CHAPTER 9
A HEALER’S DUTY
Hales and Thornes don’t mix.
– Common Vallennan saying
From what Kara had overheard, no other team had managed to reach all their villagers.
Several had come back with burns so severe that Arcalon Healers were rushing between beds, treating them.
A Navyrian man from Team Three was the worst. He’d suffered deep burns across his arm, chest and even part of his face.
Kara had been very lucky to have had Sebastian on her team.
That beam would’ve done more than burn. It would have killed her.
Sebastian had stolen to a corner of the tent the moment they’d entered together and wrapped his hands himself.
Thoroughly. Methodically. As if it mattered.
He hadn’t needed to do it; they were healed enough. But he was hiding what she’d done.
It stung, but she understood.
Thornes didn’t use healing magic. Well, they weren’t supposed to. But she could still feel the echo of his crimson in hers–
Stop thinking about him.
It took far more effort than it should have, but she pushed all thoughts of Sebastian Thorne from her mind.
Not long after, all four teams, some looking worse than others, were called back in front of the Council.
They entered the arena at sunset to a crowd on their feet, cheering and applauding, waving a rainbow of House banners down at them.
The fire had now been fully extinguished, though the arena floor was blackened and scorched.
Four podiums had been placed directly below the Council’s box, one for each team.
Her mother was beaming in the front row, holding her Hale flag high.
Sienna stood on her left, smiling widely towards a group of purple-clad Lyrans.
Sebastian climbed up on her right. He stood so close that his bandaged hand brushed hers.
For one mad second, she wanted to reach for him – then remembered all the reasons that was a terrible idea.
Kara kept her eyes forward. He was staring straight ahead too.
But a moment later she felt his eyes on her, and she couldn’t help herself – she looked up.
There it was again. That traitorous fluttering in her stomach. She turned away fast.
Gods. Don’t let him see.
“Competitors,” the judge said, her voice clear and commanding, “You have completed the four trials of the Arcalon. You have shown courage, unity, and strength. You have brought honour to your Houses.”
Her words were met with thunderous applause. She waited, then raised her hands again.
“Some–” Her gaze fell on Kara’s team. “–exceeded every expectation.”
Kara’s heart leapt. Did that mean they’d scored well? Had they won?
“And now for the scores,” the judge announced as she turned to the large Caldris enchanted scoreboard behind her. A quill floated, ready to write at the judge’s command.
“In fourth place, with seven points – is Team One.”
Polite applause followed, but their team’s devastation was clear. Their Sorrel candidate was crying again, the grief for her lost teammate plain on her face.
“In third place, with eight points – is Team Three.”
A slightly louder applause this time.
“In second place, with ten points – Team Two.”
Henry smiled out at the crowd, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
We won.
“And in first place, with an impressive total of thirteen points – Team Four.”
The arena erupted.
Kara blinked once, staring at the numbers in front of her.
1st Place – Team Four – 13 points
2nd Place – Team Two – 10 points
3rd Place – Team Three – 8 points
4th Place – Team One – 7 points
Sienna threw her arms around her. Gregor shouted something that sounded like a battle cry.
Jax let out a wild whoop. Morra was laughing.
When Sienna released her to hug an unwilling Oryen instead, Kara turned to Sebastian, breathless and unsure.
The roar of the crowd melted away – it was just the two of them.
“Well done, Kara,” he said.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you,” she told him. “You saved my life.”
He smiled, brief but genuine. “It’s what I’m trained for.”
She didn’t know what to say to that.
“Are we going to talk about it?” he asked, too low for anyone else to hear.
She tried to keep her face impassive. “About what?”
“About what happened.” His voice dropped even lower. “With our magic.”
Her stomach flipped.
What is he doing?
I want to but–
Not here. Not now.
But still – she nodded once.
This is a very bad idea.
He nodded too, then looked back to the crowd.
But his shoulder didn’t move from hers. If anything, he moved a fraction closer.
Kara was barely listening to the Council members as they stood one by one, offering carefully worded congratulations to their delegate on the winning team.
Simone Navyr praised Jax’s precision and control during the Water Trial, which drew another roar from the crowd, but the words washed over Kara.
After that, the speeches blurred into noise.
