Prince of Shadow and Ash by Selina R. Gonzalez

Author:Selina R. Gonzalez [Gonzalez, Selina R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781734467611
Publisher: Wyvern Wing Press
Published: 2020-05-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

SO, HE WOULD FIGHT Carrick after all. Regulus checked Adelaide’s token on his arm. He shouldn’t be so happy about it. But it would feel good to knock Carrick down. He had hardly kept himself from drawing his sword yesterday, when Carrick kept talking over Adelaide. The egotistical lowlife. But Adelaide had a fire in her and had proven she could and would defend herself. He wouldn’t assume she wanted or needed his help. He only stepped in because Carrick started acting aggressive, and he would not abide such behavior.

Anticipation and tension hung in the air as they walked into the arena. A low monotone of whispered conversations buzzed in his ears, too far away and too quiet for him to hear specifics. Did any support him? He saw a couple noblemen shake hands, both with smug expressions. Well, people were betting on him at least. But people bet on horses, hounds, and dice, so that didn’t say much. Maybe he had changed some of their minds. Or perhaps some of them would be more open to him. Probably not. He pushed thoughts of the nobles’ acceptance away. They had never accepted him. Why would it matter now?

He found Adelaide in the crowd. Maybe it did matter now. What if the other nobles turned her against him? She smiled and winked. “I don’t much care what they think,” her voice repeated in his mind. The tension in his shoulders dissipated. In the middle of the arena he bowed to the spectators, then turned toward his opponent.

Carrick gave him a haughty smile as they shook hands. “This should be fun, mercenary. Try to last long enough you don’t completely embarrass her. I want to win, but I don’t want to make her angry. I want her to see which of us is the real man, and which is, well...whatever kind of mongrel you are.”

Regulus clenched his jaw until his teeth hurt. He smiled. “You know what, Carrick? You’re right.”

“What?”

“This is going to be fun.” With that, Regulus pulled on his helm and drew his sword.

Carrick scoffed and put on his plumed helm. He drew his sword and attacked, moving blade from scabbard to slicing toward Regulus’ chest in one fluid movement. Regulus blocked, the impact of their swords meeting jarring his bones. He shoved back on Carrick’s blade, pushing it aside. He reversed directions and aimed for Carrick’s side.

Carrick recovered and parried with no difficulty. Regulus moved for another attack from above, adjusting his stance as he watched Carrick through the slit in his visor. Carrick inched his left foot back and drew back his right shoulder. Regulus adjusted, stepping to the right and pulling his sword around to swing from the left. Carrick couldn’t change course fast enough, and he blocked just as Regulus’ sword made contact with Carrick’s shoulder. Carrick parried with surprising force, then counter-attacked. Regulus blocked or dodged each blow. He countered with a flurry of combination cuts, thrusts, and swings. Carrick fell back but blocked or parried each attack.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.