Kael
My name had less space than the sponsor's crest.
I stood in front of the Crown bracket and considered whether that was an honest assessment of my chances.
Eight names. Four quarterfinals. Two routes meeting at a final which someone had already decorated with a gold border.
They had left room beneath the border for a winner.
Optimistic people.
Liora stood beside me with her hair still damp from washing. She followed the lower half of the bracket with one finger, without quite touching the paper.
"Tarin first," she said.
"Then the winner of Aiden and Lucien."
"I can read."
"I was checking whether I could."
Her mouth moved a little.
On the other half, my quarterfinal led to the winner of Darian Holt and another visiting entrant. Their match was first that morning. Mine followed later, after the ring had been checked and the next pair had completed their own checks.
Liora and Aiden fought in two days.
