Majesty.” Her voice shook a little.
“My cousin, Lord Alcandor,” General Trividar said.
“Your cousin? She is very beautiful, General.” The king smiled warmly. “So tell me, child, how have your trials fared so far?”
“Um, as good as can be expected, Your Majesty.”
“Very good, Miss Trividar. And I suspect you have avoided any unnecessary injury?”
“W-why, yes, sir.”
The king nodded. “Captain, this young lady will not need to take part in this challenge today.”
A murmur spread.
Alec stared, first at the king, then at Taryn. Not that he minded the king excluding Taryn, but he just couldn’t fathom why.
King Alcandor placed his hands on Tayrn’s shoulders, traveled down her arms, and grasped her hands. He took a step, pulling Taryn along with him. Heat flared in Alec’s cheeks. Why was he touching her? His sword hand twitched; his attempt at self-control was fading quickly.
He searched for Nolan. Nolan was level-headed. He’d have a proper perspective on this whole thing. He finally found him, hiding behind a grouping of Rol’dan archers who’d come out to watch. Nolan’s pale face gawked at Taryn with an expression of horror. Alec’s stomach dropped. What was King Alcandor going to do?
Alec followed their progress across the practice field, pushing people aside to better see. The king stopped in front of the other Rol’dan and examined Taryn. The violet light of Empathy shone from his eyes.
“Have I done something wrong, Your Majesty?” Taryn stammered.
“Of course not, my dear. Nothing at all.”
The king’s expression darkened. He reached behind her and yanked her close. She tried to object, but stopped, a strange haze clouding her eyes.
Alec’s chest heaved. He pushed two people out of his way. When the king reached down and pulled a dagger from a holder at his thigh, Alec reacted without thinking. He lunged forward, not caring if he was the king or not. But a Strength Rol’dan grabbed Alec in his iron hold.
“Leave her alone!” Alec yelled.
“Everything will be fine, my child.” The king positioned the knife under her ribs.
The cloud lifted from her eyes, and she moved her hand up to stop him, but the king grabbed her arm and pulled it behind her back.
“No!” Her voice trembled. “P-p-please, Your Majesty…”
In helpless shock, Alec watched King Alcandor push the blade in.
Taryn screamed.
“Shh … hush, hush now,” the king cooed in Taryn’s ear. He smiled and yanked the dagger free.
Her body shook, and her breath came in deep, ragged gasps. King Alcandor held her close until her head lolled, her eyes fluttered opened, and a faint green light glowed from her eyes.
Alec stopped struggling and gawked, his heart dropping to his knees. He took a step, realizing the soldier had released his hold. No. This couldn’t happen. Not her.
As the light of Healing faded in Taryn’s eyes, the king gently pulled her away.
“Captain Tiohan,” the king said.
An old Healer bowed. “Yes, my king.”
“Take our new Rol’dan to the lodge. She needs rest and has much to learn.”
Tiohan took Taryn’s hand. She staggered as he led her away.
Alec stared. He couldn’t wrap his head around the fact she’d become a Rol’dan Healer. Numbness came over him so thick he didn’t even notice the king approach.
“Who is this?” King Alcandor said.
“His name is Alec Deverell,” the general said. “He’s been difficult at the tournament this year.”
“That doesn’t surprise me, considering his display a moment ago.” A purple light glowed from the king’s eyes, and he circled around Alec, examining him.
“Did you say Deverell?” King Alcandor asked.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the general answered. “He’s the blade maker’s son.”
The king gave a curt nod. “This young man shall be tested next. General, you will conduct his trial.”
Alec’s head jerked toward the king, coming out of his stupor. He wished he hadn’t. When their eyes met, a
“My cousin, Lord Alcandor,” General Trividar said.
“Your cousin? She is very beautiful, General.” The king smiled warmly. “So tell me, child, how have your trials fared so far?”
“Um, as good as can be expected, Your Majesty.”
“Very good, Miss Trividar. And I suspect you have avoided any unnecessary injury?”
“W-why, yes, sir.”
The king nodded. “Captain, this young lady will not need to take part in this challenge today.”
A murmur spread.
Alec stared, first at the king, then at Taryn. Not that he minded the king excluding Taryn, but he just couldn’t fathom why.
King Alcandor placed his hands on Tayrn’s shoulders, traveled down her arms, and grasped her hands. He took a step, pulling Taryn along with him. Heat flared in Alec’s cheeks. Why was he touching her? His sword hand twitched; his attempt at self-control was fading quickly.
He searched for Nolan. Nolan was level-headed. He’d have a proper perspective on this whole thing. He finally found him, hiding behind a grouping of Rol’dan archers who’d come out to watch. Nolan’s pale face gawked at Taryn with an expression of horror. Alec’s stomach dropped. What was King Alcandor going to do?
Alec followed their progress across the practice field, pushing people aside to better see. The king stopped in front of the other Rol’dan and examined Taryn. The violet light of Empathy shone from his eyes.
“Have I done something wrong, Your Majesty?” Taryn stammered.
“Of course not, my dear. Nothing at all.”
The king’s expression darkened. He reached behind her and yanked her close. She tried to object, but stopped, a strange haze clouding her eyes.
Alec’s chest heaved. He pushed two people out of his way. When the king reached down and pulled a dagger from a holder at his thigh, Alec reacted without thinking. He lunged forward, not caring if he was the king or not. But a Strength Rol’dan grabbed Alec in his iron hold.
“Leave her alone!” Alec yelled.
“Everything will be fine, my child.” The king positioned the knife under her ribs.
The cloud lifted from her eyes, and she moved her hand up to stop him, but the king grabbed her arm and pulled it behind her back.
“No!” Her voice trembled. “P-p-please, Your Majesty…”
In helpless shock, Alec watched King Alcandor push the blade in.
Taryn screamed.
“Shh … hush, hush now,” the king cooed in Taryn’s ear. He smiled and yanked the dagger free.
Her body shook, and her breath came in deep, ragged gasps. King Alcandor held her close until her head lolled, her eyes fluttered opened, and a faint green light glowed from her eyes.
Alec stopped struggling and gawked, his heart dropping to his knees. He took a step, realizing the soldier had released his hold. No. This couldn’t happen. Not her.
As the light of Healing faded in Taryn’s eyes, the king gently pulled her away.
“Captain Tiohan,” the king said.
An old Healer bowed. “Yes, my king.”
“Take our new Rol’dan to the lodge. She needs rest and has much to learn.”
Tiohan took Taryn’s hand. She staggered as he led her away.
Alec stared. He couldn’t wrap his head around the fact she’d become a Rol’dan Healer. Numbness came over him so thick he didn’t even notice the king approach.
“Who is this?” King Alcandor said.
“His name is Alec Deverell,” the general said. “He’s been difficult at the tournament this year.”
“That doesn’t surprise me, considering his display a moment ago.” A purple light glowed from the king’s eyes, and he circled around Alec, examining him.
“Did you say Deverell?” King Alcandor asked.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the general answered. “He’s the blade maker’s son.”
The king gave a curt nod. “This young man shall be tested next. General, you will conduct his trial.”
Alec’s head jerked toward the king, coming out of his stupor. He wished he hadn’t. When their eyes met, a
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