I clenched my hands at my sides to keep them from going to my sword. I pushed past him down the tunnel, untying my breastplate as I went. He quickly caught up to me.

“Don’t think I’ll go any easier on you in training tomorrow because of it.” He nodded toward my injury.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you,” I said through gritted teeth.

I quickened my pace until I reached the small prep area.

“Hurry to the feast,” Rodric called. “I’m sure you can’t wait to find out who your last suitor will be.”

I shoved through the door and slammed it behind me.

Latia jumped when I barged in and bolted the door. She quickly rolled up the small parchment she’d been scribbling on and shoved it into a pocket of her dress. “I wasn’t expecting you back so soon,” she said. “That might have been your fastest match yet.” Her hands smoothed over the fabric of her pocket.

I rolled my eyes. I’d caught her at this before. And when I’d demanded the small scrap of paper from her, I’d found a map of the rooms around mine. She’d sheepishly admitted she couldn’t write and had found this to be the best way to leave notes for the soldier she had her eye on, informing him where they should meet. She always lowered her face when she spoke about it, but I could still catch the blush creeping up her cheeks and the tiny smile she tried to hide. I suppose they were the typical signs of being in love. Not that I’d know.

She’d once asked if I thought her weak for falling in love. I’d scoffed and waved her off. Her options were different from mine. If the arena didn’t decide my husband, I didn’t know how I would. How could I ever believe anyone was ready to rule Achra with me? My people would depend on me—just as my mother had always hoped—and I wasn’t sure I could trust someone else to fight on their behalf.

No, with Latia I was more worried she hadn’t told me which soldier it was, which made me think it was one I constantly complained about being unskilled or incapable of following directions.

She could do worse. At least soldiers had stable positions. And extra water rations.

When it was clear I wasn’t going to question her, she relaxed. Her eyes went to my leg. “You’re bleeding.”

I let her rush over and undo the rest of the sandal straps and slide them off my legs. I collapsed into a chair and let her inspect the gash.

“It’s not deep,” Latia said, her fingers prodding my leg. “Why don’t you take a bath while I look for something to put on it?”

I nodded and started removing my gear while she added a few more buckets of heated water to the bath before disappearing through the door. I slid into the water and winced as my cut touched the surface, but it was balanced by the instant relaxation of my muscles.