"Come, Rosalind, we cannot afford to miss the tournament," Verity and Thalia said as they led her through the palace halls.
"A tournament?" Rosalind asked, unable to hide her confusion. "I thought there's a war going on. Do they still hold tournaments during war?"
Verity replied with a light chuckle. "The war is at the capital, not here in the castle.
Everything here is fine, and we are well guarded."
"Life in the castle has to go on," Thalia added as they walked. "This tournament is a long-standing tradition. It is never cancelled, because cancelling it would suggest the palace is unstable, and they cannot show weakness."
Rosalind's lips formed a small shape of understanding. "Is it… fun?" she asked.
"Are you kidding?" Verity turned to her immediately, and Rosalind noticed how bright her expression had become, which only made her more curious as they quickened their pace, the sound of drums growing louder with every step.
