Lyric's Curse (Dragonblood Sagas Book 1)

by Wideman, Robyn

  As much as he hated to see Sibylle lose her match to the arrogant prick, Lyric was happy that he’d get an opportunity to meet Talon Horne in the arena. Any feeling of regret for the future that Lyric might have had were gone, replaced by the rage he felt. Lyric would beat this bully!

  Blair could see Lyric’s clenched jaw and the way his knuckles were turning white while Talon attacked Sibylle. Lyric would need to control that rage if he was to defeat the dangerous fighter. As the arena was clean and prepared for the final contest, Blair tried to speak to Lyric. “Lyric, harness your anger, use it! But don’t let it control your actions. Blind rage will defeat you. You are the only thing standing between Sibylle and a life as Talon Horne’s wife. Do you understand me?”

  Blair’s words hit Lyric in the head like a bucket of cold water. A life as Talon Horne’s wife? A torture Lyric would not wish on his worst enemy. “I will not fail, Blair.” Lyric’s rage was still there boiling below the surface, but now it had a cold veneer to it. Lyric silently walked into the arena. He didn’t wait for the squire to announce him. Lyric cared not, he wanted the fight to start immediately!

  Talon smiled as Lyric stormed into the arena. “You is it? First I have to beat the bitch, now I have to beat her foreign bastard! What kind of joke is this?” taunted Talon.

  Lyric smiled at Talon. “You should be thankful that I will beat you, Talon Horne. From the way that fight went, I’d say Sibylle is too much woman for you to handle without resorting to dirty tactics. Afraid to fight a woman fair?”

  Lyric’s words, spoken loud enough for the entire arena to be heard, were met with silence. The crowd could not believe their ears. No one dared say anything like that to the volatile Talon Horne. Surely, Talon would not be satisfied with just beating Lyric, he’d try kill him!

  “She put up a fight, I’ll give her that,” replied Talon. “But don’t you worry, Lyric. Once I’ve made her my wife I’ll beat that out of her.”

  King Gramalt could not believe his ears. His carefully crafted plan to give the people entertainment and further solidify his rule as king was collapsing beneath his feet. No possible outcome from this fight would help him. Talon’s cruel taunts towards Lyric were leaving the nobles aghast. Talon had gone too far! “Would someone start this god's forsaken fight!” roared the king.

  The squire ran into the arena. “Talon Horne versus Lyric Finch, for the championship!” The man had smartly recognized that no one in the arena wanted a long introduction. It was time.

  The flag was waved and the final round of the tournament begun.

  Talon Horne attacked, he used his size and strength to force Lyric back.

  Lyric calmly blocked Talon’s attacks. His rage seemed to enhance his dragonblood powers. Every sense was heightened, Talon seemed to move impossibly slow. Lyric struck the first blow of the match. A hard short strike to Talon’s knee. Lyric was going to beat Talon at his own game!

  Talon snarled as he stepped back after the strike to the knee. Lyric hadn’t even pretended to be attempting to strike Talon’s thigh.

  Lyric didn’t give the bigger man time to think about the hit, instead Lyric pressed the attack, forcing Talon back. Lyric purposely used an attack similar to the one Sibylle had launched before Talon had used the head-butt against her.

  Talon fell for the bait and attempted to use the same maneuver against Lyric. His head surged down towards Lyric’s helmet. But Lyric was well versed in how to use his head in battle. Lyric countered the head-butt by using one of his own. Only Lyric made sure to tilt his head at the last fraction of a second. Lyric’s helmet crashed into the face plate of Talon Horne. Talon stumbled back from the surprise blow.

  The crowd gasped, Talon was being beaten by his own move. Lyric was one step ahead of the bigger man at every step.

  Lyric methodically smashed his staff into Talon’s chest. The hard blow, in combination with the effects of the head-butt, sent Talon to the ground, Lyric had scored a knockdown!

  Talon silently got up. He’d never been knocked down before. He’d never had a fighter willing to use his own tactics against him, nor had he met a fighter as fast as Lyric. Talon started to feel fear for the first time in his life.

  With the wave of the squires flag the fight resumed. But it was possibly the fastest knockdown combination anyone had ever seen. As soon as the flag moved, Lyric sprinted towards Talon. As Talon raised his swords to block, Lyric spun and let his staff slide between his fingers until he was only hold one end much like a sword. He swung the staff high, the weapon swiftly soared above Talon’s swords and into his Helmet. The crushing blow sent Talon crashing to the ground. Much like Sibylle’s helmet had flown, so did Talon’s. The shiny gold crusted helmet rolled across the arena while Talon fell to the ground.

  The crowd roared in approval as the judges declared Lyric victor.

