All around the arena, his opponents’ hopes were rising, that they might actually have a chance to beat Venture Delving. That everything he’d been through had simply been too much for him. That maybe he’d never really been that good, and his win last year had been a fluke. That he couldn’t handle the pressure of being a champion.
Earnest blinked at him. “If that’s true, Vent, if you really don’t care, then let’s withdraw.”
“What?”
“Anyone would understand, with your injuries, Champ. With everything.”
Dasher, too?
“If you guys didn’t think I could do this, maybe you should’ve told me that a few months ago.”
“Of course you can do this, but you sure as blazes can’t do it like that.” Earnest gestured at the mat where Venture had just fought.
“We all know you can do better than that,” Dasher said. “Everybody in this arena knows it. That’s why—”
“That’s why I’m going to win this thing. I’m a champion.”
He couldn’t just give up. What if that was what they were trying to make him do? But Venture’s gaze wandered back to Jade. Wasn’t she more important, even than letting them win? If she was in danger . . .
“Vent!” Earnest grabbed both his shoulders. “You really want to win? Really? Then find my fighter and get him back on the mat! If you get eliminated, there won’t be anything to argue about.”
Earnest’s dark eyes gleamed with the fire Venture should’ve had to get out there himself. The fire that was still there, smoldering, beneath the fear. He was so sick of being afraid. But if something happened to Jade, he’d have a much bigger regret than blowing this Championship.
“Champ.” Dasher put a steady hand on his arm. “I’ll sit with her. I’ll make sure she’s safe. Earnest can handle coaching you. And you can handle reminding these people who you are.”
They both thought he was just losing it. Dasher didn’t believe Jade was in any danger from that man in the stands. But Dasher’s reflexes were sharp, he was a skilled fighter, and he could be ruthless if one of his friends were threatened. He’d do everything in his power to protect Jade, if it came to that.
Venture nodded. “Thanks, Dash.”
“All right, then. Come on,” Earnest said. “Let’s watch Lance.”
Lance was battling with Foster, the third place winner from last year. A tough match-up for a battered young fighter who’d already been through Day One.
Earnest let out a low whistle of admiration as Lance escaped a choke attempt and took his opponent’s back. “Lance is really on fire.”
“Calling’s a good coach,” Venture said. “Too bad he’s not fighting for the title this year. I’ll have to settle for beating Lance instead. If he gets that far.”
Lance finished the match with an armlock, and the crowd roared at the upset.
Dasher nudged Venture. “Looks like you just might get your chance.”
#
Venture slipped away from the unrelenting attention of the crowd in the arena, even from Earnest and Dasher’s presence, to the privy. He knew he shouldn’t go even that far without more protection, but if he didn’t get away for a minute, he was going to suffocate. Chance was the only one who noticed him leave. Without a word, he followed, and Venture didn’t try to stop him.
Venture had his back turned, taking care of his business, when someone else entered the privy, strangely light-footed.
Chance said, “This is the men’s, Miss!”
“Venture Delving.” He’d heard that voice before. He’d never forget the woman who’d urged him not to compete in the Championship last year, who’d offered him a bribe, then a threat.
“Get out!”
“You don’t have time for modesty. Your lady friend is in trouble. She was the one they were after, not her stepmother. And not just to get to you. Someone doesn’t want you two together.”
“What are you talking about?” As Venture faced her, his heart felt cold and still in his chest.
“Don’t play stupid with me, Mr. Delving. The lady who saved your life. The one Star of the Glen planned on having married to his son. The one the papers say you’re now engaged to instead. Jade Fieldstone, of course.”
But no one knew Jade was the one who’d cut down that Crested man in the mud. They’d kept that to themselves. And Jade and Dasher—no one knew about that. Of all the lies and exaggerations in the gossip columns, that had never been mentioned. How could this stranger possibly know such things?
“The papers are wrong. I haven’t asked for Jade Fieldstone’s hand.”
“Really? Do you think that will save her?”
