The Champion's Ruin

by Kristen Banet

  Lily practically jumped off him, bowing to Alchan once she was stable and not about to crash into the ground.

  “I’m sorry. I know he’s yours—”

  “I know it’s innocent,” Alchan said, looking to the sky as if he was praying. “Rain’s not even hard, and believe me, if he was even remotely interested, he would be ready to go.”

  This time Rain blushed, but he also laughed. “Yeah. I’ll give you that.”

  Alchan smiled at him, then sat down, staring at the palace above Rain’s head.

  “It’s tradition that the next ruler trying to claim the power should meditate until they are ready. The longest a queen has meditated has been nine days. After dinner, I’m going in. If I survive, I’ll come back. If I die…you’ll know it.”

  Rain felt his heart seize as he sat up. Lily gasped.

  “Alchan…”

  “Rain, listen to me. If I die, you will take Lily back to the village. You will collect all of her things, then take her to Kerit. You will get her out of Anden before everything ends.”

  “Of course.”

  “I won’t ask you to leave Anden. I want you to, but I know…Your father will stay and fight to the death. So will Luykas, and Nevyn, and Varon…all of them. So, I won’t order you to go, okay? You…”

  Rain blinked back tears as Alchan gave him the free will to die with his family.

  “Thank you,” Rain whispered. Alchan only nodded, then pointed at the pot, making Lily jump into action. She checked the food and looked between them.

  “It’s ready,” she whispered.

  Alchan served everyone, moving Lily out of his way. He ate silently, and the sun was down by the time they were all finished.

  It was time.

  Rain stood and waited. Alchan first looked at Lily, his mouth trying to form words, finally breaking and kissing the female’s cheek. It left her with that insane red blush and speechless. When Alchan turned on Rain, his eyes were hot.

  He stormed into Rain’s space and grabbed him, consuming Rain in the flames of passion. The kiss was fierce and real, telling Rain everything Alchan thought he needed to hear.

  “I love you,” Alchan whispered harshly as he pulled away. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too,” Rain tried to choke out, his body controlled by the tears he tried to hold back.

  Alchan walked away, heading up the grand stairs that led to the ornate double doors into the palace. Rain sobbed as Alchan opened those doors, then closed himself in. Rain’s only comfort was Lily, who grabbed him before he hit the ground and held him.

  41

  Luykas

  The world was falling apart. Piece by piece, the world was crumbling, and Luykas was struggling to maintain all of it.

  With his support system cut in half, and that was being generous, he was losing sleep, getting skinny, and knew he would become ill, eventually. He couldn’t do it all.

  Losing Dave wasn’t a blow he could take. Trevan hadn’t handled it well, either. Whenever Luykas took the Elvasi into the village for any reason, the man had his sword drawn, ready for an attack on them.

  But today, Luykas knew there was some bit of hope. The supply caravan would be coming in, and with it, an Andinna who claimed to have information. Information that couldn’t be written down or spoken to the wrong person, so the Andinna had agreed to travel a long way to tell him personally.

  “Trevan, is breakfast ready?” Luykas asked softly, going into the kitchen and finding the Elvasi.

  “Almost,” Trevan answered, sighing. “Are you going to make me go out there today?”

  “You’re one of my only allies right now. I need you,” Luykas reminded him. “I know it’s dangerous, but I would rather keep you with me at all times. An Andinna could fly up here—”

  “Die,” Trevan snapped. “If one of them came up here for me, I would kill them without hesitation.”

  Luykas paused midstep and looked at the Elvasi with worry in his heart. Had they finally broken their only Elvasi friend?

  “Are you going to be able to stay here when this is over? I don’t want you looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life, unable to trust anyone here.” Luykas reached out, touching the Elvasi’s back. “You are a brother of the Company now. We would hate to see you go, but…I don’t want you to suffer by being around us—”

  “The only thing I hate is that Dave is dead,” Trevan snapped, turning to him. “Not the Andinna. They’re terrified. They don’t know who’s hurting them, and they are desperate. Understanding that won’t stop me from defending myself, but I’ve always been able to see beneath the external fear and rage. I was a guard in the pits. I didn’t abuse them, but I knew others did, so I took their fury. I only defended myself. I won’t change that.”

