Chapter 197

The sound of arrows whizzing toward their targets grated at Kit’s brain like the buzz of a swarm of flies as she sat on a bench next to Avinia, Isla, and Seph, pretending to pay attention to who was winning and who was not. Her mind was in another place, though. How could what Cassius had disclosed to her possibly be true?

On one hand, it made perfect sense that Remont would be the first person to rise up against Rona. She had been horrible to him for as many years as Kit could remember. In fact, never in her life could the princess recall a time when it even appeared as if her parents were happy together. But she would’ve never thought her father capable of inciting a revolution. Perhaps she had been underestimating him this entire time.

“Katrinetta, are you going to watch? There are only six archers left. One of them will be joining you in your chambers this evening. You may want to select one to cheer for.”

Avinia’s voice brought her mind back around, but it couldn’t keep it there. She noticed Pierce was still in the competition, as were Jate and Eli. Cassius had been out for some time, which was no surprise. The other three were Gavin, Asher, and Drake, but none of them truly had a chance at winning. Kit secretly prayed that Pierce would lose but didn’t say anything aloud.

“It’s clear he’s been cheating,” Isla whispered in Kit’s ear. “His arrows are not shaped the same as anyone else’s, and that call earlier, that he had hit the bullseye when the arrow was obviously on the line, was absurd.”

Kit decided it would be in her best interest to start paying attention after all. If she was to protest the result, she would need to know what to say. Still, she was more concerned about her father at the moment than finding a way to keep Pierce out of her bed. She was ready to throw down the most effective card she had, should it be called for—an outright refusal.

Her eyes flickered to Avinia. She knew, of course, had probably known all along, that Remont was the mastermind behind the revolt. Why hadn’t her cousin told her? Why hadn’t Eli, for that matter? All of this time, she’d thought Eli had been the one running the show, with assistance from Avinia, Junno, and possibly some of the other council members. Never in her wildest imagination would she have surmised it was really Remont.

Pierce drew back his arrow to fire, and several of the Representatives who were out of the competition and sitting on the ground nearby let out a collective cough. Kit’s eyes widened, and Pierce’s arrow went wide of the center, hitting in one of the outer rings. Jate could best that shot with his eyes closed.

“That’s not fair!” Pierce screamed. “You did that on purpose!” He wheeled around and glared at the men sitting nearby. Like an angry child, Pierce tossed his quiver to the ground behind him and dropped his bow as well.

“Yes, that was very unsportsmanlike,” Rona agreed.

“Unfortunately,” Kit chimed in, her voice carrying above her mother’s, “the rules do not allow for a second shot because of sudden noises.”

“We can amend the rules.” Rona turned and looked at her daughter, her eyes narrowed.

“I was raised to believe the rules are the rules, just as the law is the law, and since the only way to amend a law is through proper petition to the council, and the only way to amend a rule is through proper petition of the woman who’s Choosing the contest affects, I have determined this rule may stay in place. You must just hope that three other Representatives shoot more poorly than you have, Pierce.” Kit finished with an air of finality she hoped would carry past the nasty glare her mother was shooting her way.

“Princess Katrinetta,” the queen began, her voice bordering on her disposition failing her. “I believe we should allow Pierce to take another shot.” Every word was measured as she completed her sentence.

While Rona was making her demand, Kit noticed Eli exchanging the discarded quiver with his own and handing the one with the optimal arrows designed to cheat to Jate, who handed it back down the line to one of the Representatives who was already out of the contest. That man handed over his quiver so that Eli wouldn’t be cheating either.

Kit took a deep breath, not wanting to give her mother an inch and change the declaration she’d already made. Pierce was staring at her so intently, one of his eye was beginning to twitch. She looked at her mother again, who seemed very close to coming unhinged. “Very well. If the queen believes you should have one more shot, then so be it.”

Rona’s impression of a smile widened. Satisfied, she returned her attention to the competition, and Pierce bent down and picked up his quiver, not noticing it wasn’t his own, plucked his bow from near his boot, and turned as one of the attendants removed his first attempt from where it had struck the target.

There was no need to throw Pierce off this time. With a regular quiver of arrows, he wouldn’t be nearly as apt to hit the bullseye as some of the others who were still in the competition. Everyone was silent as he readied his shot. He let the arrow fly, and it landed near where his last had entered the target, several circles away from the center.

Furious, Pierce balled his hands into fists and screamed a curse word. “How can that be?” he asked no one in particular. The queen also made a rumbling sound in the back of her throat Kit only picked up on because she’d heard it so many times before.

“I suppose it wasn’t the noise after all,” Junno said loud enough for all to hear. Rona glared at her mother beside her, but everyone else chuckled, and Pierce stepped aside, his arms folded, as the next Representative took his place.

Drake towered over Pierce as the man from Metfirth moved out of the way. As Drake pulled his arrow back to send it on its way, Pierce started a furious coughing fit, but Drake held steady, not even giving him the side-eye. His arrow landed within the second circle, much closer to the bullseye than Pierce’s. With only Eli and Jate left to shoot, the chances of Pierce making it to the next round were slim.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kit watched her mother as she prepared to find some way to advance the Representative of her choosing. The queen was wringing her hands as her eyes darted around. Eli fired, hitting the bullseye on the right side, near the bottom, and everyone cheered, except for Rona. “Fault!” she shouted. “That was a fault! You crossed the line.”