“Save her from what?”
He wanted to pick her up as he had done the last time they met and give her a good scare, but there was that wide-eyed boy watching him. He restrained himself—for now.
“It’s very embarrassing for the household I work for. A woman who was intended for one of their own has chosen a bonded servant over him, one who was quite smitten with her. Don’t you think he still is?”
“What are you saying?”
“I hope, for Miss Fieldstone’s sake, that I haven’t overestimated you. There have been enough deaths over this.”
Venture snatched her sleeve, though he wanted to lock her wrist, to make her hurt.
“What household? What household do you work for?”
“You of all people ought to realize it’s no easy thing for a man to get over Jade Fieldstone. You know what I’m saying. Have the courage to hear it. Now let me go. No one can know I came to you, or there’ll be a funeral for me too.”
Something in her eyes spoke to him with genuine urgency, genuine fear—and not of him. He released her, and she left the privy.
He saw the flashes of thought and of fear in Chance’s eyes, but the kid was good and silent. Venture had no words of reassurance for him. His own head was a mess. Should I believe her? How can I? The Glens? She works for the Glens? The Glens want Jade dead? Was this the answer he’d prayed for?
It couldn’t be. She was up to something, and he had to figure out what it was.
“Not a word about this. Not to anyone.”
“Yes, sir.”
Dasher was looking for him when he came back in. He smiled in relief. Venture tried to smile back, but in his mind he saw Dasher that night at the Big House, when Grant, who then knew him only as the Crested Dauntless of the Glen, had been trying to arrange Jade’s marriage to him. Who wouldn’t want Jade? Hadn’t Dasher said he was willing even to settle down for her?
But he told me to marry her. He’s my friend. This is nonsense. That woman probably didn’t even work for the Glens. Whoever she worked for saw his friendship with Dauntless of the Glen as a threat to Crested superiority. They wanted to drive a wedge between them. That had to be it.
#
Venture stepped off the mat after his second match. The crowd’s whistles of delight at his victory rang in his ears, which were still pounding with the excitement of the match, with the beauty of the win. The huge Trytlon fighter, Ox, had improved dramatically since the year before. He’d slimmed down a bit and sped up a lot, but it hadn’t been enough to outmatch Venture.
The match had been the perfect combination of Venture’s instincts, the months of drilling Earnest’s new strategy come to fruition, and Dasher’s brilliant coaching. He’d been perfectly in tune with Dasher’s calm but insistent directions. Dasher had stayed one step ahead of Ox, and Venture had listened carefully to every prediction Dasher made. His opponent’s coach threw up his hands, then, finally, when Ox’s face became so swollen that he couldn’t see, he threw in the towel.
Earnest was sitting with Jade this time. He gave Venture a shout and Venture raised his hand to him in thanks. He knew it had just about killed him, not being on the bench. But Venture had won his match like a champion, and he was going on to the final match of the Championship. That warning in the privy seemed so ridiculous now. How could Dasher, who’d be
en so instrumental to his win, who’d sacrificed his own career in order to get him this far, be working against him?
By the time Venture had wiped himself down and gotten enough to drink, the crowd was roaring with new excitement, this time for Lance. He’d blown through another opponent.
Venture shook Lance’s hand, then Calling’s. “Looks like I’ll see you on the mat next,” he said to Lance.
Lance smiled, blinking sweat out of his eyes. “Just like old times.”
Venture squeezed Lance’s shaky hand a little too hard. He missed those old times. Lance excused himself and went to clean up, but Calling lingered.
“He’s looking good today,” Venture offered.
“Thanks. So are you, Vent. Nice recovery.”
Venture gave Calling a half-smile. Nice recovery, from his ordeal, and from his first match.
“Whatever happens with Lance, I just wanted to tell you that. I’m proud of what you’ve done, in so little time. Proud to be your friend.”
