Champion's Bond

by Rinelle Grey

4

  Magic or Strength

  “You think we should what?” Mugos demanded. Kriss suppressed a shiver as his dark eyes swept from her to Jasyn, then back again.

  She swallowed. Jasyn’s suggestion seemed reasonable when they were talking alone. He'd convinced her it was at least worth bringing to Mugos’s attention. For a moment, the idea of a different way of life had even given her a hope she’d thought was lost.

  Why hadn’t she realised that Mugos would be angry at the very suggestion?

  Despite the fact that Jasyn had run like a frightened rabbit from the humans, he didn’t back down now. “I know it sounds crazy, but it would work. If we can just talk to the humans…”

  So the first time he stood up to Mugos wasn’t a fluke. He was either crazy, or some crazy kind of brave. She wasn't sure which one. Probably both.

  He must really believe in what he was saying.

  The flame of hope in her heart flickered a little, refusing to be quenched.

  Mugos held up a hand. “No. I’ve entertained that thought once and all that happened was a failed raid.”

  So someone had filled him in on that fact already.

  “That’s because the humans were scared of us and wouldn’t listen to me. If I had the gem that allows me to use magic in their village, I could make them listen. I know I could. Then no more trolls would have to die.” Frustration coloured Jasyn’s voice.

  He didn’t know when to shut up. A sense of foreboding settled in Kriss's stomach. This wasn't going to go well.

  “Like they didn’t have to die tonight?” Mugos demanded. “What are you hoping the humans will do? Give us land over the ridge? You think they’re going to let us live with them?”

  He turned on Kriss. “Do you agree with this poor excuse for a troll?”

  “I said it was up to you to decide.”

  “That’s not an answer.”

  Mugos’s eyes bored into hers, not flinching or blinking. He wasn’t going to let her stay impartial.

  Did she believe in Jasyn’s book and ideas enough to take his side, knowing how much it could cost her? Everything she’d worked for, everything she’d struggled to build, all of that could disappear with a few words.

  Why was she even considering this?

  For what? A small, insignificant chance that Jasyn was right. A chance that they could live a life without war. A life with plenty of food, where she might one day have children in safety and happiness.

  “It's a minimal risk. We could test it out with a small team when we do the next raid. And if it turns out to be true…”

  The champion’s eyebrows drew down and his eyes darkened. “You think that magic is better than strength?”

  “Not always. But in this particular case, perhaps. It could give us an edge over the humans. We need to use whatever we can to survive, remember? That’s always been the trolls’ goal. It doesn’t make sense to ignore a potential advantage.”

  Jasyn shot her a sideways look, but she ignored it. Maybe she could still save this situation. Mugos wasn’t going to go straight for a peaceful solution. He had to be led there slowly. He had to think he’d come up with the plan himself.

  “So you think our current strategy isn’t working?”

  How did he manage to twist what she was saying? But it was too late to back out now. She'd already committed, there was no choice but to see it through. “It’s worked fine up until now. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a better way. If we could get food without trolls dying, then think how much more we could achieve. Wouldn’t you like to be known as the champion who finally changed our destiny?”

  Mugos stood up. “I will be. But it won’t be by being too scared to fight. Strength is the answer. Not magic. Magic is useless. A game for children, not a solution in battle. And it never will be.”

  “If you’d give me a chance,” Jasyn interrupted, “I can make this work.”

  “I’ve had enough of his rambling. Take him away,” Mugos said to the two warriors who stood near the tent entrance. “I don’t want to see him again.”

  Kriss’s knew what that meant. She’d seen it before. Her heart started thumping uncomfortably in her chest, the feeling reminding her too much of being powerless and afraid.

  She hated that feeling.

  She wasn't a little weakling girl anymore. She wasn't powerless.

  “I can deal with this for you, Mugos. I know he’s annoying, but he doesn’t mean any harm. I’ll talk to him and make sure he doesn’t trouble you again.”

