“Let me go!” I tried to break free.
Tynan watched us. His dark eyes stayed on Denis for a long moment, then he inclined his head slightly. With horror, Iwatched him release his sword and walk toward the opening. I bit my lip so hard, the metallic taste of copper filled my mouth.
The two opponents circled each other. Tynan, in black leather with streaks of blood and dirt on his face, in his hair, and all over his suit, held an irregularly shaped sword. He looked like a demon of chaos and destruction next to the neat and well groomed Rutherford, in his snow white suit with a shiny sword that gleamed with its carefully crafted golden engravings.
Rutherford attacked first, and I could not hold back a gasp. Tynan’s eyes shifted in my direction, for only a moment, and he nearly had his defense pierced by the enemy’s sword.
“You have to stay quiet,” Denis whispered in my ear.
I could not take my eyes off the deadly dance that unfolded in front of my eyes.
Tynan had a strong disadvantage, his dominant arm was out of commission. He was forced to fight with his left arm, and he could barely escape the vicious attacks from his opponent.
Denis was saying something else, but I was not listening. My eyes were on the two males who were fighting to the death. One for me as the heir to the red clan to rule the land, the other to save all that he loved.
Rutherford took his time, clearly enjoying the fight. He delayed going on the offense, toying with Tynan, trying to show everyone how much stronger he was. He purposefully cut him again and again.
Every time his sword slashed Tynan’s suit, my heart broke a little more. Then the anger, the hurt, rose up deep in my chest, and Icould not take it any longer. Denis’s hands pressed down on my arms, but I still tried to shake him off.
“Give him more time,” he whispered.
Rutherford slashed Tynan’s back and he fell to his knees, his good arm pressed against the dirt.
“I think it’s clear who’s been chosen by the gods!” Rutherford shouted for everyone to hear.
The smugness, the belief that he was somehow better than anyone else. The power hungry spark in his eyes. The ugly curve to his mouth. How I hated his face. If only I could do something to erase his disgusting smirk. To make him stop talking. To hurt him as much as he hurt Tynan. I would do it in a heartbeat.
“You bastard!” I shouted, trying to break free from Denis’s grip.
“I’m going to teach you manners later; when you are on your back with your legs spread open.” He snickered.
The whole crowd roared, and my vision turned blurry.
Tynan lurched forward with incredible speed. At first, I could not even see what happened because he did not go for the torso. Seconds later, I realized that he had slashed Rutherford's ankle. The blade cut the artery and a fountain of blood sprayed from the wound.
The look on Rutherford's face was one of pure confusion and disbelief. His neatly combed hair, disturbed by the violent shock of pain, covered his face. He leaned forward and tipped to the ground. What was left of his foot remained planted in the dirt.
This was one of the most brutal and violent fights I had ever witnessed. It was not a competition, it was not a test to determine skill levels. Tynan had only one objective; to kill.
Slowly, Tynan got up, adjusting his shoulders. Blood poured to the ground from a wound on his stomach. He could barely move, stumbling stiffly toward Rutherford who rolled on the ground screaming. Tynan stopped right in front of Rutherford's chest and kicked away the sword that the latter tried to grab. Tynan’s chest was rising and falling as he looked his opponent in the eye, his blade pointed downward.
Before anyone could react, Tynan plunged his sword straight into Rutherford’s heart with a powerful thrust. The forward motion made him lose his balance, and the next moment, he collapsed on his knees, too injured to move.
“We have a clear winner! Tynan from the land of Darragh just won in a fair fight!” Sage exclaimed, raising both his arms.
The crowd exploded with shouts. Knights from the white clan stood in silence, stupefied.
“Not so fast. I’m challenging you, Darragh.” Halsey moved forward.
“But milord, you are not a part of the fight,” Sage protested.
“You said it yourself, the gods want to know who’s the most deserving one.”
Halsey did not want to face Tynan until it was obvious that he was too injured to fight, or even stand up straight.
“But . . .”
“If he forfeits, I will take control of both clans.”
