Page 81 of Honour Bound
Chapter Seventeen
We knew where the finish line was, directly behind the row of illusory flags. Bob continued squawking, even though those who had plunged into the freezing loch were now being helped by Byron’s efforts. Angus and I silently agreed to compete against each other. He took off around the left side of the water’s edge and I went right.
Chaos reigned. The drones were buzzing manically as energy and adrenaline overtook everyone. Some ran past me, heading towards the side where I’d started my swim; others were splashing in the water, gasping for breath. I estimated there was probably less than a mile to the end of the race. Now that everything was lit up, I could see Angus pulling ahead of me on the opposite bank. I put my head down, blotted out everything else and ran – and that was almost my undoing.
As soon as I passed the far end of the loch itself, a shadow fell across my path. I should have been alerted by the drone following my progress closely from overhead but stupidly I assumed it was there because I was about to win. Instead I almost crashed into the hairy giant who was blocking my way, only just managing to pull myself up in time.
He leered at me with a slack-jawed grin. I saw Angus in an attack stance on the other side of the loch, facing his own giant; there were glowing balls of an eerie green colour in the palms of Angus’s hands, suggesting that his Gift was of the more violent sort.
‘Let me past,’ I grunted to the giant in front of me, ‘and I won’t hurt you too badly.’
He guffawed and a line of spittle dangled from his chin. Physiologically, giants have large brains but they aren’t known for their intelligence. He would be under strict orders to do whatever was necessary to bar my path and his single track mind would be focused on that and that alone. Nothing I could say would help me. I thought about the competitors behind me and hoped that none of them would hurt him. The Carnegies shouldn’t have inveigled him into this. It simply wasn’t fair.
The giant threw back his head and let out such a massive roar that I could swear the ground shook. Then he lunged forward with a massive swipe that caught me on the side of my head and I went flying backwards. Shite, shite and shite again.
Gasping for air, I struggled to my feet. The giant cracked his knuckles in anticipation. There was a howl of pain and I glanced over to see one of Angus’s green orbs smack into the other giant’s chest. He fell backwards and Angus wasted no time in swerving round him and running off. It didn’t look like I was going to win this challenge after all.
My distraction served my opponent well and he took full advantage of the opportunity, punching out again and this time catching me full on the chest. Yet again I was almost unable to breathe. I wheezed and spluttered but managed to stay on my feet. Just.
I looked to my left. I could avoid my opponent by going towards the loch. I might even get lucky and the ice would hold my weight but somehow I doubted it ? and there was no way that I was going to brave those waters again. To my right, the banks were steep and covered with ice and snow. I was agile but I knew my limits. If I tried to leap up there, I’d slide back down again and that would lead me to my doom.
The giant grinned vacantly. His left flank was completely open and I could have attacked him there and made my move. I was aware of distant footsteps behind me; it wouldn’t be long before I was overtaken by more than just Angus. I gritted my teeth and ran forward full pelt.
At the very last minute, as the giant’s huge arms swirled in my direction, I ducked and threw my body into a rolling dive. I skidded through the gap in his legs, closing my eyes to avoid the unsavoury temptation to peek under his heavy kilt. While the giant heaved in frustration and tried to turn, I was already on my feet.
‘Run!’ Angus yelled.
I faltered. Angus had stopped right in front of the flags. Why hadn’t he already passed the finish line? What was he waiting for?
I picked up speed, skidding to a halt next to him. ‘What are you doing?’ I shrieked. ‘You could have won by now!’
One corner of his mouth curved up in a disarming smile. ‘I’m under orders from my Chieftain,’ he said. ‘He’s been called away on business so he can’t meet with you like he planned. Between you and me, he’s thrilled to have the excuse to avoid the rest of the Games but he’s disappointed not to be able to do this himself. I think that he’ll appreciate my timing though.’ His smile grew. ‘Clan MacQuarrie is prepared to pledge allegiance to Clan Adair and we will prove our loyalty in any way necessary.’
I stared at him. ‘There is no Clan Adair. There’s only me.’
Angus’s smile grew. ‘The Kincaids might be the only Gifted with foresight,’ he said, ‘but my allegiance to you is about more than what happened with Lily. We haven’t forgotten the prophecy.’ I frowned. There was that prophecy palaver again. What did he mean? Before I could ask, he glanced towards the sky and noted the drone above us. He knelt down and for a bizarre moment I thought he was about to propose. ‘On behalf of Clan MacQuarrie,’ he intoned, ‘I swear fealty.’
It was a bold, public move that made no sense. My mind spun. Was it really to do with the mysterious prophecy? I didn’t believe in mumbo-jumbo like that any more than I thought I’d one day perform my own comedy routine on stage. I continued to gape at him, like a guppy on its slowest setting.
‘You should get a move on,’ Angus said. ‘Tipsania and Byron have just reached the giants.’
I finally found my voice. ‘Get up,’ I muttered.
He did as I bade. ‘My lady.’
I pointed at the finish line, glittering ahead of us less than twenty feet away. ‘Go.’
He frowned. ‘No.’
‘You won this fair and square, Angus,’ I said firmly. ‘If these Games are supposed to be about honour then you need to show everyone that you’ve come first.’
‘You need the win,’ he argued.
‘I’m already in the lead. Coming second won’t change that. Besides, the staggered start might still work in my favour.’ I grinned. ‘I might still beat you even if I wander in after you.’
‘But…’
‘You swore fealty to me,’ I reminded him. ‘You should do as I say.’
