If I bellowed, everyone would hear. If I protested further, it would invalidate her exemplary skills.
If I did nothing, she could end up with a stake through her heart. And if that happened, my own heart would shatter.
Percussions from the revels thudded as violently as my pulse. Pivoting my head, I surveyed the meadow. Although sign-ups must have taken place hours ago, late enlisters would be admitted.
Impact. Velocity. Control.
Aspen knew these things. My reaction wasn’t coming from doubt over her ability. It originated from something more straightforward.
Seeing her compete scared me. Losing her terrified me.
I whipped toward the female. “Then we ride together.”
Her expression crinkled like paper. “For Seasons’ sake!”
“Listen, goddammit. I know you can do this. I believe everything you just said, so do me the courtesy of believing everything I’ve said. If you know how to take the advantage, I know how to blunt my own. I can moderate my strikes, I can rein in my strength, and I can fucking hold back. Allies stand as one, not separately.”
Vulnerability drenched those pupils. “Are we still allies?”
Tomorrow, I could not say. Tonight, yes.
My wistful lips tilted. “If you keep your edge, I’ll dull mine.”
Her mouth lifted. “Then let’s go fuck shit up.”
I fell into step with Aspen as we strode toward the activity.
Cottagers led a team of horses. This was no Royal arena. Nonetheless, four broad acres of flat meadow proved large enough for raw competition instead of noble fanfare.
Armor plates and helmets flashed, and healers wearing smocks waited outside a surgical tent. For it did not take pageantry and fine weapons alone to crack skulls.
My psyche sensed no ill will among the people. All the same, my blood curdled.
“We won’t know the horses,” I murmured while stalking ahead. “Get the creature to trust you. Think of what Briar and Nicu have demonstrated.”
“Go for the left shoulder,” she advised in turn. “It’ll twist them off the horse just as well as the chest plate.”
Unseating a rider came more naturally when I aimed for the central upper torso. Yet this advice tracked if I wanted to appear less adept, while also winning the round.
Heat sizzled across my flesh. It also suggested she had memorized my technique.
After locating Nicu and informing him of our plans, we presented ourselves at the listing post, our enrollment increasing the number of fighters to fourteen. As for our armor from the enclave, the ancient material had been built to last. Nonetheless, the plates still had their weak spots like any gear.
The crowd packed themselves together, gathering shoulder to shoulder. Children scuttled atop hay bales, which offered a panoramic view of the action.
On the sidelines, Nicu followed the rope border, using it as a guide. Wedging his slender frame to the front, he peered through worried eyes. The distance factor would be difficult for him, but he would grasp the rest.
Lyrik had evidently finished consorting with that unknown male. Now he maneuvered to my liege’s side. From the looks of it, the rogue pointed out the landmarks and indicated something, conceivably describing the rules.
At first, Nicu spared him no attention. Then he eventually leaned in with an indomitable expression, unwilling to dismiss the competition’s objective merely to ignore Lyrik.
I faced Aspen. “Remember that edge.”
She swallowed. “I remember everything.”
Every touch. Every kiss. Every moan.
I remembered too. Even so, I locked my jaw and tensed each muscle, blocking out the sentiment before it sank too deeply.
