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there is another youngling in the Reinos del Oeste who has practiced more with lance and bow than I have this past year. And as for Melee, I plan to come home with a Black Spear.”
    Paladin rolled his eyes. The braggart wasn’t completely inept with a weapon, but unless the gods intervened, it would snow in Kamedunia before Isooba von Joyful won a Black Spear. During last season’s Melee, Isooba was called dead after only three minutes of competition!
    Drud obliterated the piñata with his third blow, spraying treats all over the floor. Svenja, Kreszentia, and Götz nearly knocked Paladin down grubbing for candy.
    “That was a strong blow,” Isooba said. “But my Eisenfaust meister says strength alone is not enough to win a Black Spear.”
    “Sister Elsa is my meister as well, Isooba,” Drud said. “She says that to all the disciples.”
    “Sí,” Isooba said, “But with me, she—”
    Drud turned his back to Isooba, silencing him. “Paladin, is it time to open presents yet?”
    Gods bless Drud Hertz von Wildboar. Paladin’s grin almost broke into a chuckle. He and Drud were not the only ones nettled by Isooba’s bragging. Lalo scowled at the older boy as well. Only Esmeralda seemed interested in Isooba’s boasts.
    “What did the priestess say, Isooba?” she said.
    “Well,” Isooba said, grinning, “she thinks I show exceptional promise. Just last week she praised me for how much my skill has improved since last year.…”
    Paladin had had enough. He would almost rather tell his parents about Torneo than hear one more word from Isooba’s lips. There would be little peace in the house once he made his confession, but he wasn’t enjoying the fiesta anyway. He was too preoccupied with the coming confrontation and too vexed by Isooba’s nattering. He tore through the presents, eager to end the fiesta and send Isooba somewhere else to crow. He was grateful for the wool mittens Isooba and Tau gave him, but Isooba wouldn’t shut his flan-hole long enough for Paladin to thank him properly.
    He was almost giddy over the Castillos y Conquistadores set Lalo gave him. The game pieces were of the new fashion, the red pieces carved with the highly detailed and decorative
caballero-
style armor of Prosperidad’s Majestic Order of the Blazing Blade. The white pieces wore the Ritter-style armor of Eisesland’s famous warriors, the Ice Storm, with leather, mail, and fur.
    “Come over next week, Lalo,” Paladin said. “And we’ll play a few matches.”
    Lalo was about to answer when Isooba interrupted: “I have all but mastered Castillos y Conquistadores, you know? It’s an excellent game for learning strategy.”
    Paladin ignored him and opened Drud’s gift, a new sling. It was a fine weapon, but Paladin’s slinging was terrible, and he thought it always would be. He stared at it, chewing his lip.
    Drud said, “Don’t worry,
vato
. I’ll teach you how to use it.”
    “Gracias,” Paladin said. “If you teach as well as you sling, I’ll be an Adept in no time.”
    “I’m half Nord,” Isooba declared. “There are no folk in the Thirteen as good with a sling as the Nords. I’ll be happy to give you lessons if you’d like, Paladin. I would be happy to instruct you as well, Drud.”
    “Drud is half Nord too, Isooba,” Paladin said, not bothering to hide his exasperation. He had seen both boys’ sling work. Drud could knock the fleas off a dog’s back at twenty feet on a foggy night.
    Isooba couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat.
    Still Isooba’s tongue thrummed. “Drud is half Nord, this is true, but I am older and therefore more experienced. Sister Elsa likes my sling work so well she’s having me tutor someof the freshman disciples. It’s quite an honor, really.”
    “That sounds wonderful, Isooba,” Esmeralda chirped.
    Just a few more presents and this will all be over
, Paladin thought, ripping the wrapping from Esmeralda’s present. He took one look at the gift and burst out