  “And…”

  “I love it here,” Trevan said softly. “I’m just…I miss Dave. I miss Emerian. I miss everyone, and I don’t know how we’re going to stop this, and…” Trevan threw the spoon he was using onto the counter, the man’s frustration apparent.

  “You are a better male than most of them,” Luykas said honestly. “I’m glad to have you by my side through this.”

  “Not good enough to save Dave,” Trevan whispered, looking back at the breakfast he had been cooking.

  Luykas opened his mouth, about to say something that meant nothing. He took a moment, though, to consider the lessons he learned in life.

  “Can you save everyone?” Luykas asked, coming up beside the Elvasi. He started to help with the meal, realizing Trevan hadn’t started any meat like steaks or bacon. Luykas put himself on that task.

  “No—”

  “Stop—none of that. There is no but. There is only reality. We are fighting a smart enemy who has found a way to work under our nose. That’s it. Dave was a wonderful person. I feel guilty for his death every day, especially since my wife will never get her chance to say goodbye to him. He’s human. She won’t see him on Al Moro Nat, and we’ve burned his body. When she left, he was here and safe, but when she comes back, he won’t be here. I will have to live with that. I made the promise to her and Alchan, I could keep this together.” Luykas grabbed Trevan’s shoulder, deciding the food could wait. “I am a great male. I am a proud commander. I have hundreds of years of expertise, leading people to their deaths, and every single one hurts, but that’s how war is. We slipped up, and we lost someone, but that doesn’t make you less honorable. You have a warrior’s spirit.” He used his free hand to poke Trevan right over his heart. “You, who willingly stayed behind in the Empire, willing to die to defend the Andinna you were helping. You, who lived in hell but never let it twist you. You, who had overcome greater odds than this. When we catch this spy, I’ll make sure you never forget. I’ll make sure the world knows. Okay?”

  Trevan only nodded.

  “Good. Let’s eat breakfast. Then I need to get out there, and you’re coming with me. The supply caravan will be here at midday, and with it…a chance to catch this son of a bitch.”

  That picked up Trevan’s spirit, and Luykas could breathe a little easier. They finished making breakfast and ate fast.

  They went to the war room first, handling the day’s more mundane tasks and updating the supply logs. They could both read and write Elvasi and Common, so they continued what Dave had been doing. From there, Luykas listened to the daily briefs from his closest allies. Senri and her guards were okay, but morale was bad. Nevyn was dealing with the unit commanders, and he could keep them in-hand thanks to Varon. No one would fuck with an Avatar. Kenav came in and said the male area of the camp was becoming wild.

  “Let me—”

  “I need you to stop arguing with me,” Luykas snarled. Every time he saw Kenav, the male had suggestions, and every one of them was an obvious power play—give him control over more of the men. Allow him to name a group that kept the peace—on and on.

  “If I can make units of men to patrol the village and keep the warriors in line—”

&n
bsp; “I have someone with those. Her name is Senri, and if you have a problem with her doing the job, you can take it to Allaina in the next village over, where she is holding them together by herself. This village and the guard units are technically under her control. If you want to test that female, her three husbands, and her ball-busting wife, you are more than welcome to. If you aren’t, then Senri will continue to do the job she has done for over a thousand years. She and Allaina are the power females of this community, and you will not encroach on their domain with my permission.” Luykas leaned into Kenav’s face. “And if you do it without my permission, I’ll just fucking kill you.”

  “You don’t have the authority,” Kenav growled. He was dominant enough to be a real problem for Luykas, who knew his dominance was too fluid to maintain this iron control over everyone for long. He could lift his chin to his wife and his brother on some days but not on others.

  “I have been given total control in the absence of my brother.” Luykas narrowed his eyes. “Test it now, or get out.”

