Page 47 of Pippa of Lauramore
There are only about ten minutes left, and Galinor still hasn’t arrived.
What’s keeping them?
Lionel stands below, somehow managing to look smug and distant at the same time. He must have gotten a little too much sun in the last few days because his large forehead and cheeks are bright red.
“He’ll make it,” Leonora whispers from my other side. She smiles encouragingly.
I can’t keep track of her moods. One minute she’s snapping at me, and the next she’s as sweet as usual.
Rigel enters, and as always, his gaze gives me chills. He nods to me, and I give him a stiff wave. Twenty-seven men stand, ready for the winner of the scavenger hunt to be announced. Two men lie in Yuven’s care in the palace, and one—Galinor—is still missing.
“We have to start,” Alexander says.
“No!” I exclaim, and then I spot Archer taking his seat in the crowds. He meets my eye and nods.
Just as my father stands to begin, a trumpet rings from the edge of the arena. I let out a great sigh of relief when I see Galinor striding in. Though handsome as always, there’s something strange in his expression. He fights with something behind him.
What does he have?
The entire crowd squints to see what he’s brought. Whatever it is, it’s shadowed by the tall pillars in the arena entry, and it’s giving him trouble. Laughter breaks out through the crowds when he finally wrestles his last item in with him. I gasp.
I’m going to kill Archer.
“Oh, no,” Leonora whispers beside me.
Galinor has brought a sheep.
CHAPTER 11
Galinor finds his place, dragging the reluctant sheep behind him. He wears a harried smile, and he’s studiously ignoring the other men’s whispers and taunting eyes.
It doesn’t matter if he wins the scavenger hunt. My eyes sweep the other tables—most men only have two or three items. He’ll finish with at least four points. With two points for being my chosen, he will still be tied with the scavenger hunt winner—which will most likely be Lionel. The prince watches Galinor with a satisfied expression.
I really dislike him.
My father stands, clearing his throat. The crowd goes silent in anticipation. “Welcome back. You have all done well. We have requested difficult items, and many were dangerous to secure. There were twenty-three grim boars returned. Not only does that show your prowess in the hunt, but it also eases a threat to our kingdom. Very well done.”
The crowd cheers, and the men nod and wave to them.
“Twenty-six men obtained the maid-of-the-shadows,” Father says, waiting for more applause. “Fifteen retrieved the inger egg, two retrieved the Eldentimber resin, and one retrieved the most valuable item in the kingdom.”
I hold my breath, though I know in my heart it’s Lionel’s black pearl.
“Prince Galinor of Glendon, you are our scavenger hunt champion.”
We’re all stunned, including Galinor. The arena is silent. A sheep is the most valuable item in the kingdom?
“Prince Galinor, please explain why you chose your fifth item.”
Galinor blanches, looking pale at the thought of explaining his choice to bring a sheep—an animal so common you can’t look in any direction without spotting one. He glances at Archer, who is staring at him intently. Obviously, they’ve already been over the answer.
“Your Majesty, the mountain sheep feed your people with their meat and milk, clothe your people with their wool, and they are the primary export of your kingdom. Sometimes an object’s value isn’t in its individual worth or how rare it is. Though beautiful and rare, your kingdom could not survive on black lake pearls alone. That makes the lowly sheep infinitely more valuable.”
I’m speechless. I glance at Archer. He’s nodding to Galinor. I know where the speech came from.
My father smiles. “Well said.”
The villagers filling the stands burst into riotousapplause. Galinor smiles, more at ease now that he’s done speaking. He gives me a deep bow.
