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Mott paired me with Roden for another round while he worked with Tobias I held ot me backed into a corner I lowered my sword to end the duel, but Roden took the opportunity to strike a hard blow at my chest

I reeled backward, then dropped ed at him One solid punch from me would teach him a much-needed lesson about sportsmanship Mott pulled me off of him and yelled, "Bad form, Roden! This is a practice, not a e lowered his sword"

"Sorry," Roden y"

Mott turned to ize," I said, folding my arms

Mott considered that a moment, then said, "No, I wouldn’t either Shake hands, boys, then I’ll take you back"

Roden offered me his hand and I reluctantly took it, but with a sier While Roden replaced our swords, I watched as Mott brushed his fingers across the empty space where the imitation of Jaron’s sword had been Mott clearly loved that sword I couldn’t understand why

Roden walked along beside s, I hope, about the way that ain and I’ll kill you," I said

He srimly, not sure whether it was a joke or not I wasn’t sure either

"It’s safe to tell me if you took the sword," he said

Not a bad way of changing the subject, so I played along "A secret that is safe between you, lance

"It’s not an accusation," Roden said, then lowered his voice "It’s more likely that Tobias took it anyway"

"Why’s that?"

Roden shook his head "Don’t you know? You always seeured out before any of the rest of us"

I didn’t know, and I told him so

"You kno bad he is with a sword I was obviously the best out there, and you’re not great, but you’re better than he is"

I smiled "If that were true, I wouldn’t have so many bruises"

Roden continued, "Tobias needs the sword to help him look more like the prince"

"Tobias would look foolish wearing a sword at his side that he can’t even use properly So what do you propose?"

"I hope Conner chooses me," Roden said, "but if he doesn’t, then I hope he chooses you Not Tobias For Carthya’s sake, I wouldn’t want him as prince, whether Conner is behind the throne or not If you and I band together, we can sabotage him"

"Then what happens when it’s down to you and e me as well?"

Roden looked down at the trail "I e et to this place?" I asked, fully aware there was no answer "No matter e do, the devils have us"

Roden playfully knocked o, Sage"

Tobias had gotten quite a ways ahead of us by this point He turned and called, "Hurry up, you two! I won’t be late for dinner because of your slacking!"

Dinner with Conner was uncoht and left As a sign of his displeasure with me, I was in the third position, farthest away

I picked up my dishes and reset them at the far end of the table, so that I’d directly face Conner

"Why’d you do that?" Conner asked