  Kenav spun and left.

  Trevan thumped his back. “I’ll kill him for you…if you want.”

  “How long have you wanted to kill him?” Luykas asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “A long time,” Trevan admitted. “I mean…he protected and led most of the male gladiators, but he and Mave…he tried to get her killed a few times.”

  “Yeah, I’ve heard the story several times. I didn’t think you had already picked sides at that point.”

  “I was only down there because I had the distinct…experience of seeing her on the sands. After that, I…dedicated my life to her freedom, which put Kenav on my shit list a long time ago. When I was on duty, I tried to stop Andinna from bothering her. My excuse was always to prevent a fight before it happened. I didn’t want to see more of what happened to her. She deserved moments of peace and quiet.” Trevan shrugged, but Luykas caught something. He had known the story, all of them. Mave’s entire, brutal life was one he was well acquainted with.

  How long have you been in love with her? Was she everything you expected when you came to Anden or was she more? Have you fallen out of love, or has it become more real, Trevan of the Elvasi?

  “Well, we need to get to the supply depot,” Luykas said, deciding to put it in the back of his mind. With so much to focus on, the weird feelings Trevan was probably dealing with couldn’t be his problem. “Our contact should be in today unless they screwed up.” Luykas’ heart began to race with excitement.

  Trevan walked with him. Luykas could have flown, but since Trevan was grounded, Luykas was okay walking with him. Safety in numbers. Senri only moved around with her husbands. Nevyn and Varon were always together. Seanev stayed home, for the most part, waiting for them to come to him, due to his injury and the lack of people to trust. Plus, his letter had been sent out. Luykas knew he’d be hearing from Leria any day and with a mativa, a husband leaving the marriage could get violent.

  When they arrived, Luykas was glad to see no one was there yet.

  “Let’s get comfortable,” Luykas said, sitting on a simple bench. Trevan sat next to him, and they waited.

  And waited.

  Luykas thought about Mave again and ached for her because he missed her but also because of the blood bond. Nevyn and Varon had been right all those years ago when he had done it to her. It would have driven him mad right after and maybe her, without her realizing. Time, however, proved both he and Mave were made of stronger stuff. He missed her. He wanted her, and he missed her, but he would be okay as long as he knew she was alive. He would always know it—and he would know the moment she wasn’t.

  The sun was setting when the caravan rolled into the village, nearly half a day late. The leader waved.

  “The snow caused us some trouble,” he called out. “I’m sorry!”

  “It’s fine!” Luykas said with a grin. “You have a passenger I need to speak to.”

  The caravan driver pulled them to a stop. Luykas waited for everyone to jump down. There were several as always. Luykas didn’t have a lot of time, but the village Andinna weren’t there yet. A runner needed to find Learen to let them know the supplies were there.

  “You’re looking for me,” a female said, coming up to him but not looking at him. She looked around, the paranoia clear in her citrine eyes. “I’m the one.”

  “Come with me. We’ll get out of here before everyone else arrives,” he said, trying to be at ease.

  They went back to the war room. As they walked, she tried to cover her face with her scarf. Trevan locked all the doors before coming back to his side. She pulled her scarf down once they were alone and gave Luykas a fearful glance.

  “I know how the poison made it to your village from Kerit,” she said softly.

  “How?” Luykas demanded, crossing his arms and leaning on the table.

  “I sent it, believing it was going to be used to help the war effort,” she said, swallowing. She pulled out several folded pieces of parchment, letters. “My husband asked me to.”

  “And who is your husband?” Trevan growled.

  “Learen.”

  Well, brother…It looks like old demons really did come back to haunt us, and now I have finally put this to rest. Learen played us well, like fiddles in a dance only he knew the moves to.

  That’s fine. I’m going to teach him a new dance.

  “Did you search his place?” Luykas asked as Nevyn walked in. The moment Dianna told Luykas everything, he had taken her to Nevyn and Varon. Nevyn ran to find Senri and Seanev. They brought in the close ring of trusted allies and moved quickly.

