23. Margo

23

MARGO

I t took three goblins, two shrieking dryads, and a pile of rocks in the general shape of a snowman to subdue Bruno as a cave bear. Finally, one of the giants from the jury simply sat on him, and would not let him up until Bruno had pounded the ground with a fist in defeat and shifted back to a man.

The Queen tsked disapprovingly and made the mess that Bruno had made of the jury box and courtyard vanish with the wave of her hand.

Margo herself only felt numb.

She'd lost. She'd gambled her own freedom for Eva's and lost.

She hadn't let herself think about the possibility while she was competing, focused on each puzzle in turn, listening for the clues and centering herself on the solution. Was her question unfair? Was it a rightful loss?

Eva rose up to her feet as Margo stumbled for the dais, dragged along by the persistent pull at her ankle. Her shackle was as delicate as Eva's, and looked out of place around her rugged boot. She should have been able to break it with a pinky, but she knew better than to try.

She sank to her knees and was in reach of Eva, who came to wrap her small arms around Margo's big frame.

"Margo," she said, as if it was very difficult. "Brave, clever Margo."

"I lost," Margo murmured. "I'm sorry, I lost."

"But you came for me," Eva said adoringly. "You both did."

"Wait a second now," Bruno said. "I get a chance to challenge, too, right?"

All the attention in the court landed on him. "You do," the Queen said, swinging the ends of the gold chains. "But you can only challenge for one of them."

"You'd make me choose ?"

"Take Margo!" Eva cried. "Take Margo and go free!"

"Take Eva," Margo protested. "I'm stronger than Eva."

"Can I trade myself for the freedom of both of them?" Bruno asked, in his hopefully golden retriever fashion.

The Queen looked between them all in disgust. "I could just keep you all," she said. " Choose, cave bear. Choose one to challenge for, or lose them both."

Margo cleared her throat. "Well, technically…"

"Don't quote Code at me, troll," The Queen snapped. She twitched the gold chain and Margo could feel the reprimand vibrate through her boot.

With effort, Margo didn't flinch. "Bruno has three days to decide. He can take that long to make up his mind before you force it on him."

The Queen's beautiful face was considerably less beautiful as she pursed her lips. "Very well," she said at last, settling back in her chair waving her hand as if it didn't matter very much. "You may enjoy the hospitality of Faery for that time."

Margo already didn't think much of the hospitality of Faery, but she gravely nodded. "Than—" She caught herself. "Your majesty is fair."

At her feet, Eva touched the Queen's foot hopefully. "Please, may I be with them during these? Show them the wonders of your realm?" She didn't have to say that it might be her last chance with them.

The pain in Margo's chest from her failure was twisted deeper watching Eva plead with the Queen, who looked down at her confidently. "Go and be with them one last time," she said with arch graciousness. "Even if he succeeds, one of you will be mine forever after that."