“Lord Dorlunsson,” the snake lord snapped, his long serpentine tail flicking over the edge of his booth in displeasure. “Lord Dorlunsson! Did you hear me? I said remove your helm at once! The King wishes to speak with you, face-to-face.”

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!

I had almost got away with it. I’d won, bested a legendary Knight-Commander—my own mother even—fair and square using my own merits, and now it was all going to go to ...