  The champion stared down at her. “Are you talking back to me now, Kriss? And advocating talk instead of action, of all things?” His eyes bored into her. “Are you challenging me?”

  Kriss froze. No, she wasn’t ready for this. She hadn’t trained enough. She wasn’t strong enough yet. And she wasn’t even wearing any armour, unlike Mugos. There was no way she could win.

  Every bit of her screamed to back down, placate Mugos. She knew she could do it.

  “It’s not Kriss’s fault,” Jasyn spoke up. “She made all the same arguments you did. I think she just came here with me so that I would stop bugging her.”

  Kriss stared at him. He kept surprising her. He didn’t even seem fazed at Mugos’s pronouncement. Maybe he didn’t know what it meant. But his face was deadly serious. He seemed determined to try to protect her, even after all she’d said to him.

  His courage made Kriss feel weak. He stood up to Mugos, knowing there was no way he could win, while she was considering backing down when she stood a reasonable chance.

  Mugos raised an eyebrow. “Now isn’t this interesting,” he drawled. “The little mage is defending you, Kriss. See what you’re reduced to, needing help from the likes of him. I knew I was mistaken in you. Underneath that tough exterior, you're just a weakling.”

  “I don’t need help from anyone,” Kriss said. She straightened her shoulders, the last of her fear fading. “Not even you, Mugos. But I’m willing to listen to new ideas. The trolls don't need a leader stuck in the past—they need one who is willing to take chances for a better future. Yes, I’m challenging you.”

  It felt good to say it.

  It felt even better to be standing up for something greater than herself.

  Mugos’s eyes bulged. “You think the little mage’s plan is better than brute strength? You think it’s worth challenging me over?” Mugos drew in a breath, then said calmly. “Let’s see how much it helps you against real strength. You don’t stand a chance, Kriss.”

  “She does with my help.” Jasyn stepped forwards, standing next to Kriss.

  Kriss stared at him. Jasyn, offering to help fight? She just couldn’t predict this troll.

  Mugos stared at Jasyn for a minute, then threw back his head and laughed. “Really? What are you going to do, little mage? Fall on me?”

  His disdain sent a surge of embarrassment and anger through Kriss. How could he laugh at someone who displayed such courage?

  Jasyn didn't even blink. “Try me.”

  Where had this new, brave Jasyn come from? And where had he been hiding while they were fighting the humans?

  Mugos didn’t need to be invited twice. He stepped forwards, drawing his sword, and swinging the weapon at Jasyn.

  Kriss winced.

  Jasyn didn't even move.

  The clank, as the blade hit something next to the mage, echoed through the room.

  Mugos’s face darkened. “You can’t use magic in a challenge fight,” he said flatly. “You forfeited.”

  “You said that your strength was better and more useful than my magic. So prove it. Prove that you can win this fight even if Kriss has magic assisting her.”

  For the first time in her life, Kriss saw a flicker of fear on Mugos’s face.

  Then it was gone. Mugos’s mouth twisted into a sneer. “Then what. Even if you win, you can’t rule together. The trolls will never accept it. They know it would lead to division and infighting. I thought you wanted to reduce troll deaths, not
cause them. That’s why challenges are one on one.”

  “They will accept it when Kriss and I get married.”

  Jasyn’s voice was low and Kriss was sure she must have misheard him. Married? Her heart skipped a beat. Where did that come from? What could possibly make him think she would even consider marrying him?

  She was used to having to reject advances from males. Being a top warrior made her desirable. But this was different. She didn’t think Jasyn cared about how good a warrior she was. He had a different reason.

  He was doing it because it was the only way for two trolls to rule together peacefully.

  The only co-champion paring that had ever survived had been a married couple. Their magical bond, much as the trolls despised such things, had kept them from attacking each other. Everyone had known they had to work together.

  She didn’t have time to think through the implications, or the tumult of emotions that rushed through her at the possibility.

  “You planned this.” Mugos’s voice sent a chill through Kriss’s veins. “I can’t believe that all of this time you were planning to betray me, Kriss. And with this weakling troll, as well.”

