"Again?"

"I'm afraid so, my lady."

Verita watched Tigris throw her arms up in exasperation. Roche hadn't come to awaken her in the morning. It was a good thing that Finn came by early to wake her in time. He stood impassively now, arms crossed and leaning against the doorway with Kai just behind him as Tigris learned that her maid had taken a liking to alcohol.

"I can't believe this." Tigris seethed, "She leaves on the most important day of the tourney to go day drinking?"

Verita hesitated. "And night drinking. She never came home." The librarian's eyes were shadowed.

"Unbelievable!" Tigris snapped again. Her hair was coiled tight in a bun, but it wasn't artful or tight like Roche would have made it. The next match would start soon and she needed to be in armour. She turned to Finn and Kai who watched her with varying degrees of amusement and impassivity. "She could have at least told the steward to send a substitute maid until she returned!"

"Tigris, you never had a maid before Roche. You hate all the substitute maids." Kai pointed out gently. Tigris scowled.

"Yes but... she could have told me!"

Finn cleared his throat. His eyes were pinned on Verita. "Unless she planned to come back but she didn't."

"I wouldn't worry, my lord." Verita was holding Finn's eyes, like there was some lingering meaning to her words, "Roche knows what she's doing."

"Are you certain?" Finn retorted, "Because if she's not here, it's clear that she doesn't."

"I'm sure." Verita replied. Finn pursed his lips and Verita nodded slightly. Tigris found that Roche did not warrant the concern currently flickering in her brother's eyes.

"I agree with Finn, Roche clearly doesn't know what she's doing." Tigris pointed out, "When she returns, she's going to train with Kai to learn what an actually competent servant looks like."

Finn and Kai winced.

"Tigris-" Finn tried to plead for his friend, but Tigris wasn't hearing any of it. Honestly, why on Earth was he still defending her?

"I guess I'll need to put on my own armour." Tigris huffed, feeling a bit petulant. Kai stepped forward shyly.

"I could help. Finn's match doesn't start until later this afternoon." Kai glanced at Finn, "If that's alright with you, of course."

Finn's face warmed infinitesimally. He clapped Kai on the shoulder. "Of course, my friend. Go help Tigris, I need to talk to Verita."

Tigris could tell Finn was still worried about Roche. She nudged him slightly on her way out.

"Don't worry. Roche is just out drinking. You'll see." Tigris assured him.

Finn pressed his lips together in protest, but relented. He gave Tigris a one armed hug before moving to the side so she could exit the library.

"Good luck out there. Maybe you and I will make it to the final." he offered with half a smile. Tigris smirked at him.

"Fight Aodh first, then we'll see."

-------

Kai's fingers were calloused and sure as he laced up her armour. He moved quicker than Roche and he had a certain fluidity to his movements that rivalled Roche's gentleness. Tigris watched as he moved gracefully, grabbing a plate, his fingers already reaching for the leather cords he'd use to tie it.

"Roche has done a great job keeping these polished." Kai noted, crouching to fasten a plate over her legs. Tigris snorted, shifting to give him more room.

"Don't try and save her, Kai."

"I'm serious." Kai argued, pointing at the plate. His eyes danced as he shifted so she could see the reflective surface, "When I polish Finn's armour, it never shines like this."

Tigris could grudgingly admit that the armour did look shinier than Finn's did. Kai stood, stretching his back gracefully. He was taller than her but skinnier, more lithe. The sun glinted across the wide planes of his face. He bowed slightly, and Tigris felt a strange stirring in her chest.

"I think you're ready, my lady. All you need is this." He held up her sword reverently to present it to her. He looked giddy as she accepted it, swinging it to loosen the muscles of her arm. Kai watched, enraptured as Tigris warmed up her muscles right there in the armoury.

"You're a godsend, Kai." Tigris told him, mirth bubbling in her voice, "You've fixed me up perfectly."

"That's my job." he replied with a small smile.

"You went above and beyond your job today, I think."

"Let's call it helping a friend," he countered. His smile flickered, panic lighting up his eyes. "I mean- n-not to say that you're my friend if you don't want to be. That is, I'd like to be your friend but not if you don't want to, my lady-"

"Kai," Tigris interrupted him gently, more warmth filling her chest as she watched Kai try to stammer his way out, "We're friends."

"Oh," Kai's shoulders relaxed, a shy smile curling his wide lips, "Oh. Yes, of course we are."

A bell tolled loudly outside. Tigris rolled her shoulders. "That's my cue."

"I'll be waiting for you, Tigris." Kai told her, still smiling, "I'll attend to you as long as needed." There was something so warm and flattering about his gaze that Tigris felt a good to honest blush rising in her pale cheeks. She slipped on her helmet to hide it.

"Thank you." she murmured before adjusting her grip on her sword. The door to the armoury swung open and Tigris hurried out into the halls, toward the tourney grounds.

