“This woman is no proper Joratese!” he cried out. “I know I’m a stranger here, but at least I don’t lie. She made her pacts with demons as a child, at Lonezh Canton. She did not outrun the demons. She led them! She led a demon army against you! And now she seeks to twist the truth when we would stop her and her machinations. Did she not visit Mereina just before its destruction? Did she not abandon her ancestral canton of Tolamer? She attacked her betrothed when he discovered her treachery. And now she points fingers at me because I know what she is and I’m brave enough to say so.”

The crowd went silent, and then they roared.

They didn’t take Relos Var’s side. He was a foreigner, and she was Janel Danorak. They would give her the benefit of the doubt.

Unless Janel lost. His words had an ugly quality to them, in no small part because he’d twisted her story into a damning slice of hell. Brother Qown felt sick. If Relos Var won, this fight would be all the evidence anyone needed to put Janel to death. The duel would be followed by a burning.

Senera smiled and resumed petting her dog.

When Relos Var finished his ride, he surprised everyone by dismounting his horse, leaving it to the side. After a moment’s consideration, Count Janel did likewise, sending Arasgon back to the stables despite the fireblood’s strenuous objections.

The combatants closed with each other, each armed with a sword and shield. Janel used her family sword, which gave her reach. She wielded it, as always, as though it were a one-handed sword. Anyone else would have required both hands to control the weapon.

Relos Var looked like a librarian someone had forced into a gladiator match.

But his appearance didn’t match his skill. Relos Var dodged her swings, while Janel was being pushed back by his attacks. Her strength proved no advantage at all.

If any conversation occurred between them, it wasn’t obvious.

The entire stadium began chanting.

“Danorak, Danorak, Danorak!”

Then something happened. Brother Qown didn’t see the mistake. Maybe Janel didn’t make one. Janel raised her sword, Var swung his across hers …

And Janel’s sword shattered as though made of glass.

Everyone jumped to their feet. Everyone, from the duke to the humblest child sitting at her parents’ feet on the rooftops across the Green.

A moment later, Janel fell to her knees, defeated.

She surrendered to Relos Var.

“Well, damn,” Mare Dorna said. “Your man won fair enough—”

Relos Var ran Janel through with his sword.

Time stopped. Brother Qown stared in shock. Even from that distance, Brother Qown saw Janel’s shocked expression. Relos Var yanked free his sword, and Janel fell. A pool of blood spread out under her, seeping into the ground.

She didn’t move again.