Brielle took her sleeve away, trying to see how big the gash was, before putting the fabric over it again. “I’ll take her back to Lioncross,” she said. “Cass, can you please collect her children and bring them?”
Cassian nodded, moving to collect the children, of which there were many. Alexander went to help him as Brielle and Christin began to move Catalina out of the lists. No one even bothered to ask Harald to tend his grandchildren because he wasn’t in his seat any longer. He’d moved at some point and didn’t turn up on a quick perusal of the lists, so between the four adults, they collected all of the children and moved Catalina from the lists. They were hardly to the bottom of the stairs when Essien appeared.
His helm was off and his face was tight with concern.
“God’s Bones,” he muttered, looking at the blood on Catalina’s neck. He’d seen what had happened from the arena floor and come running. “I did that. My God, I know I did that.”
“Not to worry, Es,” Alexander said. “She’s in good hands. ’Tis only a scratch.”
Essien didn’t answer him. He went straight to Catalina, pulling away the fabric that Brielle had pushed against her jaw only to see a fairly decent gash from where the wood had sliced her. The man looked positively sick.
“I’m so terribly sorry,” he said as Brielle put the fabric back. “Are you in much pain?”
Catalina smiled weakly. “None at all, I promise,” she said. “I did not even realize I’d been cut until Lady de Velt told me.”
Essien wasn’t comforted by that at all. “I must go with you,” he said. “I will tend her, Brie. This is my fault and I will tend her.”
He started to push Brielle away so he could take physical custody of Catalina, but Alexander stopped him.
“Es, they want you back on the field,” he said. “The lady will be well, I promise. This will not kill her.”
The marshals were standing at the railing below the lists, summoning Essien, but he had little interest in answering them.
“I’ll forfeit my match,” he said seriously. “I must tend my lady.”
“Nay,” Catalina said, coming to a halt and preventing him from leading her away. “My lord, please finish your match. You have earned this. Youmustfinish.”
He looked at her, his eyes full of doubt. “But you are injured,” he said. “I must help you.”
She smiled. “You have,” she assured him softly. “You were kind enough to see to me when you knew I’d been struck by the wood. That means a great deal to me. But now you must finish your match, something you have worked very hard for.”
“But—”
“Essien, please.”
Essien.She’d called him by his given name, and that did something to him. It made it personal. She wasn’t being formal any longer, and somehow that strengthened him. It bolstered him in a way he’d never known before. He was indecisive a moment longer before finally nodding.
“Very well,” he said. “If you insist.”
“I do. Please.”
He took a deep breath, calming himself, but finding that he wanted to get this match over quickly. He wanted to return to Catalina’s side.
“As you wish,” he said, reaching out to take one of her hands and kissing it sweetly. “This will not take long.”
With that, he headed off, followed by Cassian as Alexander and Christin herded the children. With Brielle still holding the fabric to Catalina’s jaw, they headed off in the direction of Lioncross’s keep as Essien mounted his steed and collected a fresh lance. Thoughts of Catalina’s bloodied face haunted him, so much so that when the marshals dropped the flag and he spurred his horse forward, he used a difficult trick against his brother because he wanted to end the match quickly.
He wanted to get back to Catalina.
Riding at full speed toward his brother, he aimed his lance at Addax until the last second, when he moved it slightly, away from his brother’s body. But a split second later, as Addax began to pass by the tip of the lance, he swung it back at his brother, catching Addax in the back of the shoulder with a sweeping motion. The idea was to sweep his brother right off the horse, and he did so most ably. Unable to keep his balance at the unexpected move, Addax was knocked forward, holding on for a few seconds before losing his grip and falling heavily to the earth.
The crowd went wild with glee.
With the championship won, including the horse that his brother was riding—which was, in fact, Essien’s horse—he had everything he wanted. He’d finished. He made a sweep in front of the lists to acknowledge his adoring admirers before dismounting, quickly, and pulling his brother to his feet. Making sure Addax was unharmed—which he was, because the man was laughing at the fact that he’d just lost the much-coveted horse—Essien left the crowd cheering as he ran off for Lioncross Abbey.
He had a woman to see.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