-------

"You did well," Kai noted, handing Tigris a skin of water. She downed it gratefully, wondering how water could taste so sweet and refreshing. The match had gone quickly. Tigris had fought one of the other quarterfinalists. Thankfully, it hadn't been Harold or her brothers, which meant that it wasn't too difficult to win the fight.

The crowd cheered abruptly and Tigris glanced at the field. Finn had baited his opponent into a wide swing and had kicked the back of his knees. Kai sighed in relief as Finn pointed his sword at the man's neck.

"He's won." Kai murmured, relaxing slightly. Tigris nudged him.

"Of course he did. I trained him."

Kai chuckled. "I know, I know. I shouldn't worry." Tigris smiled at him warmly. Aodh's match had taken place before hers with another knight and had ended in his victory. Harold would face off with the remaining knight, and then they'd be off to the semifinals.

Tigris' heart lodged in her throat. She was keenly aware of her father standing in his daze, cheering uproariously at Finn's victory.

"I should probably be rooting for Finn but... I know you're going to win." Kai said, dragging Tigris' gaze back towards him. His honeyed eyes were bright with earnestness. Tigris felt a blush rise to her cheeks.

"You know, I almost believe you."

"Almost?" Kai chuckled, "Don't you think you'll win?"

Tigris had to fight to keep her gaze from sliding towards Sir Harold. Almost as if Kai sensed her discomfort, he glanced at the seasoned knight with a frown.

"You'll beat him." Kai assured her. There wasn't a hint of doubt in his eyes. He cocked his head thoughtfully, then added, "But for some reason you don't think so, I think."

Tigris bit her lip, trying desperately not to look at her father again. Strangely, Kai's eyes darted towards the king, as if he could sense that was where she was going to look. Tigris prepared for some kind of empty reassurance or sympathy. She felt a flicker of surprise when Kai turned to her with his hazel eyes turned steely.

"No one should doubt you, Tigris. Especially not yourself."

The words resonated deeply, temporarily rendering Tigris speechless. She leaned back to look at the servant in a new light, her armour squeaking.

"You... kind of sounded like Roche and Finn right then. Something in your tone." Tigris murmured. Kai's cheeks darkened with a blush and he looked away bashfully.

"I think they're rubbing off on me."

"Not quite. You've always known what to say. I remember you mouthing off Finn when he was younger when he was being an idiot." Tigris smiled fondly, memories washing over her, "You always were the wisest among us."

Kai bit his lip, his eyes twinkling. "What is wisdom compared to the hearts of royals?"

"If I recall correctly, it was your wisdom that kept Aodh from eating raw chicken, Finn from getting buried alive in a pile of poetry, and me from getting tangled in my late mother's wardrobe all in the same day. So forgive me if I bend to your wisdom rather than our prestigious royal hearts." Tigris remarked dryly. Kai's laughter warmed her, leeching the anxiety from her tense muscles like a hot bath.

"I think you've earned your wisdom, Tigris." Kai said after a long moment with a rueful smile. He leaned closer, his hands almost hesitant as they adjusted a plate of armour over her shoulder. "But a true heart cannot be earned. That is a gift, one that I admire." The words were low and steady, like a secret shared between them. Tigris couldn't help but notice how close they were, stripping away her bravado. She could feel many gazes on her in that moment: Finn's, Harold's, her father's. But only Kai's mattered, because Kai seemed to sense her distress more acutely than anyone else ever had.

"My heart is leading me astray," she murmured, "My heart is telling me that a friend is no longer who I thought he was, that there is more to this fight than I know, but saying that will only bring shame. I'd sound like a coward."

"There is no shame in truth." Kai insisted. Tigris couldn't help but commit this moment to memory, the way the light seemed to cling to his rich, dark skin, softening the planes of his face into something angelic. "Do not fear your heart."

"And if everyone important is telling me I'm wrong to even entertain such a thought?" Tigris breathed, her father's disapproving expression flashing in her mind.

Kai tightened his grip. "Then you must prove them wrong."

There was a pause, a settling of thoughts. Tigris pushed back a strand of her hair that had unwound from her tight bun. Her hand brushed against Kai's, still laying on her shoulder. The man seemed to realise their proximity and he jumped back, his cheeks darker than ever. Kai fidgeted.

Tigris took a moment to gather her bearings, to shove away the magnetic pull that had materialised between them with the sudden spurt of honesty.

"I think... you're wiser than you know, Kai." Tigris said finally, offering an impish grin to break the tension that had knotted the air between them. "In that way, you remind me of Roche. You get the same intelligent look in your eye."

"Ah, so should I tell Roche you complimented her?" Kai teased.

Tigris shouldered him, making him chuckle. "Don't you dare."

