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The calming scent of thyme filled her nostrils as Noora crushed the herb in the Anthracite mortar. Sören was taking another round in the built-up parkour in one part of the chamber. He somehow had managed to knot himself into the lianas made out of thick rope and now he was struggling to get himself out.

Since he was upside down the blood was rushing into his face. It turned redder and redder until his head resembled a very deformed, slowly turning, purple raspberry.

Pika rushed over from the climbing wall to help Sören out of his misery and it took them a few tries until they finally extracted him from the dangerous claws of cords.

Sören’s face slowly drained of the red and he excused himself outside to take a fresh breath.

“I almost feel sorry for him,” Pika said. Noora looked up from her current task to watch his imposing frame stride over to her.

“Why?”

“He is obviously unsuited for this tournament but I do admire his courage.” He stopped beside her, watching her add the chamomile to her concoction.

“Is it courage, though? Or utter stupidity?” she grunted as she tried to crush the herbs properly. To her surprise, Pika gently pushed her aside and overtook her task of crushing up the herbs. It did not look like it demanded much strength from him so she let him do it.

“I already noticed your lack of strength during the trial.”

“Excuse you?” Noora asked him, offended.

He threw her a side glance but there was a gentle smile on his lips. “You are weak, Noora, I could break your arms like a twig.You may be an excellent huntress and can make yourself blend in with your surroundings but when it comes to strength you are at the mercy of your opponent. And I don’t need to note that that is to your absolute disadvantage.”

Noora huffed, pulling the mortar out of his hands. He excellently blended everything into a questionable-looking mass.

“Strength isn’t everything,” she said before her teeth took hold of the knot on her wrapped gauze and tugged.

The binding came away loosely and revealed the dark stitches Nikolai made. The skin around the stitch was reddening and if she did not do anything against it soon she was pretty sure the wound was going to flare up.

“You are right. Considering that we don’t know what the next tasks are going to consist of, it would be wise to be prepared for anything.”

Noora scooped up the salve and with a hiss she spread it over the wound.

“You need to pack some muscles on those bones.”

Noora looked up at him at the tone in his voice. “Why? Do you know something that I don’t?”

Pika quickly shook his head. “I am as much in the dark as you are regarding the tasks but Kekoa is currently banned from using this room. The king ordered so on your behalf.”

Noora froze, wrapping her hand up. “What do you mean?”

Pika frowned at her as if he was surprised by her reaction. “He was raging when you lost consciousness after receiving your points. I don’t think I have ever seen the king this angry, he immediately banned Kekoa.”

“I don’t understand, what do I have to do with that?”

Pika met her gaze. “I think you do.”

The prince be damned. It was bad enough to let his sister know that Nikolai thought Noora could not handle this on her own.Now even Pika knew Nikolai was obviously favouring her, for whatever reason.

She narrowed her eyes at Pika. Finishing binding up her hand and tying the knot with the help of her teeth, she walked through the vast room over to the fighting platform.

“Didn’t you say something about building muscles?” She grabbed the first thing she saw, which was a Platinum sword, an emerald embedded into the grip of the long blade.

“I can see right through you, Noora,” Pika told her nonetheless, he stepped into the ring, grabbing a sword himself and getting into stance.

Noora raised her sword with great force, the blade was heavier than it looked.

“Less talking,” she said and then she attacked.

Chapter 29