  Couldn’t he see that Jasyn was far braver than he had ever been?

  Couldn’t he see that this was the way forward, for all of them?

  No, he was too stuck in his own ways. She’d always known that. She just hadn’t been able to see an alternative.

  Until now.

  Jasyn and his ideals were worth standing up for. She could see herself working with him, too, no matter what it took.

  “I need someone brave, Mugos. Not someone who parades around in armour all day, to protect him in case someone challenges him.”

  Mugos’s face turned such a dark shade of green it was almost blue. He took a step towards her.

  Kriss drew her sword and braced herself.

  If only she and Jasyn had planned this. Then she might have had some idea of what he was going to do. Or what he was capable of.

  She had only a second to lament that fact before Mugos’s sword swung at her. He was angry, and it showed. She could use that.

  She shifted her weight to the left. Mugos moved to block her. Kriss swung from the right, feeling her sword cut through the armour and hit flesh.

  Mugos grunted and pulled away, laughing breathlessly. “Do you think that's going to hurt me, Kriss? You're going to have to do better than that.”

  He followed up with a direct strike, not even bothering to be subtle. With no time to block, Kriss winced in anticipation of the pain.

  A pain that didn’t come, even though she had shed her own armour when Losi examined her after the raid.

  Her eyes sought out Jasyn, who watched the fight with his brow furrowed in concentration. He smiled at her.

  So that was his plan. He wasn’t a fighter, he’d already proved that. But his magic could help her defence.

  Mugos growled in frustration. Kriss straightened up. She still had to defeat Mugos, but she stood a better chance with Jasyn’s help.

  Even so, Mugos was powerful. None of his blows would have taken her out in a single hit, but together, they would have eventually worn her down.

  But with Jasyn’s help, all she had to do was wait for her chance, and be ready to seize it when it came.

  Mugos blocked her next blow and, as she struggled to rebalance herself, thrust again. His sword slipped past her blade, grazing the edge of Jasyn’s magic, sliding up to bounce off her shoulder.

  The desperate move left him open for her sword to slide up, aiming for his throat.

  “Stop.” Jasyn’s voice was loud and desperate.

  The tip of Kriss’s sword rested against the champion’s throat.

  Mugos gasped for breath, not daring to move.

  “Go on, what are you waiting for,” he growled. “Or has your association with that scrawny troll made you too cowardly to kill me?”

  Why had Jasyn stopped her? Killing Mugos in the heat of battle would have been easy, but in cold blood like this…

  Jasyn laid a hand on her arm. “It’s all right. You don’t have to kill him. We’ve already won.”

  The glare Mugos gave them belied Jasyn’s words.

  “He’s never going to give in,” Kriss said.

  “He doesn’t have any choice.” Jasyn gently pulled her sword away from Mugos’s throat, despite her half-hearted resistance.

  “You cheated,” Mugos spat. He lifted his sword. “How was I supposed to stand a chance at defeating you when magic prevented me from touching you? I’m going to see that both of you pay for it.”

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Jasyn warned.

  Mugos laughed breathlessly. “No, of course you wouldn’t. You’re too much of a coward. You can’t even finish off your enemies properly. Don't you know that it’s not a victory if I’m still alive to kill you?”

  “Killing isn’t the answer. It never was. And I intend to prove that.” Jasyn said quietly. He didn’t move a muscle as Mugos stumbled forwards, his sword pointed at Jasyn.

  Before Kriss could jump to intercept him, the champion’s face twisted in pain and he cried out. He dropped the sword, clutching at his hand. He held out his hand and stared at it.

  Kriss stared, too.

  A big red welt, imprinted with the gems from his sword blade, covered most of the palm of his hand.

  Her skin crawled. It had never occurred to her that magic could do something like that. During her warrior training, magic had just been dismissed as weak. Now, ignoring it seemed like a gross oversight, even if it couldn’t be used against the humans.

  What could Jasyn’s magic do if he was prepared to kill with it? He could have defeated Mugos with a thought.

