Page 183 of Unrivaled
Now.Before the other sides organized.
The teams split and went in two directions, attempting to flank the red team.But reds were deep enough, and loosely formed enough, that they could pivot.On the wind, over the clash of metal against wood and the shouts of the crowd, I thought I heard a familiar voice bellowing commands.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Thomas, his eyes on the field, a small smile on his mouth.
It was all the confirmation I needed.
When every combatant wearing a tabard not red had thrown their weapons on the ground or left entirely, I watched for him.
It wasn’t hard to find him, because the others all turned to him, too.He was moved from the center to the fore with friendly touches to his back and excited hands waving.
I watched him walk forward, helm under his arm, blue eyes clear, and his stance relaxed.The crowd loved him.They loved that he didn’t posture or grab at fame for himself, but shone the light on me.They loved that he made no bones of being my man.
“Kaelson’ll be proud,” Thomas murmured, in a rare display of approval.
Fuck Kaelson.I’d seen a lot of melees in my time.Iwas proud.
When had my knight become a general?And how could I address it?
The words were jamming up in my head.He bowed to me, his fist closed tight and held to his heart.Time seemed to slow.
In a few days, that obvious loyalty might well save my life.Or end his.
“Did you enjoy the entertainment, my lady?”Chay called.
“I did, sir.”
“Does our victory stand, my lady?”
There were no rules against anything he’d done, nor could any fault be found in the way they’d fought.“Your strategy was excellent, your technique good, your communication ample for the task, your lack of casualties impeccable, and,” I thought of the horrors of last year, “your concern for your fellow competitors’ wellbeing was exemplary.I look forward to meeting you all this evening.”We were going to need to dip into future tourney’s buckles.Never had a group been so well organized.
Surely, someone had tried before, and yet Chay had done it.How?
“Red takes it!”the stewards were yelling.“Red takes the melee!”
But the chant wasn’t for the color.It was for the man.
Champion.
Champion.
I felt the ground shake as they called for him.In my head we were here again a year ago, and the stands were silent as I tied a ribbon around his arm, everyone holding their breath, waiting on my father’s approval.
I couldn’t let my father speak to too many people.He’d go for Chay first.Take out the biggest threat.The thought made the world sway.
Thomas’ family would need to go.Amongst all the faire-goers, they’d be safe to leave tomorrow.They’d get lost in the traffic with everyone else.No one would recall their faces.They could go to Chay’s lands, rather than Thomas’, or perhaps just a quiet inn along the way somewhere.Knowing my father would arrive in three days gave us an excellent starting point to strategize from.If they weren’t contacted by Thomas in a few days, they could go into hiding.I’d send them with money to start anew.
Thomas would die if I did.My father wouldn’t let him remain.
The dress that’d been planned for me for the evening didn’t fit.I knew the problem.I’d gained bulk through my arms the design didn’t account for and couldn’t flex around.I had no time, no energy, and no concern for anything, anymore.I was done.I wanted to be in my tower, with Isolde.I wanted to make my final splash and climb out of the pond.
I went as a kraken.
Oh, they saved some of the delicate apples that’d been sewn onto the intended dress, draping them over my bare back, decorating my naked leg, dangling one from my elbow and another off the curve of my breast.The shining embellishments fluttered against my skin like a promise.
They hid nothing.
I had nothing to hide.