  Lyric looked down at his fallen opponent. His anger faded, Lyric felt a rush of turmoil. The thrill of victory and the pleasure of having saved Sibylle from the evil Talon Horne filled Lyric’s heart, yet at the same time thoughts of Celine and having to marry Sibylle filled him with sadness and despair. What had he done? He’d had everything he ever wanted living with the three witches: love, happiness, and a sense of belonging. He’d traded it all for a royal wedding to a woman he didn’t love!

  Sibylle ran out into the arena and hugged Lyric. She sobbed violently. “I’m so sorry Lyric. I tried to beat him. I didn’t want this for you.”

  Lyric knew what Sibylle meant. He knew the pain she felt. Lyric had sacrificed his love for Celine to save Sibylle from Talon. “It’s okay, Sibylle. I don’t think I could have ever been happy again if I’d let that bastard have your hand.”

  “What do we do now?” asked Sibylle as she hugged him.

  Lyric took Blair’s lessons on politics to heart. “You turn and wave to the crowd. You give them your biggest smile and pretend to be happy. It is what must be done.”

  Lyric released Sibylle from the hug, he took her hand and gently encouraged her to turn. Sibylle followed his lead and turned towards the arena crowd. She nodded at her father and the king, then waved to the crowd. She did her best to smile.

  Lyric matched Sibylle’s fake smile with one of his own. The nobles need not know that the champion was saddened by his victory.

  King Gramalt turned to Lord Lamar. “It seems your daughter approves of her champion. A fortuitous turn of events.”

  Despite his neutral tone, Lord Lamar knew King Gramalt was furious that someone other than a noble had won the tournament. “Very fortuitous,” replied Lord Lamar. He would not waste any more words on King Gramalt than necessary. The man had pushed him too far.

  King Gramalt turned to Lord Lamar’s servants. Someone get the bride and groom cleaned up so we can finish the ceremony. I’ve grown tired of this tournament and long to return to the palace.

  Lord Lamar nodded at the servant. Everyone would be happy once the king and visiting nobles went back to where they came.

  …

  Celine watched in dread as Lyric fought Talon Horne. She’d witnessed the unveiling of Galleno as Sibylle with the rest of the crowd. She’d been shocked to see that the nimble warrior was Sibylle. Celine felt a sense of pride and comradery with the highborn woman. Sibylle had broken the rules and tried to define her own destiny by winning her own tournament! It was exactly the sort of stupid crazy stunt that Celine would have done in her place.

  Celine felt a shiver run down her spine as she watched Talon Horne stand over his would be wife. His smirk at victory followed by his look of disdain once he realized who he’d defeated galvanized Celine’s thoughts, Talon Horne must not win! He’d be a brute of a husband and was not worthy of the honor of wedding a truly noble soul like Sibylle. Celine knew that such thoughts would lead to heartbreak. There would be no happy outcome from the final fight between Lyric and Talon Horne. No matter the outcome someone Celine cared for got hurt.

  The fight itself was almost anti-climactic after the inten
se scene of Galleno being revealed as Sibylle. Lyric moved like a man possessed, and truly he was possessed by dragon magic now, his eyes glowed as he coolly stalked and defeated his enemy. There was no doubt in Celine’s mind during any part of the fight about who would win. She only watched to make sure with her own eyes.

  When Lyric’s hand was raised in victory, Celine turned away as Sibylle rushed to her champion. Tears of sorrow at her own loss filled Celine’s eyes, yet she could not hate Sibylle. Sibylle deserved a good man like Lyric if she was going to be forced to marry. But the fact that Lyric was marrying someone else tore Celine’s heart apart. How would she live without her lover, her little bronzed warrior with eyes like jewels and a heart as big as the sky? Celine walked away from the arena, she could not stand to be there any longer.

  61

  BATHED AND DRESSED IN HIS FINEST, Lyric stood in front of King Gramalt. Sibylle was at his side. The Lamar orchard had been turned into a wedding location. Flowers and wreaths filled the orchard, while the crowds sat on benches from the arena.

  The king spoke loudly, addressing the nobles and commoners in the crowd. “A noble victory was won here today. Lyric Finch, by deed, has earned the right to marry Sibylle Lamar. This marriage has been blessed by the gods and by the hand of this land’s ruler. I, King Gramalt, declare Lyric Finch and Sibylle Lamar man and wife. They are to be joined forever as one!”

  Lyric turned to Sibylle. He placed his hand on hers and leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips. The crowd clapped, thinking the gentle kiss was out of reverence and not the sense of duty in which it was truly delivered. Kissing Sibylle was the last thing he wanted to do, but it needed to be done.

  The short ceremony over. The feast was about to start. As the newly married couple and the nobles surrounding them walked towards the outdoor tables, a shadow flew over their heads.

  “Dragon!” yelled out one of the terrified noble women.

  King Gramalt looked up in shock. “By the gods, this day cannot get worse!”