And if a small blush surfaced on Tigris' cheeks when their hands brushed together, she would blame it on the burning sun.

-------

Finn hadn't summoned Kai to his side since his match, so Kai remained with Tigris as the quarterfinals played out. They leaned against the metal barrier separating the fighting grounds from the erected stands, watching match after match. The quarter finals were drawing to a close. So far, Tigris, Aodh, and Finn had advanced to the semifinals. Sir Harold was currently in the ring, brutally beating his opponent. His sword sliced into the weak points of his opponent's armour. The king had raised his brows at the unsportsmanlike attacks, but had not intervened. It was no secret that the crowds and nobles loved the entertainment accompanying bloody matches.

Tigris' stomach turned as a crack echoed through the arena. Harold's opponent gasped as his snapped leg crumpled beneath him. Before he could even cry out, Harold's blade was at his throat. Before the opponent could yield, he was unconscious from the pain of his injuries.

Tigris whistled lowly. "He's vicious. I don't even recognise his fighting."

Kai nodded beside her. "He hasn't withdrawn."

"He won't." Tigris rallied a breath, "I'm afraid it'll be a stain on his honour if he does."

Kai's eyes rounded. "And beating his clearly defeated opponents to pulp on purpose isn't a stain on his honour?"

"No," Tigris agreed, her eyes narrowing at her father, "His new brutality is revered. Some say it would be a stain on my honour if I do anything but fight him."

Kai fell silent. After a moment, he whispered, "I meant what I said earlier. You'll prove those who doubt you wrong, that you are worthy of a victory. You have the heart for it if you're worrying over your friend so much."

"I hope so," Tigris murmured.

Aodh walked up to them at that point, his eyes grave. He gently tugged Tigris away from the stands. "Have you seen the board?" he asked solemnly. Worry instantly churned in her stomach.

"No, why?" she asked. Aodh's ice blue eyes turned glacial.

"Look at who Finn will be fighting."

Tigris followed his gaze. The board was hard to see in the light. Several crests had been taken down from the board. Now only four symbols remained tacked on, paired to signify who would fight who during the semi finals.

Tigris' heart lodged in her throat as she was the forest green washed royal crest hung up next to the crest of the head knight.

Finn would be fighting Sir Harold in the semi finals.

"Shit," Tigris murmured, running a hand over her face. She sucked in a breath. "Well... I've taught Finn all that I can, he'll fight as well as he can."

"Are you kidding me?" Aodh hissed, roughly dragging Tigris into the shadows, away from the stands. "Harold's attacks have only been getting more and more vicious. He broke his opponent's leg like it was a toothpick without any remorse, something's wrong with him. The Harold we know would never do that."

"I can't get him to withdraw. Father says it'll be a disgrace." Tigris insisted, staring at her brother. Even as her heart cracked to say it, she added, "You and I both know that Finn's been on thin ice with Father recently. I don't want to know how Finn will be punished if he tries to withdraw or if we try to get Harold to withdraw."

Aodh looked away, indecision warring on his face. "Surely Father can see reason-"

"He doesn't, Aodh." Tigris' voice was sharper than she intended, "I know you love Father, but sometimes his head can get stuck up his ass when it comes to things like our family's reputation."

"As it should." Aodh protested, his tan cheeks flushed with indignance. "We preside over the entire kingdom, we need to be careful how we present ourselves!"

"You came to me concerned about Finn and now you're saying that we should trust Father's judgement that Finn won't get beat into oblivion? Pick a side, Aodh!" Tigris threw her arms up, "What do you want me to tell you?"

"I-" Aodh ran a hand through his hair, looking torn, "You can't disrespect Father!"

"Then don't come crying to me about Finn." Tigris hissed, "I respect Father just as much as you do. That's the reason why I'm not dragging Finn out of here right now."

"There has to be another way." Aodh insisted firmly, his hair tousled from running it through with his hands, "Some way to get Finn out of this without marring anyone's pride."

"If there is, I haven't found one." Tigris informed him grimly, some of her ire fading at the helplessness in Aodh's gaze. They fell silent, dread growing with every second. Neither of them wanted to see their brother get brutally beaten to bits by the head knight, but their options were slim.

Aodh looked on helplessly. Tigris nudged him comfortingly.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure Finn yields if the match isn't going well. He always listens to me during a fight." she assured him.

Aodh's lips pressed into a thin line, but his shoulders relaxed. "I hope so."

They turned back towards the arena where servants were currently shovelling dirt over the bloodied ground where Harold's opponent had once stood. Sir Harold stood, his eyes glinting dangerously in his helmet as he watched.

Tigris couldn't help but feel a flicker of fear for her bookish brother, and she silently hoped that he would throw the match before he got hurt.

A/N: Ooooh, Finn's in trouble. What do you think will happen to him? As always, happy reading!