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We were to remain in our roo in the house, but after lunch was brought to us, Tobias gave me all of his lunch and Roden shared half

"You owe ," I said to Roden

"Not now, but if Conner does choose you, then I hope you’ll make the same promise to me that you did with Tobias, to save my life"

"And will you make that proed "I can’t "

I clapped Roden on the shoulder "Then, for the sake ofto be named the prince"

Near us, Tobias’s feet dropped to the floor and he banged on the door for his servant When he arrived, Tobias said he had to use the toilet, the only reason we could be allowed out of the room Even our lessons would be held in this roory that he’ll try to kill you again?" Roden asked after Tobias had gone

"He wasn’t trying to kill ht He just wanted , as far as I’uess in the end, it worked out better for you Oh" Roden’s eyes widened "Did you plan for that to happen?"

"Tobias was getting desperate Once he took the knife ere in the kitchen, I knew so was bound to happen soon"

"Why didn’t you just report that he had a knife?"

"There’s forgiveness for that But Conner wouldn’t forgive what he did last night, and Tobias knows it, so he had to agree to my terms"

Roden slowly shook his head "You let him cut you"

A smile spread across ht that’d scare hi I wish it had, because it really did hurt"

Roden laughed and shook his head incredulously "You’re the craziest person I’ve ever met Tobias may be more educated than you, but he’s not the smartest of us" I chuckled, but Roden turned serious and added, "It really is down to you and ot to try to win, you know that"

"It’s cruel, this game of ours," I said "Between us, you’re Conner’s favorite now"

Roden nodded "You can bait me all you want I won’t try to kill you"

"You could, though," I said "I’ve seen you out practicing swords with Cregan"

"Cregan hopes Conner chooses me, and he wants me to be ready for when he does" Roden’s voice raised in pitch "What’s wrong with that?"

"Nothing I’ for Conner’s benefit and not et hurt"

"I don’t see why that’s funny I think youpeople until they hurt you"

"I definitely don’t like the pain," I said firmly "So if you do decide to kill h came without humor and we finished lunch with little more conversation When Tobias returned a few un a particularly dreary lesson on the great books and fine art of Carthya Tobias lay on his bed for the entire lesson, causing Master Graves to reht he’d see a lazier student thanhim pretend to be less than he was But unfortunately, that was his situation now