Breakfast on the train is subdued. Clove has still made no attempt to get closer to me, despite our truce last night. She sits on the other side of the table with her mentor, buttering her toast calmly. Brutus is here as well, the chair next to him vacant. He offers it to me.

We must be nearly to the Capitol, so now is the perfect time to get acquainted with your mentor. The next couple weeks will be spent training and strategizing for the biggest test of your life. Your mentor becomes your closest friend. Also, tonight are the opening ceremonies, when I will be getting acquainted with the entirety of Panem that does not yet know my name.

Halfway through eating my eggs, Brutus pulls me curtly by the arm into a side room. I don't see the point, because Clove left nearly fifteen minutes ago. Girls require a lot more time with their prep teams. I suppose Brutus wants to take advantage of the extra time.

"So you're Cato Stelle, huh?" he says gruffly, taking a look at me.

"That's my name," I reply, using the same challenging look I used on my father. I respect my mentor, of course, but I can't have him thinking I am a weakling.

He continues to study me, then reaches out and feels my arms, and tips up my chin. "Well you seem like the ideal tribute, Cato," he says.

"Really?" I ask, impressed. I don't need anyone's approval, but having this encouragement from my mentor is assuring.

"Well, you seem strong and sturdy, and with a little work from the prep team, you'll be handsome enough. But I can't judge how much brains you've got in your head by just looking at you. So don't get too brash, boy. You still have something to prove."

"I've got all the brains I need," I grumble. "I've already laid out a strategy to get enough attention before the games. And I've laid out my allies. That reaping left a lot to be desired, but I can still make it a memorable games even with all these easy kills."

Brutus looks slightly amused, which I find infuriating. "Oh really, boy? What's this grand 'strategy' of yours? You've still got a lot of people to convince."

I was angry at this point. Was he calling me stupid, or naïve? "Look," I interjected angrily. "I've got plenty of wit! I can snap a neck with my bare hands! And I have an advantage over these stupid Capitol people. My brother Flint played in the games a couple years ago, which will make me memorable to boot! I'm going to show them all what I'm worth in training," I snarl. "That Clove girl already wants to team up with me. I know what I'm doing. I won't make the same foolish mistakes as my brother!"

"Listen, boy," growls Brutus. "I wasn't taking a stab at you. I have confidence in you, and you seem to have plenty in yourself. Better than those other sad little tributes they've sent me in years past. But even if you think you've got these games in the bag, you can't, can't afford to get cocky. Understand? I'm only trying to help you. I know what it's like to be in that arena. Even the small ones have some worth with the right training. And don't underestimate Clove. She's got some backbone, that one. She's got spine that rivals yours."

"So what do you suggest I do?" I challenge him.

"Intimidate the others in training, of course. Stay close to the other Careers. Eat what I tell you to. Play to your strengths. And do use that story of yours, but don't reveal it until the night of the interviews. The last thing we need is a leak resulting in less of an impact. I know you don't need sympathy, boy, but with it you'll get plenty of decent sponsors." He pauses. "And save that temper of yours for the arena."

I glower at the advice. Brutus has only told me everything I already knew. But perhaps this is a good thing. Maybe he knows that I am not to be trifled with. "Fine," I say stiffly.

"I have complete faith in you, Cato. But I'm not the one you need to convince."

I nod. I know I have the strength. This isn't a game of brains, but a game of strategy. The other tributes won't be impressed by intelligence, but they'll be hooked on a story. When they see how much I want to win in combination with how much I am able to win, they'll realize what I already know. These games are mine.