Chapter 42 #2
“The first of many that have to for us to keep our heads,” he grumbled. “And in the end, I’ll still be head of House Caerelith.”
“It won’t be so bad,” I told him. “I’m head of House R?viel. I know from experience.”
He snorted. “You’re the reason I don’t want to be. I much prefer to sit in the shadow of your greatness.”
I aimed a punch toward his stomach, but he danced out of my reach. “You’re going to have to be faster than that. Clearly, we need to train more before we battle off Demons, or you’re going to get killed with how slow you’ve gotten.”
“I am not slow,” I growled. “If I wanted to hit you, your ass would be on the ground before you could blink.”
“Just because you can blast me with your light magic now doesn’t mean you can use it that way. It’s unfair.”
“The Demons don’t care about fairness,” I pointed out.
“Fine. But if we’re bringing the females we love into the belly of the beast, I want to ensure they’re protected.”
He didn’t have to remind me. “They will be. If it makes you feel better, we can return to the training yard and put on a show for the new recruits before we send them out to collect supplies.”
“They won’t respect you after I bloody your nose,” Maelsar taunted.
I offered him a vicious grin. “I accept your challenge. Besides, when I force you to your knees, it will solidify their belief in me.”
I folded up the parchment and stuck it in my pocket. Ilae clicked at me again from his perch on the low stone wall. I reached for him, and he ducked under my hand, positioning it in the spot he wanted to be pet.
I stroked his feathers, the low hum reverberating in my hand. “Yes, I missed you too,” I told him as he butted me with his antlers. “Follow.”
He hummed, spreading his wings and taking off into the skies. Maelsar and I fetched our horses, making the quick ride back to the academy. Oshenai was inside the walls, shouting corrections at a group of mainland—as he would call them—recruits.
“So what did the farmers say?” he prodded.
I’d told him of my plans to implore the tenants of my land to hand over their crops. “They agreed. My forgoing of tithes won me some goodwill among them, even if I haven’t been here for more than a decade. Can you arrange wagons to go to each farm to be filled?”
“Aye, Issaraeth, I will coordinate,” he said.
The two keepers emerged from the crowd, and I gritted my teeth at the sight of them. At least we’d been able to keep them mostly contained here, rather than having them staying in my manor.
“Chieftain, we’d like to spar. Could you clear out some space for us?” I asked before the errand birds got any closer. There was no telling what kind of message they’d be holding from my sister.
He brought his fingers to his lips and gave a sharp whistle. “Come watch how real warriors fight. You could all use the lessons.”
The three of us strode to the center of the training arena, while the soldiers gathered on the fringes, excitement sparking off of them.
“Weapons or hands?” Oshenai asked me.
“Hands.” It was safer that way, less likely to incur a bloody cut.
Especially because Althirion, Nymirae, and Calrien still needed to think I was bound by bronze.
And everyone else needed to believe I was the Issaraeth.
It was a delicate balance and far too tricky to maintain. Especially with my changing appearance.
Oshenai called out the terms of the match, then backed away. “On my mark!”
Maelsar and I squared up, fists raised and poised on the balls of our toes. Althirion and Nymirae lingered on the fringes of the crowd, the former shooting a scowl in my direction.
“Go!”
My second-in-command swung first, and I parried his jab, my fist flying over his and aimed at his cheek. At the last second, he flinched back, causing me to overextend my reach. His foot flicked out and landed hard against my shin.
“Asshole,” I hissed under my breath.
He only grinned as we shook out our arms and circled one another.
From the crowd, my title rang out. I raised my hands, encouraging the noise. Maelsar shook his head and then lunged for me again.
We met in a flurry of strikes, blocking and ducking. I landed a kick straight across his gut, pulling a grunt from him. He sucked in a breath and feinted a straight, only to switch to an uppercut at the last moment. The blow glanced off the side of my face.
Turning, I readied for a new attack. We’d sparred so many times that we knew each other’s tells and weaknesses, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t put on a good show.
