Chapter 13
Thirteen
Avalon
The buzz around the Tournament of Second Heirs spread through Boellium like the jock rash that had sent forty percent of the conscripts to the medical wing last month. The conscripts were giddy with excitement, and the betting had already started in earnest.
Second Heirs was a bit of a misnomer, though, because it wasn’t necessarily between the second-born children of the Barons, but simply the spare Heirs, like Vox and Hayle.
The ones who weren’t going to become Baron, but were still being groomed to do so in case the official Heir suddenly died.
Some Barons had fifteen children; but there could only be one main Heir, who would inherit, and one Spare Heir, just in case.
The rest of us just got the useless title to set us apart from everyone else, and usually that was enough to stop inter-Line bloodshed over succession.
Kian was the Ninth Lines Heir-apparent, and my second eldest brother, Bach, was the spare.
It was just a coincidence that they were my two oldest siblings.
It wasn’t decided by birth, or even gender if your Line was progressive enough, but more about aptitude.
That was why Hayle was the third son of the Baron of the Third Line, but also the ‘second’ Heir.
I’d never asked why his older brother didn’t want the role, or why he’d been passed over, but it was just the way it happened sometimes.
I certainly didn’t want to be the Baron of the Ninth Line, even if my father wasn’t a misogynistic asshole.
Unfortunately, male Heirs were almost the default; female Barons were still looked upon as weaker by most of the Lines.
It was also why the odds for the two female spare Heirs–Delphine Lunderov, from the Seventh Line, and Kyler Tarrin from the Eighth Line–had such terrible odds in the betting pools.
Obviously, Vox had the best odds, but Hayle wasn’t far off. Even though they both knew it was a cover for Lierick to speak to the Baron of the Eighth Line, it didn’t mean that they weren’t bickering about it.
“All I’m saying is that in a tournament where powers aren’t allowed, we’re far more evenly matched than the odds are showing. In fact, I would argue I’m better equipped for hand-to-hand combat. My stamina is more impressive,” Hayle argued, winking at me even as I rolled my eyes.
“So impressive,” I said mock-solemnly, then squealed as he scooped me up and tossed me over his shoulder.
“Well, now I have to prove myself. If anyone needs us, we’ll be in my dorm room.”
Instructor Perot entered then, clearing his throat. “If you could put Miss Halhed in a seat, Mr. Taeme, we’ll get started on today’s lesson,” he snarked, and Hayle dropped me gently into the seat beside him.
“Apologies, Instructor.” He grinned, but the instructor just glared until he fell into his seat too. Vox sniggered from across the room, and Hayle made a rude gesture. He wasn’t even subtle about it.
As the instructor started his lecture, I could all but see Hayle’s brain cooking up some kind of trouble. Leaning toward him, I nudged him with my elbow. “Whatever you’re thinking, don’t do it,” I whispered.
Hayle leaned closer. “What if I was thinking about eating you out?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Then I’d strongly suggest you think about that later. Preferably without clothes on.”
“Deal,” he purred, and we tuned back into Instructor Perot. I didn’t want to piss him off, because he still kind of hated me.
“In honor of the reinstatement of the Tournament of Second Heirs, we’re delving into the history of the original tournament, including the last one, held in North’s Edge before the fall of the Second Line.”
It took everything in me not to look at Lierick, who was sitting among the Eleventh Line conscripts like he was just a simple farm boy, not one of the most powerful people in Ebrus.
“Let’s start with the purpose of such tournaments, which were mostly used to foster relationships between the different Lines.
In fact, it wasn’t even compulsory to attend, but most Lines went, if possible, to ensure their young people could interact with others from around Ebrus.
Many marriages were mutually agreed upon between rounds… ”
All too quickly, my brain was tuning out his words.
Honestly, Instructor Perot was probably justified in his dislike of me.
But Boellium seemed so inconsequential, now that I knew I could turn back time.
That I could predict the future, even if it was only a few minutes right now.
It seemed redundant to be learning about an ancient tournament, when the new iteration was less than a week away, and had a much more important purpose.
We weren’t battling for just bragging rights in some redundant tournament; we were saving lives, with a side of political subterfuge.
