I stumbled to a stop, Vox right beside me. There, in the clearing, was a fallen Quarry. He was so still.
“Hayle, is he…” I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.
Hayle felt gently along the raven’s body, pulling his hand away to show blood on his fingers. “He’s alive.” He pointed to a crossbow bolt in the tree. “But someone tried to kill him.”
Nineteen
Vox
“Ipresent the winner of the Precision event—Vox Vylan, Heir of the First Line,” the Master of Ceremonies announced over the sound of the crowd. “Securing a two-event lead!”
People clapped respectfully, but I knew they’d wanted Kyler Tarrin, the hometown Heir, to win the archery competition. I didn’t blame them.
I smiled politely at the crowd, then turned to Kyler, bowing low. “Good match.”
She blushed, and I realized she felt so much younger than me, despite us being separated by mere years. She’d lived here, on the other side of the ocean, being nurtured by a family who loved her, in a town that viewed her like a favored daughter. She hadn’t lived through the shit I had.
“Thank you, Heir Vylan,” she murmured, although I could see her disappointment. It was a shame, but very few people could beat me in an archery competition. I’d been practicing for as long as I could hold a bow. Being able to direct your elemental abilities like a dagger was a point of pride for the Vylans, especially my father, and training for the skill had started long before my magic developed.
“It was very close. Perhaps next time you will beat me?” I said roughly. Was I trying to make her feel better? Avalon had made me soft.
Kyler smiled. “You think?”
No, not really.But I didn’t say that. I shrugged, giving her a neutral expression. “Perhaps.”
I wanted to celebrate with Avalon the way Hayle had—by kissing her deeply. Instead, I was forced to basically ignore her as I walked back to my tent, filled with provided attendants but no one who actually cared if I won or not. I wasn’t mad about it, though; I didn’t want a single member of my family here.
The sun was beginning to sink in the sky, and we still had one more competition to go. Hand-to-hand combat was the grand finale, and rightfully so. I had all but won the Tournament of Second Heirs, unless Hayle beat me in the Combat event, which was far more possible than Kyler Tarrin beating me in archery.
“The final competition of the tournament is none other than Combat!” the Master of Ceremonies yelled. “Firstly, we will draw the Wildcard for this round.” He reached into a large, ornate container and pulled out a piece of paper. “The Wildcard for the Combat round is… Lierick Abaster, of the Eleventh Line.”
The Eleventh Line all hollered. I looked over at Lierick, wondering if there hadn’t been a little persuasion in the drawing of the Wildcard for this round. Whatever, it would be good to put him in his place. Both in the power hierarchy, and when it came to Avalon. Hayle had told me what he’d done last night; he’d kissed her.
I swallowed down the growl. She wasmine—well, mine and Hayle’s. She would never be his.
Hayle raised an eyebrow at me, and I could almost hear his voice in my head telling me to keep my shit together. It would be fine. I would decimate Lierick Hanovan, he’d realize his place, and we could get on with our little revolution.
“First pairing: Vox Vylan of the First Line and Eugene Rovan of the Fourth Line!,”
I allowed the smirk to curl my face. If there was anything guaranteed to make me feel better, it was beating the shit out of Eugene Rovan.
Hefting my sword up, I completed a couple of stretches to loosen my shoulders, though I wouldn’t need it. I stepped into my ring with Eugene, who was glaring at me poisonously.
Fucking little weasel.I hated him. Actually, that was an insult to Avalon’s pet stolt; Eugene was worse than a weasel. He was the shit beneath my shoe.
I stood in my fighter’s stance, doing complex forms to warm up, playing up to the crowd just a little, but mostly to prepare myself for the quickest fight of my life.
“Fighters, at the ready! To yield or first blood!” the Master of Ceremonies shouted. “Commence!”
Eugene, despite all the training we’d had, decided to go on the offensive immediately. Sighing heavily, I spun out of the way, coming out behind him and lifting my foot to kick him in the ass. It sent him flying forwards into the dirt, making the crowd holler. Breaking my stance was showy fighting, but Eugene was no threat.
I pressed my boot to his spine and my sword tip to his cheek. “Do you yield?” I asked him, bored.
“You think you’re so fucking powerful, don’t you, Vylan? Guess what? Even the great Vox Vylan can be cut off at the knees.”
Rolling my eyes, I nicked his ear with my sword. “That’s true. But the person who brings me down will never be you.”
When we got to the final round, I was panting. I’d just gone head to head with Hayle, who definitely didn’t take it easy on me. The whole square had been silent while we fought, holding their breath to see who would win, or if we’d kill each other instead.
