Challenges and Counters

[uncutclarity]

Age 15: Enters the Diamonds at the rank of Two. Four months after entering, challenges Citra Lam (3♦) to a singing contest and is judged the winner. Citra counters in mahjong, which Avery wins with a score of +64

Age 16: Avery challenges Alexandra Varnham (4♦) to a chocolate cake bake-off and is judged the winner by the panel of royals.

Age 17: Avery breaks up with Cristian Santiago Mendez (4♦)and takes a year-long sabbatical from the Deck. When she returns, she challenges Torvald Righi (5♦) to a jujitsu match. She wins by a close margin and is countered in fencing, which she wins more decisively.

Age 18: Avery challenges Antônia Corcoran (6♦)to archery and wins with a score of 28-19. Antônia does not counter. Avery is put in charge of the Diamond kitchens.

Age 21: Avery is challenged by Charlotte Berthier for her rank of Six to five-card draw. Avery wins the challenge by bluffing Charlotte into believing she had a flush to beat Charlotte's straight.

Age 22: Avery challenges Raquel Buckley (7♦) to a show jumping competition and wins with a cumulative score of 19, with Raquel scoring 17. Raquel counters in verse recitation, with the competition requiring that each girl recite four poems of length from a poet who's name was drawn out of a hat. Raquel flubs Rainer Maria Rilke's "As Once the Winged Energy of Delight," while Avery surprises both Raquel and the judging panel by perfectly reciting four of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's works: "A Woman's Shortcomings," "Change Upon Change," "A Dead Rose," and "How Do I Love Thee."

Age 23: Avery challenges Margaret Van Der Aart (8♦) to a fencing match, which she wins by a close margin. Margaret counters in archery, which Avery wins with a score of 26-19.

Age 25: Avery challenges Jael Winthrop (9♦) to chess and wins. Jael counters in jujitsu, which Avery wins decisively.

Age 26: Avery challenges Farraday (10♦) to fencing and wins by a close margin, but is not countered. Farraday leaves the Deck. A few months later Helena, the Jack of Diamonds, also leaves the Deck and Avery is named Jack in her place.