  Not only did he have real courage, but he had something to back it up as well.

  “If you accept our leadership, you can live in the peace we intend to create,” Jasyn said quietly. “No one will bother you.”

  “And if I don’t? What are you going to do, since you’re apparently too weak to kill me?”

  Jasyn shrugged. “I have a moral objection to killing you, but she doesn’t.” He turned to smile at Kriss. “Do you?”

  “Just give me an excuse,” Kriss growled.

  Even in cold blood. Because if he lived, they’d never be able to sleep without fearing being stabbed in the dark.

  “She’s no match for me on her own,” Mugos said.

  “But together, no one can defeat us.” Jasyn reached for Kriss’s hand. “That’s the point.”

  His hand was slim and gentle, the skin smooth against her battle worn callouses. But the squeeze was firm and comforting.

  “You really want to side with this puny excuse for a troll?” Mugos demanded. “He can never give you what I gave you.”

  Kriss laughed. “No, thank goodness. He’s nothing like you. He believes that the trolls can be better than this. I want to believe that, too.”

  “So what’s it going to be?” Jasyn asked. “Can you accept our rule or do you insist on fighting?”

  The raw anger in Mugos’s eyes almost took Kriss’s breath away. He looked at the guards, but they stared ahead impassively.

  “I accept your rule.” Mugos almost choked on the words.

  Jasyn seemed satisfied. “Good.” He turned to the guards. “Call the trolls, we need to make an announcement.”

  5

  A Better Way

  Jasyn rubbed his hands on the side of his trousers, but the worn leather did nothing to absorb the moisture. Somehow, explaining his plan wasn’t so easy when he was standing in front of the sea of trolls, all staring at him expectantly.

  He was a fraud. He hadn’t become a champion in a fair fight, and he probably wouldn’t be any good at it anyway. How had he thought, even for a moment, that he could do this? He couldn’t make his voice work.

  Kriss looked sideways at him, as though waiting for him to say something, but when he didn’t, she stepped forwards. “The champion is dea… de
feated. Long live the champion…s.” She took Jasyn’s hand and held it up.

  Jasyn’s heart thumped in his chest.

  Shocked faces stared back at him. Trolls exchanged looks with each other.

  Bekinda, Kriss’s friend, stepped forwards. “But Mugos…” She looked at the former champion, who stood beside them. “He’s not dead?”

  Jasyn found his voice. “We won’t rule by violence. We believe there is a better way.”

  “We?” Bekinda stared at him, then back at Kriss.

  “Jasyn and I are going to rule together.”

  Just a casual statement, as though it was of no importance. As though it weren’t counter to the way the trolls normally did things.

  She left out Jasyn’s suggestion of how exactly their ‘togetherness’ was going to work. He tried not to take it personally. They didn't know each other well enough for it to be personal.

  If it were possible for Bekinda’s eyes to widen any further, they would have. “Together? But…” Her voice faltered. She looked at Kriss, and Jasyn could see the questions burning in her eyes. But she didn’t voice them.

  Orlis, Kriss’s brother, had no such compunction. “What, weren’t you strong enough to win by yourself, Kriss? Not that this puny troll could help you much. Why weaken the trolls and risk infighting for so little advantage?” His voice was scornful.

  Jasyn glanced at Kriss, sure she would be angry at her brother’s taunt.

  But instead, she laughed. “People like you are the reason we are in such a mess, Orlis. You only see physical strength, not true bravery and power.”

  She turned to Jasyn then and her eyes held a look he’d never dreamed of seeing there. Admiration.

  She was waiting for him to speak, to explain.

  And that look gave him the confidence to do so. He stepped forwards and raised his voice. “It’s time for a new way for the trolls. I intend to forge something stronger than war. A real future for all of us, where we can reach our full potential rather than just fight to survive. I intend to create peace with the humans.”

  He’d hoped his speech would be inspiring. But instead, everyone looked confused.

  “What does he mean?” Bekinda asked Kriss.