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“I will match King Meguh,” Rongyo says quietly. “In a year, when I am king, I will pay one hundred thousand golden riels.”

Meguh snorts. “Take my word, the boy prince doesn’t have that sort of coin. My offer is good, Khuan—you’ll have the gold in a week.”

Adah’s still hesitating, which is a good sign. I pray his love for Vanna is stronger than his greed.

“Don’t choose either of them!” a familiar voice shouts from the crowd. Even without looking, I know it’s Oshli.

Vanna flinches as everyone’s attention goes to the orange-scarfed shaman.

I hold my breath. This is her chance to say something. To use her light and close down the selection ceremony, if she wishes. She could do it; she has the power.

But she doesn’t.

“For the good of Sundau, I will be a queen,” she says firmly. Her voice rings across the entire courtyard, but her eyes are on Oshli. “The fates will make it so.”

Oshli turns abruptly, shouldering through the crowds for the road out of Puntalo Village. As he disappears around the bend, Vanna drags her attention back to the selection.

She touches Adah’s arm. Her lips are moving, but I can’t make out what she’s saying. I hope she’s telling him to accept Prince Rongyo’s offer—that the throne of a queen is worth more gold than Meguh and his servants can dig in a lifetime.

Adah whispers something to Dakuok, who shakes his head, clearly disagreeing. Before Adah can stop him, he raises his staff high up in the air to command everyone’s attention.

“We will settle this the way our ancestors did,” announces the shaman. “Resolution by conflict. A contest of warriors.”

Meguh’s mouth curves into a wide smile, and I nearly choke with fury. This isn’t fair. Dakuok knew that Meguh brought a warrior with him!

Prince Rongyo, unaware of his disadvantage, straightens. He carries no weapons, but he is young and lean—he must think he has a fair chance of winning the match.

“I accept,” he tells Meguh. “Swords or spears?”

Meguh erupts with laughter. “Not against me,” he booms. “Against my champion.”

Twelve of his servants emerge from behind the temple, and it takes all twelve to roll forth an enormous box covered by a blue sheet. Confused, the villagers draw back, making room for this new arrival.

I’m confused too. It must be a cage. But why would Meguh’s champion be confined?

Meguh descends the temple steps into the square. With a flourish, he removes the cloth. “Behold!”

The air goes still. Gasps pulse across the marketplace, little pops of horror and shock—and wonder. The villagers crowd around the box, murmuring excitedly.

Vanna’s gone pale. She turns to Adah, pleading with him, but he shakes her away. She turns to the crowds, silently beseeching. But no one pays her any heed, except me. Channi, I can almost hear her whisper. Channi, help me.

I can’t see what’s in the box. I crane my neck, to no avail, then rise to my knees for a better view. It is a cage, and there’s a beast inside, its back to all. It’s turning. Turning.

My hand jumps to my mouth, and I let out a belated gasp.

“A dragon,” I whisper.

The crowd backs away in fear, while I lean forward. It’s been a long time since I’ve been awestruck, but this dragon is magnificent. A natural fighter. A shock of tangled black hair obscures his face, but I can see that he has legs and arms like a human and that he stands upright like us. But unlike us, he’s got knife-sharp talons and iron-thick scales, gleaming blue-green or black depending on the light. And wings! The tales I’ve heard of the great sea dragons never mentioned wings.

Rongyo approaches the cage. He may know the princely arts of combat, but any fool can see he is no warrior.

Meguh’s beast will rip him into shreds.

My mind careens. If Rongyo loses this fight, then Vanna will become King Meguh’s concubine. I can’t let that happen.

With a loud crack, I snap off the tent pole I carved into a spear. The awning beneath me rips, and before I fall, I hear myself yelling, “I will fight for my sister!”

CHAPTER NINE