It was rumored across all seven realms that this year's 1100th Blood Reaping would exclude the Glacians. (People from the tribe of The Glacial Throne)
The reason being that the king had declared that they always lost in the Contest's prologue, and it made the event boring for the new gods.
But what the realms didn't know and what most Glacians themselves didn't even realize was that the king was the real 'reason' they lost.
He had fooled their rulers. Centuries ago, after the first World War of the Mortal Realm, a brutal conflict that nearly tore Eryndor apart and many other kingdoms.
The king had come to the Glacial Throne with honeyed words and shrewd wisdom.
"The gods see great potential in your men," he'd told them. "They are strong, mindful and disciplined. The finest warriors Eryndor has ever produced. And because of that strength, they should be honored with the responsibility of protecting this kingdom."
And it was brilliant, really. Flattery wrapped in duty and responsibility. And the Glacial Throne of course had believed him.
They wanted to believe him because the first World War had been a nightmare. The enemy led by a warlord named Gorath had nearly crushed them.
He teamed up with other stronger kingdoms and ganged up on the smaller once. Sadly at that time, Eryndor was not as strong as it is now. Entire cities had burned and thousands had died in the war.
So the king had adopted the Glacian men into his service, and the tide of the war had turned. Victory came and for years, peace followed.
And the Glacial Throne, grateful and proud, had agreed to the king's proposal.
Every year in the last five hundred years, they would send their men, every male of ripe age, 150 years old or older to serve the king.
They would be in educated, trained and tested, and those who passed would become soldiers in the royal army.
While those who failed would become slaves. It had been going on for over five hundred years now.
And it always happened just months before the Blood Reaping. So by the time the contest arrived, the ripe men, the strong, experienced warriors who could actually survive, were already gone.
Taken by the king. Locked away in the palace or stationed at the borders or sent to fight in wars that didn't concern the Glacial Throne.
Only the young and the inexperienced were left. Those under 100 years old, barely 18 or 20 in human years who weren't strong enough or trained enough to survive even the weakest one-on-one battle in the Blood Reaping Contest.
And so, year after year, they were sent into the Blood Reaping.
And year after year, they died.
The females survived longer, usually. They were smaller, faster, better at hiding. But they still died eventually. Always before the final level.
And even if a woman did survive, even if one of them somehow made it all the way to the end and tried to claimed the Sevenfold Crown,
It would cause a riot. Because the realms would never accept a woman king. Even if a woman king could save Eryndor from its current mess.
Tabitha's face flushed. "True," she muttered.
Ezra smirked. "I said 'woman,' Tay. Not you."
She smacked his shoulder.
"Ow!"
They both laughed despite themselves.
"Go on," Tabitha said, settling back. "So what happened when you heard about this? You were the Glacial Throne's Official Representative to the king at age 120, right? The youngest ever to exist."
Ezra blushed slightly. "Thank you for that."
"Don't get all humble on me now. Just tell the story."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I was furious," he said quietly. "Scared for our future, but furious. So I went straight to the Throne."
Tabitha's eyes widened. "Wait. You mean you went yourself to the 'king's'throne? The palace?"
"Yes."
"But you can't just go there at will, Ez. You're not allowed in unless you're summoned by the king or you have official duty to perform. You're not yet one of the elders."
"I know."
"So how? What did you do? How did you manage to…"
"Survive?" Ezra hesitated. "I prayed for favor from the gods," he said. "And I went anyway."
Tabitha stared at him. "No, you didn't."
Ezra met her eyes. "I did."
In fact, Ezra had done exactly that. And he almost lost his life doing so.