Venture shook Calling’s thick hand and thanked him. He was a good man, a good friend, even if they were on opposite sides today. But Calling’s words were almost a consolation, as though he thought Lance could actually beat him. Was he just playing a good coach’s game with his fighter’s opponent, or did he really think Lance had a chance?
The exchange with Lance at the Fighter’s Face-off came flooding back to Venture. There was no way he was going to lose to Lance. Not today. Not ever again.
Among the spectators working their way in and out of the stands on the other side of the mat, a well-dressed man caught Venture’s eye. He was tall, with thick sandy hair and a proud bearing. He had his back to them, and his gait wasn’t particularly distinctive, but Venture, always a student of his opponents’ movements, recognized it instantly. The man from the bleachers. The leader of the mob that had confronted him at Beamer’s.
Calling followed Venture’s gaze. “I never thought I’d see Cresteds here, watching the Championship. Other than Dasher, that is,” he added. “I still can’t get my mind around that.”
“Cresteds?”
“Right there. His steward buys from my uncle’s butcher shop all the time.”
“You’re sure?”
Venture’s hand moved involuntarily to his sword. His sword that wasn’t there. Blasted arena rules.
“Of course I’m sure.” Calling noticed where his hand had moved, and he gave Venture a troubled look.
Venture tried to keep his cool and ran his hand over his head instead.
“I just got done talking to him,” Calling said. “He’s very interested in the outcome of the Championship this year. Seems like a decent guy, not like the other Cresteds. Funny that he never came to watch Dasher when he competed, though.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because he’s Starson’s cousin. You really ought to have him introduce you. He seems like a big fan of yours. He talked a lot about you as a fighter. Honestly, I thought you already knew him.”
Venture’s hand went back to his nonexistent weapon, then curled into a fist. Blood pounded in his ears. Cold, hard waves of rage and betrayal beat against his insides.
“Are you sure that’s Dash Starson’s cousin, his first cousin?”
“Son of his father’s sister.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Okay, Champ. You know what he’s going to do first. He’s—”
“Not now, Dash.”
“You’re up in ten minutes, Vent,” Earnest said.
Venture didn’t look at Dasher. He couldn’t. Not without wanting to do any number of things that could cost him this Championship, and more. “I want you on my bench this time, Earnest.”
Earnest hesitated, but Dasher recovered quickly. “He’s right,” he said graciously. “You’ve known Lance since he was a little kid.”
“Vent,” Earnest said carefully, “Are you going to be all right out there?”
“Yeah. Fine. I need both of you to just go. Get me when they call my name.”
The guys did as he told them. Chance came for him when they called his name, and Venture followed him out, into the roaring arena. He scanned the front row seats around the middle competition area, where the Championship match would be fought, and found Jade right between Grant and Dasher. Should he get Justice to move between them? But Justice couldn’t stop Dasher if he tried to do anything. He and Grant together were no match for him.
What was he thinking? What would Dasher do? Nothing, that’s what. Just because that guy was Dasher’s cousin didn’t mean they were on the same side. They might not even be close. Dasher had been young when he left home. Was it possible he hadn’t recognized his cousin with the mask on? But then why hadn’t Dasher said anything when Venture pointed him out yesterday? Surely he recognized his cousin without the mask.
That woman. Her warning. What if it was true? What if Dasher really was a part of everything that had happened?
“Chance.”
The kid looked up at him warily.
“Tell Dasher to get away from Jade.”
“Sir?”
Venture struggled to compose himself. “I changed my mind. I want him on my bench.”
Chance glanced at Earnest. Both of them looked as though they were considering the risk of saying something, probably about Venture’s state of mind.
“Just get him, Chance.”
Chance turned and sprinted for the stands.
Earnest smacked Venture’s back lightly. “Chance is getting him. Come on. You’re up. Let’s get this match started. Today’s the day, Vent. You’re about to become two-time Champion of All Richland.”
But Venture didn’t make a move closer to the competition area. “I can’t just leave her there.”
“She’s with Justice.”
“That’s not good enough.”
