Blood of the Crown (William of Alamore Series Book 6) by C. J. R. Isely

Author:C. J. R. Isely [Isely, C. J. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-10-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

The surge to either side of him took Will aback. He staggered into his first stride. Cursing his failure to pay attention, he launched after the others. Colin slowed to match Will’s fumbling step. Wren, however, had broken free with the first of the pack, and had already thrown herself over the first hurdle.

With his feet under him at last, Will accelerated. Each stride brought back the bite of the rope against his neck, the pulse in his throat striking pain into his flesh and bringing back the throbbing in his temples. Teeth gritted, he forced himself to push past the discomfort, aware of the army that had gathered to see their King’s strength.

At his side, Colin matched his strides with ease. Brow knitted, Will noticed the green eyes flit to the crowd every few steps.

He's protecting me.

Guilt and gratitude flooded Will’s chest. He turned his attention to the track ahead, forcing himself to run harder. If he failed this trial, Colin would do so right at his side. He owed it to the army, to himself, and to Colin, not to make a fool of himself.

His shin racked the first jump. New pain burst to join those in his throat and arm. Biting back a string of Kelkorian that he lacked the breath to utter, he didn’t allow himself to falter. He needed to move. The struggles to breathe and the aching in his neck couldn’t make him appear weak. He needed to keep up. He needed to try harder. Ahead of him, the Ranger and Barad were already preparing to scale the climbing wall a stride behind Rockwood while, at his back, he heard Haru’s voice encouraging Nyanna over the hurdles.

At a curve in the path, Colin shifted sides, moving to block the crowd from a direct sight of Will.

“I’m okay,” Will panted, his voice hoarse.

Colin snorted, never tearing his eyes from the next obstacle. “You’re a lousy liar. Now, come on. Climbing wall. Don’t show that you hate this. We don’t need to be the fastest, we just get it done. Don’t show that you’re tired.”

Colin was right. He needed the others to think this was easy for him. Still, as he hoisted himself over the low wall with an unsteady vault, the exertion opened the wound in his arm. Blood rose, hot and tacky, to darken his sleeve. Dropping to the far side of the wall, he thought almost longingly of other trials and tests he’d done before. Even the thought of the Trial of Thieves the year before—when he had fought with sharpened steel in a battle that might have ended in his death against Colin’s cousin—felt more inviting than the run.

Worse comes to worst, I’ll be King of the Kitchens with Rowan. He thought of his words to Haru on the day he’d turned seventeen, his jests about battling with a wooden spoon. Well, if he failed this run, those might not be jokes anymore. At his side, Colin gave no impression that any of the obstacles were remotely difficult.

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