When he walked into the inner ward, the crowd thinned and then disappeared. He heard a muffled shout. He paused and stood still, listening for any further noise, but there was only silence.
Confused, he took three tentative steps toward the keep doors when he heard another pained cry. Instinctively, he whirled and moved cautiously in the direction of the sound.
“Stop! No!” a woman’s voice shouted.
Finn’s eyes roamed the castle walls as he searched for the source of the noise. In a darkened doorway beneath one rampart, he caught sight of two figures locked in an embrace that seemed anything but wanted. The man had the woman pinned against the wall, one hand holding her wrists above her head while the other roamed freely over her body. She struggled against him, gasping for breath as she squirmed to break free.
Finn moved forward. “You there!”
The man turned, and to Finn’s surprise, it was Kage.
Kage’s lips curled. “Keep moving.”
“Help me, Finn,” the woman begged.
Finn’s heart raced as he saw it was Mabel in Kage’s grasp. The memories of childhood fear and bullying came back to him, but he refused to abandon her. He stepped forward with determination. “Get away from her, Kage,” he commanded.
Kage grimaced and shoved her aside. She stumbled to her knees as Kage stalked toward Finn. “I’ll pick on you instead.”
Finn’s brow furrowed in determination, and he stood his ground as Kage approached. His jaw clenched, and all the years of repressed anger roared to life, burying any doubts that lingered. He recalled all the times he had been afraid of Kage, all the times he had been protected by Conrad. It was time to prove to himself and to Kage that he was no longer that scared child. His fingers curled into fists.
Kage swung.
Finn ducked, and Kage’s punch sailed over his head. Finn lunged forward, landing a blow to Kage’s stomach.
Kage doubled over, a shocked whoosh issuing from his open mouth.
Finn delivered another swing to his chin, sending him back onto his bottom.
Kage lay there, staring at Finn with a dazed expression.
Finn silently thanked Conrad for the fighting lessons. When he realized that Kage was too stunned to continue the fight, Finn straightened, satisfied with his victory. He glanced toward Mabel and found Ari standing beside her, her arm around Mabel’s shoulders. Finn approached the women, but Ari stormed by him toward Kage, her face filled with outrage.
Kage sat up, rubbing his chin.
She stopped before him, her fists balled. “Get out,” she ordered.
Kage slowly stood. “Ari,” he said. “It’s not how it appears. Let me explain.”
“Look at her ripped clothes, Kage!” Ari shouted, pointing to Mabel. “There is no explanation for that.”
“She wanted it,” Kage said, a hint of smugness creeping into his voice, his usual demeanor returning.
Finn stepped forward, positioning himself behind Ari. His stance was protective and ready to shield her from any harm.
Mabel whimpered behind them.
Kage grinned and jerked his chin at her. “She liked it.”
“You make me sick,” Ari stated with disdain. “Get out of my castle.”
Kage’s furious eyes locked on her. “It is not your castle yet.”
She lifted her chin. “Then I shall have my father banish you.”
His lips thinned, and his eyes narrowed. “And I shall return to claim you when I win the contest.”
Finn felt his stomach churn, and his jaw tightened.
