“It is over!” Maia shouted. “Leave him be.”
The white-and-black knight gave her a rebellious look, his cheeks flushed, his breathing hard, but it was clear he had won. He said nothing in reply, but she could see by his look that he would defy her. He adjusted his grip on his sword and prepared to plunge it into Carew’s stomach.
“You may be brave, but do not be a fool.”
Maia turned and watched as Dodd strode into the center of the tables, a battle-axe gripped in one hand. Next to her, Suzenne sucked in her breath, clearly terrified to see her husband join the fray.
“The queen said no blood would be spilled in her hall this night. Stand down,” Dodd said.
The feeling of dread intensified in the room as Dodd purposefully closed the distance separating him from the other men. If Hove struck down Carew, it would leave his back exposed to Dodd. The young knight seemed to realize the dilemma.
“And who are you?” Hove said derisively. “Another lackey sent to challenge me?”
“I am the Earl of Forshee, whom you claim to serve,” Dodd replied, his voice and temper controlled. “Lay down your arms. You won the duel fairly. I will grant you that, even if Carew had too many cups. Put down the sword, man.”
“I serve the true Earl of Forshee,” Hove said angrily, stepping away from the writhing captain and facing Dodd with a martial stance. “Our true king to be. The Medium has chosen him to rule over us, and he will purge the realm of traitors. The coronation today was a sham. Our true king comes even now.”
Dodd met him in the center, holding his axe blade down and away. “You are deceived, friend. The true ruler of Comoros is the king’s heir, his lawful daughter. Kranmir overstepped his authority, so the High Seer has deposed him. You know not what you are doing.”
Hove’s face twisted with resentment and anger. “The High Seer? She is corrupt. She has fallen into the shadows.”
Dodd shook his head. “She is the true High Seer. If you would meet with her, you would—”
“Risk being deceived myself?” Hove challenged. “I pity your lord father and brothers, Dodleah Price. Truly I do. But they died in accordance to the laws of the realm. You cannot wrest my lord’s earldom from him out of revenge.”
The young man’s words pained Maia. She could see he was sincere. He truly believed she was a hetaera, controlled by a being beyond her. He had come into the heart of Comoros to challenge her right to rule, knowing that he would likely be killed. Perhaps Kranmir had even knowingly sent him to his death in the hopes it would help support his cause. The machinations of men sickened her. Hove did not look malicious, she thought, but he was clearly proud. His views were probably much like his tunic and cape—he saw things in black and white. He trusted his Aldermaston and obeyed him. She had to respect him for that, even if he had been misled.
The pressure on her heart grew stronger. Something was going to happen, something awful. She sensed it, though she did not understand what she should do to stop it. She only knew that the young maston should not be killed in the great hall on her coronation day. That would be awful. It would grieve the Medium further.
“I do not wish to fight you, but I will if you force my hand,” Dodd said, still keeping his axe pointed away.
Hove brushed his arm against his mouth, wiping away the sweat. “How gracious of you,” he said with disdain.
“We are brothers,” Dodd said, opening his arms wider. “We are both mastons. Cannot we resolve this peacefully?”
“You, a true maston?” Hove snorted. “I heard you were allowed to pass the test so you could remain sheltered at Muirwood instead of facing your fate with your father as a man.” His words were meant to provoke.
Dodd frowned, but his expression was smooth. “Well said. You will not yield then. I arrest you in the name of the queen. Lay down your arms or I will compel you.”
“There is no Queen of Comoros,” Hove replied bitterly. He struck out at Dodd, slashing his sword down and across in a series of swooping circles.
Dodd did not retreat from the slashes. He brought up his sturdy axe haft, using it to block the attack, and then kicked Hove hard in the stomach. Hove was knocked backward, but he recovered quickly and started a series of feints and thrusts toward Dodd.
It was axe against sword.