Rival by J. M. Kearl

Author:J. M. Kearl [Kearl, J. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B07ZRYVY8P
Published: 2019-11-04T23:00:00+00:00

29. Boaden

B oaden’s pulse still throbs in his neck. Watching Daelyn first come up against four Wargon trolls, some of the biggest he’s ever seen and then nearly falling into lava, his heart can barely take it. He vehemently wants to spell down there and help her. Women have died during the Queens Challenge. It’s not that he doesn’t think she can do it on her own, even if she were as experienced as him, he’d feel the same. Every moment that his wife is in danger, whether it was in the castle in Hesstia, on the battlefield, or now, he’s on edge, his awareness heightened to her every move. It’s like she has a hand wrapped around his heart and gives it a squeeze every once in a while.

Madison’s fingers clamp down on his arm when Daelyn leaps into the crevice. I’m not the only one worried. When the woman they both love reaches the other side safely, she releases him. Boaden looks down at her with a half smile.

Those lavender eyes of hers find Boaden’s, and she sneers. She is not one to ever admit she’s afraid of anything, even potentially losing her daughter.

Jordane paces back and forth in the small, roped-off area their champion’s family and friends have been given. “I don’t know if I can watch this any longer.”

Kendoa and Presten wildly wave their maroon and gold flags with the letter “D”. Half of Presten’s face is painted maroon. Ehvas screams out a “Go, Daelyn!” while jumping up and down. Boaden’s parents were sitting on the bench but spring to their feet when Daelyn hits the ground safely. Daelyn’s four guardians let out ear-piercing shrieks. All of them colored their hair half gold and half maroon for the occasion. Rorin, completely decked out in Daelyn gear, throws his fist into the air letting out a holler.

They are all excited Daelyn made it across but even more so that she’s ahead of Kyria. The Queen is still fighting the trolls, though only one survives.

“Check your crystal ball,” Rorin says, holding the clear orb in his hand. “Kyria is about to move on.”

Crystal balls have been a top-selling item all week. People outside the arena can watch the challenge live from their hand and those inside get to see recasts of the action as well as a close-up version. The scene currently showing is Kyria lopping off the head of the last troll. Her side of the stands explodes in a chorus of gleeful shouts.

A stout young man wearing a one-piece suit sewn together in the center, Daelyn colors on the left side of his body and Kyria colors on the right side, walks up the steps shouting, “Last call for bets!” A leather bag with a strap slung across his chest has badges from both challengers stuck to it.

Boaden wears the one that reads: “Magic Over Bloodlines”. When he first read the words it made him think back to one of the times he sat with Kyria alone.

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