  …

  After the panic of the dragon sighting was gone, it took a while before everyone calmed down. Once everyone agreed that the dragons were just flying over and were out of sight, the festivities resumed. Once the traditional celebration dinner was finished, Lyric and Sibylle slipped away. No one questioned the newly married couple leaving the dinner early. It was expected that a champion would want to consummate the marriage with his new wife as soon as possible.

  “That was an amazing fight. Lyric, I’ve never seen you move like that,” said Sibylle.

  “It was so strange, I felt like I was moving in slow motion.”

  Sibylle lifted her hand to Lyric’s face, “Your eyes are so bright now. Do you have any other special dragon magic now?”

  “I have no idea,” admitted Lyric. “I am just learning this myself.”

  “How are you, besides the whole dragon thing?” asked Sibylle as they walked together into the living room of Sibylle’s quarters, now their quarters.

  “I’m okay,” said Lyric with a soft smile. He didn’t feel okay, but he didn’t want to burden Sibylle with his feelings.

  “You’re a terrible liar, Lyric Finch.”

  “I know, but I shall have to learn now that I’m a noble.”

  Sibylle frowned. “We could have stopped the wedding. Father was furious at the way King Gramalt handled things. He would’ve been willing to revolt to stop it.”

  “But at what cost? We can’t afford a civil war. Not when dragons are returning. Times are too tumultuous to give in to our own wants and needs. The people need peace. And this marriage lets the King move on to more pressing matters. He will forget about us, and we can move on from this.”

  “I’m pretty sure he shat his royal pants when that dragon flew over,” said Sibylle with a soft smile. “I’ll remember that look forever.”

  “He wasn’t the only royal to soil themselves,” said Lyric. “Half the crowd was terrified, the other half happy to see just a rare sighting. A sign from the gods some yelled.”

  “A sign of what?” asked Sibylle.

  Lyric shrugged, “Ask the gods, I have no answers.”

  “I’m going to bed. This has been a long day. Stay here,” said Sibylle as she left Lyric in the living room aside her bedroom.

  As Sibylle entered the bedroom, Celine entered the living room.

  Lyric stood up, “Celine! I thought I wouldn’t see you tonight.” He was relieved to get to speak to her.

  “Sibylle insisted that we get the chance to talk. She made me promise earlier that I would come here.”

  Lyric felt deep gratitude towards Sibylle for arranging the meeting. “Celine, I’m sorry ab—”

  “Don’t do that,” interrupted Celine. “Don’t you dare apologize for doing what needed to be done. I was there. I saw what a brute Talon Horne is. You needed to beat him. I would never have spoken to you again if you’d let him win just so we could be together.”

  Tears filled Lyric’s eyes. “So what happens now?”

  “Sibylle had a second bed brought into her chambers. You can sleep there, or in her bed. I’ll not judge you either way.”

  “I can’t lay with her. I love you.”

  “So you’d let that poor girl suffer. You’re her husband now, Lyric. It’s a fact you must face.” Celine had a determined look on her face.

  “I won’t lay with her!” said Lyric, his anger and frustration at the impossible situation erupting. He’d kept his word, he’d won the tournament and married her. Why was everyone pushing him still, even Celine was pushing him towards her. His eyes glowed as his anger grew.

  Celine relented. “Okay, then don’t. We’ll figure something out, eventually. I have to go now. I just wanted you to know that I love you and will always love you. But you did right, Lyric.”

  Celine held Lyric’s hand and kissed him hard, smashing his lips against her own until they bruised. With tears in her eyes Celine left Lyric.

  Lyric was awash with emotions as he watched Celine leave. He desperately wanted to call her back to him and forget about everything else. His heart belonged to Celine but now his duty was to Sibylle. The cost of victory was too much. He would need to figure a way to honor his marriage to Sibylle while remaining true to Celine. The task seemed impossible and it made his stomach flip as he tried to figure it out. The thought of living a life without Celine terrified him. Yet deep down, he knew that he had done the right thing. Lyric wanted to scream to the gods for cursing him so.

  Lyric chose to sleep on the living room couch. He’d use Sibylle's second bed in the future, but for tonight he needed solitude. Tonight, Lyric would bask in the pain of victory and sleep on the future.

  Dragons and Kings be damned, thought Lyric as he slipped into a restless sleep.

  Author’s notes

  Thank you for reading LYRIC’S CURSE, the first of the Dragonblood sagas. If you enjoyed, please check out my website or follow me on twitter!

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/robyn_wideman

  Webpage: www.robynwideman.com

  Facebook: https://goo.gl/igAzZa

  Other titles by Robyn Wideman

  Soron’s Quest the prequel to the Stoneblood Saga novels. http://goo.gl/Oz5JNM

  Son of Soron, Book one of the Stoneblood Saga novels http://goo.gl/egIMKi

  Also coming soon Akira Rises, by Robyn and Nonie Wideman (Talented artist making the move into writing) check out the webpage for more details.

  www.robynwideman.com

  Table of Contents

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