“By the gods, Vent, I’ll go and sit with her, and Dasher can coach you then. Everybody’s watching. You’ve got to pull this together.”
“Go. And bring her back with you.”
“To the bench?”
“I want her right where I can see her.”
Earnest crossed his arms. “You want me to bring a girl to the bench?”
“Do it, or I’m done.” Venture turned and stepped onto the mat.
Earnest grabbed the towel he kept draped over his shoulder and twisted it in his hands. Venture knew he wanted to throw it down, but he was trying to pretend nothing was wrong, for the crowd. Earnest headed for the stands. He exchanged a few whispered words with Dasher as he passed him, on the way to the mat with Chance.
Venture stood on his line, hands on his hips, waiting. The official eyed the empty bench, then Venture.
“It’s all right,” Lance said. “Give him a minute.”
Venture didn’t need any concessions from Lance. He didn’t need a minute. He didn’t need any coaches. He just needed to have Jade—and Dasher—within reach. He was going to show Lance who was ready for this Championship, and then he was going to find out what the blazes Dasher’s cousin was doing here and what Dasher knew about it.
#
“Earnest,” Jade hissed as she followed him to the bench. “What is going on?”
“Just sit there and try to look encouraging. Don’t say anything.”
“Won’t it distract him, having me so close?”
“Probably. But he’s threatening not to fight otherwise. And the way he’s been acting today, I think he’d actually do it. He’s not making any sense. I shouldn’t have let him fight. It’s too soon.”
Jade shook her head. “No. I think there’s more to it than that. Someone’s been following me.”
“What?”
“A woman. Everywhere I go, she’s in the crowd, close behind me.”
“Where is she now?”
Jade nodded toward the end of one of the stands, where the woman stood, watching in the shadows.
Earnest’s eyes narrowed, then widened with a flash of recognition.
“Who knows?” Earnest said, trying to play it off. “Probably some girl who has her eye on your man. You’re all right for now. Let’s get Vent through this.”
Jade sat down on the bench next to Dasher. Fine. She’d let it go for now. She’d do what she could to get Venture to the other side of this match. But it wasn’t nothing, and Earnest knew something about that woman.
#
“Vent! Watch your feet!” Earnest warned.
“Stay left, Champ. Don’t switch,” Dasher said.
But Venture hadn’t managed a single successful takedown. He was picking Lance apart with his striking game, with their new plan. Lance’s cheek featured a bleeding knot the size of a plum, and he’d taken some brutal blows to the kidneys. But the match was dragging on. The crowd was growing restless. They wanted Venture Delving to show them in no uncertain terms that he was their champion. They wanted to see him shine. Venture had never cared much about the crowd’s enjoyment, not the way Dasher did. But he wanted this match to be over, too. He had other business to deal with.
And he wanted to make Lance fly. To feel that power, here in the arena, after all those months of powerlessness. To take this moment and make it his, after everything that had been taken from him.
Venture switched his feet, putting his left foot forward so he could take Lance down with his left side inside leg reap. But instead of Lance crashing backward and landing with Venture on top, Lance hipped in, grabbing Venture around the waist, belly to belly. The whole arena turned upside down, as Venture’s fortune did. Venture whooshed through the air, helpless, just as he’d done in practice when he and Lance were younger. Venture’s head hit the mat and the arena turned black, then blurred back into view.
Lance’s arms had slipped around his neck, fishing for a choke. Venture hadn’t been knocked out long enough for the official to notice and stop the match, but now he was in trouble. Venture tried to understand how he’d gotten here, what was happening. Automatically, he grasped Lance’s locked hands and tried to break the grip, but the choke tightened and Venture was seeing stars again.
He was going to pass out. He was going to lose. He’d switched his feet and attempted his old favorite takedown. That’s what he’d done. How many times had Earnest warned him not to switch his feet? How many times had Dasher told him that Lance would know exactly what move he was going to attempt if he did? Now it was over, thanks to his stupid stunt.
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