I lashed out with my foot, aiming for his hip. The strike connected, pushing Maelsar off balance. I followed up with a hard right hand, a cut opening up on his cheek.
The crowd roared at the sight of blood.
“They better act like that when we get to the front.” Maelsar grinned, sending more ruby spilling down his face.
I swiped sweat from my brow. “They’ll learn quickly that fighting for sport is far different than fighting for your life.”
We faced off again, and this time, Maelsar struck me in the ribs, shoving all air from my lungs.
Chest heaving, I retreated. But he didn’t relent, chasing me down.
I blocked one punch, then rolled under another.
Shooting forward, I captured his waist and locked my hands, tripping him so we both tumbled to the ground.
Dust kicked up around us, and the new recruits continued to shout my name.
Though a rival camp yelled for Maelsar. A tug on my bond had me lifting my head, and I found my mate and Lyriasthe on the edge of the ring, Hathi guards flanking them.
Lyriasthe peered around them, calling on others to cheer for my best friend.
“See? Not everyone wants you to win,” he teased me, framing my shoulders as I attempted to maneuver past his legs.
“Now that Sylaira is here, I definitely can’t let you best me.” I winked at my mate, then turned my head and dug it into his chest, adding pressure until I forced his legs to untangle from mine. But I’d shifted my weight too far, and he popped up, sweeping me over so I was flat on my back.
I caught his fist before it could pummel my face and dragged him to the ground, climbing up his back until I had him at my mercy.
“Get ready to surrender,” I told him, our arms battling for control. I managed to trap one of his, the momentary reprieve enough for me to encircle his neck with my other.
Boos and cheers rose in tandem, and Maelsar tore at my forearm as I attempted to lock in the choke. But his actions were futile when I had the right position. Instead, he swung backward, aiming for the head he couldn’t see. I shrugged my shoulder, protecting my face.
“Blacking out might make Lyriasthe question her choice in you,” I taunted as his punches grew more erratic.
“Fuck…you.” The last word wheezed out of him, and then he was smacking my leg, signaling for me to release him.
I did, and air whooshed back into his lungs. He coughed, and I grinned, peeling myself off him. My supporters roared as I got to my feet. Maelsar’s did as I offered him my hand and helped him up.
We clapped each other on the back, grinning. Oshenai’s voice boomed over the soldiers’ cheers, declaring me the winner.
I raised my hands in victory while Maelsar clapped.
Then, I looked to where Sylaira sat on the fringe of the arena, her pupils dark pools. Desire flooded our bond, making my cock twitch.
“Do you like what you see, little fugitive?”
“Perhaps.” A coy smile slid onto her lips.
“Who knew violence would turn you on?”
“It didn’t.”
“Liar.”
Oshenai called for training and packing to resume, and Maelsar and I strode toward our females while the crowd dispersed to their respective activities. The islanders shrank back to give us privacy while directing wide-eyed recruits away from my mate.
Trusting them had been the right decision. Their devotion to their duty was impressive.
“Don’t worry, the only thing wounded is my pride. I’ll still make you scream later,” Maelsar told Lyriasthe.
She rolled her eyes in response. “We came to see if there was anything we could help with, and then we found the two of you fighting.”
“It was productive,” Maelsar defended. “They needed to see that they could follow us.”
“What they really need is to stop believing in the priestess’s new teachings with such fervor,” Sylaira muttered.
“That too,” Lyriasthe agreed.
“What do you mean?” I asked my mate.
“I’ll tell you later,” she said.
Oshenai approached, a swagger in his steps. “Very impressive. I do believe your performance alleviated some of the anxieties the soldiers have about leaving.”
“Good. Hopefully seeing wagons brimming with food will help too,” I replied.
“My nephews are finalizing the trips to the farms now,” he told me.
“Thank you. All your effort is much appreciated.” We clasped arms, much like we had when agreeing to our treasonous plans.
“Enjoy your last day of rest,” Oshenai called out as the four of us strode away. “I have a feeling we’re all going to need it.”
And how right he was.