Straw was able to find Duke Pine long before it was his turn to enter the fray. He wasn't wearing any of the heavy knight armor yet, and he wasn't holding the long, tapered weapon used for jousting. Instead, he was dressed in his usual outfit, looking perfectly polished. They were standing around the edge of the arena where the game was happening, tucked away among the other participants and their squires.
Straw didn't waste any time. She told him straight out about Vinegario's plan to kill him during the match. She expected him to be grateful, but instead, he just looked frightened, his face paling instantly.
"I knew it. I was born to suffer from your crimes, sister…" Pine said, his voice trembling.
Straw gave him a long, dull look, not even knowing what to say to that. She had just risked quite a bit to tell him he was going to die, and that was his immediate response. It was so typical of him to play the victim.
