Chapter 62

The sound of arrows slicing through the air, and the reverberating thunk each one made as it contacted the target, reminded Kit of the pitter patter of rain as she watched the archery contest from a bench beneath a shade tree. Her mother had laid out the rules and then given the Representatives a few minutes to practice before the tournament itself would begin. Most of them would’ve taken a contest before the princess seriously no matter the prize, but the added bonus of a kiss from the princess for the winner was enough to inspire all of them to reach for victory.

Of all the men before her, Kit was certain Cassius was the most distracted. She would’ve expected him to be capable of hitting the bullseye more often than not, yet he struggled. Every once in a while, he would turn and smile in her direction, and Kit would feel a tightening in her abdomen. He’d pleasured her one more time that morning before they parted ways, and she was still congratulating herself on such a wise choice for her first experience with one of her Representatives.

“I do hope Landon is good at ducking,” Avinia said beside her. Kit momentarily pulled her eyes away from Cassius’s strong back to give her a questioning look. “Cleary, Cassius could fire an arrow into the man next to him at any given moment.”

Kit and the other ladies giggled. “He is horribly out of focus, isn’t he?” Kit agreed.

“I can’t imagine why.” Isla leaned around Avinia to look at Kit. “It’s not as if he has anything else on his mind.”

“Was it as wonderful as you had imagined?” Avinia whispered, a wicked glimmer in her eye.

Kit raised a hand to her mouth to hide her expression and turned away, certain her face must be glowing like the sun. Avinia wouldn’t give up, though, poking her in the ribs until Kit jumped and turned to face her. “Ouch! Yes, all right. Yes. It was... like a dream.”

“Awww!” Avinia and Isla both sighed, but Blankka’s bottom lip protruded. Kit couldn’t see her well through her other two ladies, but clearly something was bothering her.

“What is it, Blankka?” the princess asked, stretching her neck to make eye contact.

“It’s nothing,” Blankka said with a deep sigh, and just when Kit thought she truly wouldn’t say more, she added, “it just isn’t fair, that’s all.”

“What do you mean?” Avinia asked. Before the other girl could answer, a cheer went up, and Kit looked over to see Jate had split another man’s arrow. The others were congratulating him now, but they likely wouldn’t be so happy if he did the same once the competition began.

Blankka continued to pout. “It’s just... noblewomen can demand a pleasuring from anyone while those of us without title can only make a request. I think about your Explorations, your Choosings, and it just isn’t fair, that’s all.”

A knot formed in Kit’s stomach as she had some idea of what Blankka might be referring to, and she didn’t like it. “That’s not necessarily true. A noblewoman of our station can make a request during her Exploration, but not any other time.”

“Those noblewomen of a lower station who have no Exploration or Choosing can any time, though,” Blankka countered.

“Whatever does that have to do with Kit and Cassius?” Avinia wanted to know. “The only reason she was able to request him yesterday was because he is part of her Choosing.”

“It’s not as if she can request just anyone,” Isla added, turning and gesturing at one of the guards standing a good distance from them. Kit wondered if there was meaning behind her motion but then assumed she was just trying to find another man who was not a Representative to use as an example.

“I understand that,” Blankka replied, her arms folded now. “It just doesn’t seem fair, that’s all.”

Kit thought about calling her lady out on what she’d overheard in the hallway a few days ago, about the potential of Blankka earning a title, but she bit her tongue. There was no reason for Blankka to know that she was aware of the situation. Kit’s eyes flickered to her mother, sitting close by on an identical bench next to Zora and a few other council members. The others looked excited; it wasn’t every day they were invited to be involved in the Choosing. The queen’s head was high, her back straight as if she were at attention, but Kit couldn’t imagine what might be going through her mother’s head.

Rona had approved of Cassius as a good choice, but when Kit had mentioned she was thinking of selecting Reeve next, her mother had crinkled her nose. “Erast Hollow is not exactly a province of consequence,” she had said.

“No, it isn’t, but I like him just the same. He’s kind and considerate. He’s goodhearted.”

“All the more reason not to choose him,” her mother had replied with a sigh.

For those reasons alone, Kit had determined that Reeve would be the next Representative she’d call to her room. She hoped to have an opportunity to ask him as soon as the tournament was over. While she knew he wouldn’t refuse her, she wasn’t sure if he was ready just yet. There was a possibility he might have some trepidations, in which case she’d put it off and ask someone else. Who her next choice might be, she wasn’t sure. A few gentlemen came to mind; Landon, who made an excellent shot while she watched was one of them, as well Jate who would likely win this competition.

Her mother stood, cleared her voice, and waited until all forty-one gentlemen were looking at her before she announced that the tournament would begin. There were rules about how many men would move on from one round to the next, how to determine which arrows were closest in the event of a close call, and of course, the queen would have final say, even though these were the princess’s men. Once she had finished, the Representatives all drew an arrow and fired at their targets. Only twenty would advance to the next round.

Kit watched her mother decide who had qualified and who had not. Most of the shots were easy to judge, but when it came to the last two spots, three arrows were quite close, and when Merek was the one who lost out, he said a few swear words and threw his bow. The queen stared at him for a moment, her penetrating gaze enough to bring anyone back around, and he apologized. Kit made note—another reason to send the unattractive brute home.

Of course, Cassius was out, and when Kit caught his eye, he shrugged, and they both laughed. She couldn’t blame him for his inattention. He took a spot on the yard next to the others who had lost their chance, near Pierce who looked far more disappointed than Cassius did, but then the Representative from Warchester Keep knew he could get a kiss from the princess any time he wanted.