Annoyingly, you’ve been relegated to the back of the line of contestants. The camera crews flanking each side can barely get a good shot of you in this position. It’s an Ashlord habit to cling to outdated traditions like alphabetical order. The rules are upheld, even if it would make so much more sense to feature you at the front, the bright jewel of this year’s event.

The gambling lines have fluctuated all day. You’re still the favorite, but yesterday some footage of the Longhand leaked. He’s an absolute monster. Bigger than Bravos and more than competent in a duel. He rides like storms are chasing him. Maybe they are. A quick glance shows he’s walking two spots ahead of you. Ashlords are naturally tall, but Adrian Ford’s got a few inches on everyone in the room, and it’s hard not to notice he’s even more muscular than Bravos.

It’s actually very easy to notice that fact.

You smile. A rider like him doesn’t bring fear out in you. That’s not the way you’re built. Instead, adrenaline kicks to life. You want a worthy challenge. You want to beat the best.

Quietly, you run back through the math again. Eleven competitors have entered the Races. The Qualifier, who you practically chose, won’t pay the entry fee. Everyone else will have deposited their hundred-thousand-dollar minimums by now. The Empire Racing Board matches all entries, which leaves the total purse somewhere north of two million legions. If you and Bravos take the top spots, 75 percent of that will funnel into your accounts. Added to your sponsorships, that’s enough to start a real life together. You haven’t given much thought to what you’ll do after the Races, but that’s because you can’t afford to think about anything beyond these next few weeks.

Mother’s advice was straightforward: Actually winning the Races is the hardest part.

You’re first in the gambling lines. Adrian is second. Etzli comes in third. You know there’s nothing exciting or special about the girl because you’ve raced her several times in the amateur circuit. Most of the time, she came in second and you came in first. She makes no mistakes, takes no risks. If the leaders screw up, she’s the rider who wins. If they don’t, she’ll coast to a silver or bronze finish like always.

Surprisingly, Bravos isn’t listed fourth.

Imelda Beru is.