A heavy silence descended over the spectators.
Cormac and Broccan rushed to the side of the man who’d been killed, but Eva couldn’t see what was happening. All she saw was the man surrounded by as many warriors as could fit near him. After what felt an eternity, four men carried the fallen warrior toward the church. The two wounded men walked to the infirmary. And the next three men took their positions, buried to their waists, shields in hand.
Eva could barely bring herself to watch the next round. Luckily, no one died this time. Two men managed to come out unscathed, in fact. One man failed, but his wounds were mild.
As the third group of men took position, Eva’s breath faltered. Finn and Dallan each dropped into a hole, taking hold of shield and staff, both their countenances focused and deadly.
She couldn’t possibly watch both the entire time. Long before she felt ready, the spears started flying.
Her eyes flitted like a bird from her brother to Finn and back.
Finn caught the first spear on his shield with a thunderous crack.
Her brother remained unharmed.
Finn caught the second spear on his shield, alongside the first. The audience roared.
Dallan was still unharmed, three spears in.
Eva missed the third and fourth throws at Finn while she tried to determine how many Dallan had passed. She hadn’t a moment to recover before two more spears sailed, one after the other, toward Finn.
He deflected both with ease. Eva let out a breath she hadn’t realized she held, watching both her brother and Finn perform better than any other man she’d seen yet. Finn nearly took a scratch to the arm but managed to use his staff just in time.
Finn and Dallan had lived.
Eva barely saw the rest of the trial. Relief flooded her. Finn had lived. She hadn’t realized just how worried she’d been until it ended. Now that it was over, a hundred thoughts rushed through her mind all at once.
Though grateful that her brother was safe, Eva had not been jesting when she’d hoped he wouldn’t pass the trial. Getting away with a scratch on your arm, or even a small wound, was far better than bartering away your life in her estimation. Eva had been counting on him leaving after this trial. Now she didn’t know what to do.
She’d clearly misjudged Finn. He had just proven that, bard or not, he was one of the most skilled warriors here. After that display, she wouldn’t be at all surprised if he did make it to the end of the trials. She also thought, perhaps, he really could protect her from her cutthroat family. Mayhap he could even survive the many battles that would no doubt find her throughout her life.
Aye, if Eva ever decided such a risk to be worthwhile, Finn might actually be capable of surviving being betrothed to her.
Chapter Twenty
Finn could findno words to express his depth of feeling following the defense trial. He lived. And he had passed, as had the men he now called friends: Dallan, Ardál, Conan, and Diarmid.
Four men died. Their bodies were already on their way to families, that they might be properly mourned. Fourteen more failed for allowing themselves to be wounded.
After two trials, only two dozen men remained.
By midday, the trial concluded. Cormac decreed the next four hours spent in silence—one hour for each of the four fallen men. During that time, the kitchens worked nonstop to prepare a celebratory feast for that night.
Finn spent his time sitting on the hilltop, overlooking the blanket of forest and the gleaming lake that sat at its base. Dallan sat to his left, Diarmid and Cormac to his right.
They were the lucky ones.
“So, it shouldbe easy after this, right?” Dallan handed Finn an ale, a triumphant grin on his face.
Finn took it from him, but before he could answer, Diarmid came over to join them.
“I wager you’ll somehow manage to kill yourself running through the woods,” Diarmid offered helpfully.
“Which time?” Dallan narrowed his eyes, as though it were a serious debate and not an utter farce. “When I’m being chased or pulling thorns from my foot?”
“Thorns, definitely,” Finn declared. “It’ll be the thorn that gets you.”
“What are you ladies talking about?” Conan asked, walking over beside his brother.
