‘Having a little moonlit dalliance, are you?’ I called out, an edge to my tone. It annoyed me that I was annoyed; I could deal calmly with Aifric Moncrieffe who was trying to destroy me but, when it came to his son, my emotions overtook my rationality and sense.

‘We’re discussing strategy,’ Tipsania returned coolly. ‘If one of us beats you tomorrow, you’re going to lose. That’s what happens when you’re too afraid to fight. If you’d beaten that giant and passed Angus MacQuarrie, you’d be in a better position.’

I marched up to her. ‘I’m not afraid to fight,’ I said, getting in her face. ‘I’m just too good for it. I don’t have to throw my fists around to win these Games. When I’m standing on that dais and getting that prize, you’ll see exactly what I mean.’

‘Never going to happen,’ she sniffed. ‘Tell her, By.’

‘Tipsy…’

She threw up her arms. ‘Now you’re on her side? Why am I surprised?’ Her shoulders slumped. ‘This is important. We can’t let her win. You know that.’

There was such an air of dejection about her that I felt a ripple of sympathy. ‘You know, Tipsania,’ I said softly, ‘if you don’t win the Games, you could just ask your father to give you what you want. He does love you. I’m sure he’ll do whatever he can to keep you happy.’

‘And what would you know about it?’ she snapped. ‘Besides, it’s not up to him.’ She gestured at Byron in frustration. He looked away and she hissed at me, ‘Just because you don’t care what others think of you doesn’t mean the rest of us can afford to be like that.’ She picked up her skirts and walked off.

I sighed, sat down on the wall and watched her go. Byron sat next to me. ‘You know, she’s not as bad as she pretends.’

‘She was a real bitch to me when we were kids.’

‘I know. But kids can be mean.’

‘She’s not particularly nice now,’ I pointed out.

He sighed. ‘She has her reasons. You two hate each other for what happened when you were kids but don’t you think her father should be the one to take the blame?’

Everyone seemed to blame their parents for their woes and my father, Gale Adair, received far more censure than the others when he probably deserved it least. I exhaled. ‘The sins of our fathers should not be ours to bear.’

Byron’s hand touched mine lightly. ‘What your father did had nothing to do with you.’

I straightened and pulled away. ‘My father didn’t do anything, no matter what anyone else says. I wasn’t talking about him.’ I was talking about you, I added silently.