The heaviness of it weighed on me, though I’d never mention it to the guys. They’d been born knowing that the fates of their Lines rested on their shoulders, on their ability to make the right decisions when they needed to be made.
I wasn’t born to be a savior. In fact, I’d spent my life perfecting my ability to be invisible.
Hayle threaded his fingers in mine. Sometimes, I felt like he was inside my mind.
Swallowing hard, I gave him a weak smile.
Despite what I’d wanted when I first arrived, I wasn’t unhappy that it had ended up the way it did.
I had two men who loved me; at the beginning of the year, I would’ve laughed in the face of any person who suggested I’d have the hearts of two of the most powerful Heirs in Ebrus.
Fate had her plans, I guess.
I’d missed most of the lesson by the time we stood and shuffled out of the lecture hall.
Lierick brushed past me, winking in my direction.
My cheeks flushed, and I swallowed hard.
I didn’t know what to do about Lierick’s flirting.
I thought perhaps he did it naturally—the way some men seemed to flirt in the same manner they breathed, frequently and without much thought—but he disregarded most of the other female conscripts who tried to catch his attention.
Women were drawn to him like flies, despite his supposed Lower Line affiliation.
It’s like they could tell he was someone important, someone who’d stand out in history.
I was happy with my two Heirs. Besides, I could never be sure if Lierick was flirting with me because he liked me, or because Ellanora Halhed had decreed that we should be together—or suggested it cryptically, at least.
I didn’t want him to want me just because I was some prophesied being who was going to change the world.
I wanted him to want me because I spoke to his soul, like Hayle.
Or because he couldn’t help himself, and was still slightly annoyed by the fact, like Vox.
Not because some woman who’d been dead for a hundred years said it was so.
Lucio threw his arm around Shay, pulling her close to his chest. She glared at him, but it looked more amused than anything. Sighing heavily, Vox joined us too.
“You’re a brave man, Lucio. There’s a greater chance of Shay stabbing you between the ribs than hugging you back,” someone called from the crowd behind us. I turned, ready to defend Shay, but I couldn’t tell who spoke.
Vox stood taller, like he was about to remind them who was in charge, but Lucio just grinned.
“That’s why I like her, Selphin. Because she’s strong, capable, and deadly.
A real predator. There’s a thrill of not knowing if she’ll hug me back or cut my throat.
” He said it adoringly, and Shay rolled her eyes.
“The latter is looking good right now,” she muttered beneath her breath.
It was a little-known secret that Shay had absolutely no interest in Lucio at all, or any of the members of the opposite sex.
But somehow, she had a soft spot for the effervescent Third Line man, which meant he was safe from her sharp knives and even sharper tongue.
Lucio, showing he was either brave or stupid, just leaned over and kissed the top of her head. Shay flushed, but didn’t push him away.
Vox shook his head, coming to stand beside me and Hayle. He let his knuckles brush mine, but that was as much contact as I’d get in public. I hated it with every fiber of my being.
“If I didn’t know she’d rather gut him in his sleep than marry him, I think they make a cute couple,” Hayle whispered, lifting his chin toward the seconds.
Vox grunted his agreement, but he looked tired. It took everything in me not to wrap myself around him, to fall into his arms and let him hold me like I was vital to his very existence.
“I received a missive from the Baron this morning,” he said softly.
I didn’t need to know which Baron he was referring to; there was only one who made him vibrate with aggravation and fear simultaneously.
“He wanted to know why we were being so amicable. I replied that with Shay was currently dating someone so high up in the hierarchy of your Line, Mother had almost smeared the letter with happy tears at our good fortune. Hopefully, that’s an adequate enough excuse for him.
He isn’t scared of my mother, but he knows that it’s better to keep her happy and entertained than to allow her to grow bored and restless.
He had to kill half of her personal guard last time. ”
I didn’t want to know why. The disregard for human life that was rampant in the First Line wasn’t news to me.
Hayle grew solemn. “Lucio likes her, but not like that. I don’t pretend to understand their dynamic, but if he provides her some kind of protection, then no matter what happens later, it was worth it.” He looked over at Vox. “Did the Baron say anything else of importance?”