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All the other champions fought with ferocity, though. Whatever their High Lords had promised them for the victory must be worth risking their lives.
The fewer contestants that remained, the more viciously they fought. Those were the most determined to snatch the prize.
I shifted forward on my throne, clutching my hands together so tightly my fingernails nearly pierced my skin. Only one contestant had my entire attention now. I no longer cared what the court thought about my favoring him. I watched Kyllen as if my life depended on his every move, because it did.
He was my life.
Soon, it was just the two of them left, Kyllen and Lord Adriyel. After fighting side by side for close to two hours, they turned against each other.
It happened instantaneously. The only other contestant slipped from his serpent, pushed off by Kyllen, and Lord Adriyel swerved in the current, directing his sword at Kyllen.
“Oh no…” I groaned.
The two had advanced so far by fighting together and watching each other’s backs. With only two of them left now, they had no one else to fight but each other.
Kyllen parried Lord Adriyel’s attack. But the moment the lord’s serpent slinked by him, it lashed its tail unexpectedly, knocking the sword out of Kyllen’s hand.
To my knowledge, a rider had little control over his serpent’s tail. Yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that Lord Adriyel had influenced the move somehow.
Swerving around, he steered the giant snake back, barreling at the disarmed Kyllen.
Kyllen’s sword sank to the bottom of the river quickly. To retrieve it, he’d have to dive for it. If he jumped off his serpent, he’d lose.
He remained on the snake. Holding the reins tightly, his feet spread wide for balance, he waited for Lord Adriyel to come closer.
The lord’s sword against Kyllen’s bare hands. He didn’t even grab the knife he had strapped to his thigh.
“Kyllen… Please.” I rocked on my throne, silently pleading for his life with all gods of both Earth and Nerifir.
Adriyel brought his serpent flush with Kyllen’s, thrusting forward with his sword.
Evading the weapon, Kyllen let go of his reins and jumped. Grabbing the harness from Adriyel, he shoved his shoulder into the lord’s chest, knocking him off his own serpent.
Lord Adriyel splashed into the river, still wielding his sword.
The impact cost Kyllen his balance, too. He landed on the serpent with both feet, but then staggered and plopped backwards on his butt, his legs draped on either side of the serpent’s neck.
Councilor Delahon chuckled. “Well, that’d be ‘the last man sitting.’”
A few snickers and giggles came from the crowd, too.
The next moment, Kyllen leaped to his feet. He steadied himself in the upright position before triumphantly raising his free arm in the air.
A winner!
The crowd erupted with cheers. They might not have known him well before, but Kyllen had earned their admiration during the tournament. His bold move of taking over Lord Adriyel’s serpent seemed to especially endear him to them. They laughed at Lord Adriyel spluttering in the water and cheered for Kyllen, who waved and grinned, energy and excitement beaming from him.
He swept the crowd with his gaze, stopping it on me.
I jumped off my throne. Happiness bounced inside me, warm and thrilling. Lifting my skirts so as not to trip, I dashed down the stairs to the deck over the water.
Councilor Delahon hurried alongside me. “Your Majesty!” He fought with the billowing layers of my skirts as they floated all around me, getting in his way. “The winner is supposed to ascend to the queen, not the other way around.”
“Oh, but I don’t care!” I laughed.
Kyllen’s smile drew me in like a beacon. He steered the serpent closer to the wide dock constructed along the riverbank, then hopped off the beast, dropping the harness. Set free, the fantastic creature submerged its head back into the river and the harness slipped off.
One of the attendants on a paddle board had fished Lord Adriyel out from the stream. The lord reached the dock the moment Kyllen set his foot on it.
Councilor Delahon rushed by me, inserting himself into my path to Kyllen.
“My queen.” He panted, out of breath. “You haven’t pronounced the winner yet. The tournament couldn’t possibly conclude without the announcement.”
I leaned sideways, catching the glimpse of Kyllen over the councilor’s shoulder. My man’s smile was all I wanted to see right now. I wished to leap on him, to wrap my arms and legs around him, to cover him with kisses head to toe…
But the crown on my head came with certain expectations.
I drew in a breath to proceed with the formal announcement.
“The High Lord of Ellohi, I declare you the winner—”
“Not so fast, my dear queen.” Lord Adriyel shoved the councilor aside, taking his place in front of me. “Some promises need to be honored first. Isn’t that so, my lord?” he tossed the question to Kyllen over his shoulder.
“Promises?” I moved my gaze from one man to the other. “What are you talking about?”
Soaking wet, Lord Adriyel had every reason to feel ashamed. However, instead of slinking away, like all the other surviving losers of the tournament had done, he displayed the confidence of a winner. His shoulders rolled back, the sword still clutched tightly in his hand. He stared at me possessively. His glare pressed heavily on my shoulders.
“Lord Kyllen has some obligations to honor.” He shrugged, looking dangerously self-assured. “The Crown of Lorsan is mine.” Greed flashed cold in his eyes when he flicked his gaze to the crown on my head.
“How?” I glanced at Kyllen for an explanation.
