’ she said.
‘So I understand.’
‘You can live, but only if you play your cards right.’
As living is preferable to dying in most cases I was interested.
‘What do I have to do?’
‘My father wants me to marry someone. I’m not interested. If I want to get out of the marriage, I need a champion to fight for me. Someone who’ll beat the most powerful warrior in the whole of Dracopolis. Do you understand?’
I pursed my lips a little and nodded.
‘I think so. You want me to be your champion.’
‘That’s right.’
‘And if I refuse?’
A grim smile formed a