Until Tobias Thorne stood up. Beside her, Sebastian tensed. His father surveyed the arena with cold eyes before his gaze settled on his son. Then to her. Sebastian shifted away, widening the gap between them by a few inches.
“I commend all four teams,” Tobias said, voice low and gravel-edged. “But particular credit must go to Team Four, whose performance in the Fire Trial was notable. Sebastian demonstrated the qualities demanded of House Thorne.”
Then he sat.
That’s it? For your own son?
She couldn’t tell if it had been meant as praise or warning. The applause started slowly – hesitant, as though the crowd were unsure if he was truly finished.
“Man of many words, your dad,” Jax said, clapping Sebastian on the shoulder.
“He’s efficient,” Sebastian smirked back at him, the mask slipping neatly back into place.
Her father stood up next.
“Excellent work from all teams in what was an incredibly difficult set of trials. Team Four showed quick thinking and true team spirit. Lady Hale,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips, “your mastery of magical and non-magical healing has been evident throughout the Arcalon. Your House stands proud. To be Hale is to be whole, to heal what is broken.”
The crowd erupted into genuine cheers, much louder this time, shouting her house creed back at her, backed by drums beating out a celebration rhythm.
Kara’s throat tightened. Her father didn’t say things like that often – not where people could hear.
It had surprised her. She shared a look with him, pride blooming in her chest. She only wished moments like this came more easily between them.
And that she hadn’t had to narrowly avoid death or serious injury for two days to earn it.
The judge descended from the Council’s box, a velvet case of Arcalon medals cradled in her arms. The medallions were heavy gold, Vallenna’s crest engraved in their centres – two hands clasped within a shield.
Around the edge was the inscription: Unity above all.
She placed a medal around each of their necks, offering polite congratulations as she passed.
She paused longer in front of Sebastian. “Congratulations, Lord Thorne,” she said as she lifted the final medal.
“Thank you,” he said, dipping his head to accept it.
She leaned in slightly. “We were watching,” she said quietly, so only Kara and Sebastian heard. She looked meaningfully between them. “Both of you.”
Sebastian stiffened. “Right,” he said uncomfortably. He waited for her to say more, but she simply stepped back with a knowing look.
Kara frowned. “What was that about?” she asked over renewed applause.
He glanced at her. “No idea.”
After a minute, Arcalon assistants gestured for them to dismount their podiums. Henry made a beeline for Kara and pulled her in for a tight hug. A display of affection that was quite unlike him.
“Well done, Kara,” he whispered in her ear, his arms tight around her waist.
“Erm, thanks,” she said. “And to you, second place is a great achievement.”
“Thank you,” Henry said graciously as he released her. “Want to walk back up to the tent together?”
Kara glanced back at Sebastian, but he stalked past them, not looking in her direction.
“Sure.” She focused on Henry instead. “I’d like that.”
As she walked away in step with Henry Caldris, her father beamed down at her from the stands.
The perfect daughter.
See, Father? I’m trying.
Later that evening, they all gathered in the Council hall.
Only delegates and their families had been invited by the High Council.
The Unity Feast was a private celebration before the spectacle of the Autumnal Ball the next day.
Rosalie’s parents had declined. Kara had seen Rosalie’s mother being comforted by Lord Elias Lyra earlier – tear-stained, barely holding herself together – mounting a valmare as the sun set.
A carriage had followed. Rosalie’s body making the journey home to Lyra.
And then Vallenna moved on. The loss, it seemed, hadn’t affected the Council’s plans.
Kara sat beside her mother at one of the long oak tables, dressed in fresh Hale robes.
Traditional. The conversation buzzed around her, cheerful and animated – the mead flowing generously.
Her father, seated at the Council table at the head of the room, was deep in conversation with Galen Caldris, heads bowed low.
Kara didn’t have to wonder what the topic of conversation was – the answer sat beside her.
Henry hadn’t left her side since the end of the final trial.
Orders from his father no doubt. He’d spoken more than she’d expected – the Arcalon had given them plenty to talk about – but even so, the words felt stilted.
Formal. And for Kara at least, exhausting.
The energy required to maintain the mask – the knowledge this would soon be her life – drained her.
Her gaze wandered, far more than it should have, across the hall, to find the one person she actually wanted to speak to.