  It had to be fast. Nevyn searched Learen’s room while they knew the male would still be dealing with the supplies. Luykas tried to put the pieces together, and it was Trevan who asked the important question.

  “Why?” the Elvasi demanded.

  “He was captured by the Elvasi. We thought he was dead for a while, and he was tortured. We looked, but we had no idea if it would lead to anything. Then his hand was sent to us. He was really bitter for so long…” Luykas sighed. “No wonder he killed Leshaun. Alchan was right in his last message. Leshaun’s murder had to be personal because he was retiring. He wasn’t a threat to anyone anymore. He even said it was Learen, but…I never found anything.”

  “Still haven’t,” Nevyn snarled from across the room. “He’s hiding it somewhere. He’s getting our information out somehow. Not that it matters now.”

  “Why doesn’t it matter?” Dianna asked, looking between them. “I knew…he had some problems, but I loved him. I never thought he would trick me or do this. I need to know why you’re willing to let this go. I want to string him up by his balls! He used me to murder someone!”

  “That’s why,” Luykas answered her softly. “We have him on the murder. We have the letters written between the two of you. He’s done for. We’re going to execute him, then we’ll clean up the rest later.”

  “Thank the Skies, it’s nightfall,” Senri said with a vicious grin. “We can do it now. We just need to go get him.”

  “Let’s see what he tries to do tonight,” Luykas said, humming thoughtfully. “We might learn where he hides his spy stuff. I want to know how he’s doing it. Is it a book like the ones we use?”

  “I hope not, but it’s the best option,” Nevyn said, shrugging. “I would hate for Learen to be in the middle of a network of spies.”

  Luykas nodded. He didn’t disagree.

  “No,” Senri hissed. “We get him, and we get him now.”

  “Senri—”

  “Kian,” she whispered. “He killed Kian. He’s the reason Mave isn’t here, off getting herself killed on a Skies damned quest to piss off a goddess. He’s the reason for Leshaun! HE IS GOING TO DIE!” she roared. “I don’t care how he did it! You can figure it out afterward. We don’t need him alive anymore. I want the fullest execution the Andinna allow. That is my right to demand, and it will be done!”

  Luykas nodded slowly. It was
her right, her ancient right as the female who lost a husband. She could demand any penance she pleased, especially since the murderer was a male. If it had been a mativa or a female with a family, things would be a little different, but this was clear. A male killed her husband, so that male’s fate belonged to her and her alone. Not even Mat, who lost an uncle and his last blood relative, could override her if he had been around. Alchan wouldn’t have even tested her in this moment.

  “Then we go,” Luykas said softly. “Execute Learen of the Andinna for treason and murder. Trevan, with me. We’re doing this the slow way. Nevyn, Varon, you know what that means.”

  Walking out, the Elvasi fell in step beside him like any great Andinna warrior. They went for the supply caravan, but Learen was gone. Luykas turned, knowing Nevyn and Varon flew above them. There was a specific way these executions happened. They were almost always done in war camps and villages like the one where they were. Very rarely did someone charged with treason make it back to the queen. It was handled swiftly and without mercy. Luykas had seen this happen only twice before in his lifetime.

  They found Learen in the war room, whistling softly as he worked in the books…but there was a new book.

  Ah, you’ve grown bold without Dave watching you. Fucking piece of shit.

  “Did you think we all went to bed?” Luykas asked softly.

  Learen looked up and paled but smiled, anyway.

  “Yeah? I’m just trying to update our supply logs,” Learen said with a smile.

  Oh, shit, he’s good. Was he coached? Or is he that cunning?

  Or is this not his first time performing the act?

  Olost. Learen’s visit. The attack on their village afterward.

  “How long?” Luykas asked softly.

  “How long have I been here? I don’t know…I’ve burned the candles—”

  “How long have you been spying for the Elvasi?” Luykas demanded in a roar that made furniture shake.

  Learen’s smile changed from false to downright evil.