So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

With a grimace, Five whispered, “The north has surrendered enough to these bastards.”

Rupert looked around to make sure no one could hear them over the noise of the crowd. He rested a hand on Five’s shoulder and leaned close. “I need you alive so we can make things right.”

Five’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you, Seven?”

Rupert squeezed his shoulder. “Stay alive.”

A horn blasted, signaling the king’s wish for the match to begin. The four contestants put on their helmets.

The kettledrum pounded, escalating the tension in the air as the four swordsmen strode onto the field.

Rupert glanced at Stefan and Brody in the stands. They both looked worried, but gave him a thumbs-up.

The contestants paired off on either side of the mudhole—Five fighting Captain Mador, and Rupert facing General Tarvis. They took their stances, their swords raised and pointed at their opponent.

The trumpet blared.

Rupert charged, figuring a bold attack would catch Two by surprise. The general had probably assumed that Rupert would adopt a more defensive posture.

Their swords clashed, the ringing noise echoing about the stadium as the crowd began to chant Seven! Seven!

The fight continued for a few minutes until Rupert shot a small burst of air toward his opponent to make him stumble back. The surprise on Two’s face gave Rupert hope. If he kept using just enough power to undermine Two’s confidence, he might make the bastard desperate enough to make a mistake.

With a shout, Two attacked, his sword striking with speed and incredible strength. Rupert was hard-pressed to parry each move. Eventually, he pushed the general back with another gust of air.

Two breathed heavily, cursing under his breath. No doubt he was confused as to how Rupert was managing to repel him.

Without hesitation, Rupert charged. The general retaliated and came close to slicing Rupert’s arm. Rupert leaped to the left, but his opponent kept slashing at him. Rupert blew him back to take a small break.

And that’s when he realized they had turned enough that Two’s back was now to the mudhole. On the other side of the mud, One was forcing Five into a retreat.

Two charged toward him, his sword raised. Rupert blocked the downward swing aimed for his head. With a growl, Two strained, pressing hard against Rupert’s sword. Rupert’s arms burned, but he managed to shove Two back and keep attacking until Two was forced to retreat toward the mud.

Two slipped, his arms flailing as he tried to regain his balance. Rupert jumped and kicked him in the chest, causing Two to crash into the mud with a loud smack.

The crowd roared, Seven! Seven!

Before Two could get up, Rupert planted a boot on his chest. With both hands on the hilt of his sword, he held the sword with the tip aimed for the general’s heart.

“Surrender!” Rupert yelled.

“Never,” General Tarvis growled.

“I surrender!” Five yelled, and Rupert quickly glanced at the other pair. Captain Mador had pinned Five to the ground, his sword raised just like Rupert’s was over the general.

With a laugh, Mador lifted his sword high, ready to plunge it into Five’s chest.

“No!” Rupert let loose a blast of wind that knocked Mador’s sword aside enough that it hit the ground beside Five’s shoulder.

Five rolled away, safe for the moment.

The general grabbed Rupert’s leg that was pinning him down and wrenched him off balance. As Rupert fell on his rump, Tarvis struggled to get to his feet in the slippery mud. With the flat edge of his sword, Rupert knocked Tarvis’s feet out from underneath him. The general fell down with another splat just as Rupert jumped to his feet.

He kicked the sword out of Tarvis’s hand, then planted his foot on the general’s neck. With a growl, Tarvis threw a clod of mud at Rupert’s face.

Rupert spit it back onto the general and lifted his sword once more. “Surrender!”

The horn blasted, signaling the end of the match. Armed guards ran onto the field.

“Step back!” one of them ordered Rupert.

Rupert glanced up at Gunther. So the king wanted to save his general from the disgrace of surrendering. No doubt Rupert’s victory would be ignored, while One would be named today’s winner. Since Five was the only one who had surrendered, he would be the loser.

Tossing his sword aside, Rupert stepped back.

General Tarvis scrambled to his feet and snarled, “I’m going to kill you, Seven. In the next contest, you die.”

Rupert removed his helmet. “You’re welcome to try.” As the crowd continued to chant Seven, he smiled. “But apparently, everyone wants you to lose.”

*

“Don’t worry,” Rupert whispered to Five as they mounted the stairs to the platform with the trapdoors. “I’ll make sure you and the others survive.”

Five gave him a wry look. “I’m starting to believe you can.”

“You have my word.” Rupert patted him on the back as he moved toward trapdoor number five.

Mador and Tarvis stood at the far end of the platform, glaring at him.

The horn sounded, the crowd counting along till five blasts had been completed. Five’s trapdoor opened, and he fell through.

After the roar of the crowd quieted down, the horn blared again. King Gunther stood, and everyone jumped to their feet. A hush fell over the stadium.

Gunther swept an arm toward the platform. “Good people of Tourin,” he shouted. “You see before you the three best warriors in the land. And so, it is only fitting that they confront our country’s worst enemy. The next round will be a noble quest, and the winner will be the one who first delivers to me the head of a dragon!”

Rupert stiffened as a thousand gasps echoed around the stadium. Holy crap. How could he kill a dragon?

*

That night, Brigitta paced in her bedroom, waiting for Brody to emerge in human form from the dressing room.

“Try to remain calm,” Sister Fallyn said quietly.

“Calm?” Brigitta cried. “How many times must I watch Rup—you-know-who risk his life? The swordfight was bad enough, but now he has to face a fire-breathing dragon?”

Brody strode from the dressing room, wearing breeches and an unbuttoned shirt. “Is there anything to eat—”

“Did you see him?” Brigitta demanded. “Is he all right?”

“I couldn’t see him.” Brody gave her a sad look. “After the swordfight, the guards took him to the army barracks. They won’t even let Stefan see him. They claim if they don’t keep him under watch, he might try to escape.”

Brigitta sank into a chair. Any man in his right mind would try to escape Gunther’s ridiculous quest. “I think the king is using them for revenge. He must hate the dragons for what they did to him.”

Brody nodded. “Probably so. Tomorrow, Gunther and several army troops are taking the three contestants to the Norveshki border. They expect to arrive before nightfall. The following morning, the three contestants will cross into Norveshka to hunt for dragons.”