Sebastian sat at the far end of the room, flanked by two girls who looked unmistakably like him – one close to his age, the other a few years younger – wide-eyed and eager – her magic had probably only just come in.
The older girl looked haughty, disinterested and bored by everything. His sisters, Kara assumed.
“Are you okay?” her mother asked when she caught Kara staring for the third time.
“Yes, just tired. It’s been a long few days,” she said.
Her mother didn’t believe her – she held her gaze for a moment too long – but didn’t press the issue.
The night passed quickly, and as soon as it was polite to do so, Kara took her leave. She slipped from the Council hall, away from the pressure. Away from the pretending. She needed somewhere she could breathe. She hadn’t made it far when a voice sounded behind her.
“Kara.”
She turned – Sebastian had followed her out. He stood in the archway, arms folded. He had a look on his face that she hadn’t seen before.
“We need to talk,” he said.
She hesitated. “It’s late.”
“I won’t take long.”
Kara’s gaze darted to the torchlight from the Council hall flickering behind him. “Not here. Come with me.”
He followed her out into the gardens, behind a grove of apple trees, away from prying eyes. She turned to face him. He was close. Too close. His scent caught the air around her: leather and pine. His breathing was quick, shallow. Nervous, maybe. He wasn’t the only one – her heart was hammering.
What are you doing, Kara Hale?
For a second, neither of them spoke. They just stood there staring at each other in the moonslight.
This is fine. Completely normal. Nothing suspicious about hiding in the trees with the heir of Thorne.
Sebastian broke the silence. “You felt it too.”
Kara looked at her hands, remembering the way their magic intertwined. “I did.”
He nodded once, like he’d suspected but needed to hear it. “It’s not supposed to happen like that, not without–” he stopped short and met her eyes. Her mind went blank under the weight of his stare.
Gods.
“I’ve never felt anything like it,” he said.
Her heart stumbled over itself. “Neither have I.”
He nodded again – looking satisfied maybe, but she wasn’t sure.
Kara hesitated before she said, “I felt it. I felt your strength... in me. It was–” but she stopped short, heat prickling her cheeks.
“It was what?” he asked softly.
Don’t say it. Don’t say it.
“Honestly?” She took a breath. “It was... amazing.”
And you said it.
Surprise crossed his face. Before she could stop him, he’d reached for her hand, a crimson glow enveloping it, swirling around the rubies and emeralds of her bracelet.
The effect was instantaneous – her emerald rose to meet it like it was called for this alone.
His strength – now all too familiar – coursed through her muscles. It was addictive. Intoxicating.
“Amazing, was it?” He grinned, watching her closely.
She couldn’t answer. She was too fascinated by the way their magic curled together, unable to tear herself away.
What if I didn’t pull away? What if I let this happen?
The thought came unbidden. Wild. Dangerous.
“Yes,” she managed. “It was.”
His fingers tightened around hers – enough that she felt it.
She squeezed back without thinking. He stepped closer.
So close that Kara could feel the heat of him.
Her breath came quicker, her body reacting before her mind caught up.
His gaze was locked on her now, and he wasn’t grinning anymore.
Their faces were inches apart. It would be so easy to close the distance.
Her lips parted.
Gods, I want to kiss him.
His gaze dropped to her mouth. Lingered there.
I really want to–
But then she thought of the engagement announcement. Of Henry. Of the crushing expectations on her.
No, we can’t do this.
Kara pulled her hand back and the dancing lights vanished, leaving the night cold and dark.
“We can’t,” she whispered, but her voice shook.
Sebastian went still.
“My father would never–”
“Right.” His voice went flat. Cold. He stepped back, away from her. But not before the hurt flashed across his face.
“It’s just Hales and Thornes.” She pushed the words out, hating them, but willing him to understand. “We don’t mix.”
He stared for a moment, his expression like frost. “Who said I wanted to?”
She flinched. The words stung.
He doesn’t mean that, does he?
“Good,” she lied.
“Good,” he echoed. “See you at the ball, Hale.”
He turned sharply and walked away, leaving her standing alone by the apple trees, cursing herself.
Back to ‘Hale’ again, am I?
She exhaled hard, her chest aching as she watched him disappear. Back to the mask. Back to being the daughter they want.
And not the woman who had allowed herself to want something she could never have.
The woman who wanted Sebastian Thorne.