Champion's Bond

by Rinelle Grey

  In a distant way, she hoped they would be victorious, but to her it made no difference. She hoped they saved every man, woman, and child in the village, but there was only one person who mattered to her.

  And she knew they had no hope of saving him.

  Mugos intended to use Jasyn against them and the ex-champion would have no hesitation in killing him as soon as it looked like that wasn’t going to work.

  If only she had the chance to tell Jasyn she loved him before he died. That was her one regret.

  “I love you, Jasyn,” she said out loud.

  But it just made her feel worse. Why couldn’t she have said those words to his face, when he told her he loved her? Why had she denied it?

  Because back then, she hadn’t known yet. She’d been so busy hiding from it, pretending it wasn’t there.

  And now it was too late.

  Now, she would never have the chance to tell him.

  Or maybe she still could.

  Kriss sat up straight, dropping the bowl in the dirt. She closed her eyes and felt for the connection she’d sensed earlier. Jasyn was still there. Good. She focused on that connection between them, trying to pour every little bit of love she felt for him into it.

  For a moment, it was like trying to stuff a fur into an already overstuffed bag. It wouldn’t go in. Then something shifted and she almost fell over at how easily it slid through. So easily, in fact, that the momentum carried her with it.

  Then someone caught her.

  “Kriss?”

  “Jasyn?”

  She was in his arms. Or it felt like she was.

  In kind of a hazy double vision, Kriss could see that he was really standing next to Mugos and Oriana on top of a tower in the Eryvale wall. He was human again, and healthy, but his torn and bloodstained clothes hinted at the ordeal he had gone through. His hands were bound behind his back. Kriss could see the approaching army, led by Lyall, and knew that Brianna with her smaller force would be somewhere nearby.

  “How did you get here?” Jasyn asked quickly. “Did you find another gem?”

  “No, I used our bond to find you, I think. That’s what Brianna said anyway.”

  “Mugos is going to use magic against them, they can’t fight it,” Jasyn said quickly. “You need to warn them.”

  “They know. They’re prepared for it. Brianna will attack from behind while the enemy is distracted.”

  “That might work,” Jasyn agreed. Then he hesitated. “Kriss, they’re probably going to…”

  “Stop right there,” Mugos’s strident demand was loud in her ears. Oriana was magnifying it with magic so it would reach Lyall’s army. “Come any closer and he dies.” The troll waved his sword in Jasyn’s direction.

  It was happening too fast. She needed more time.

  But she didn’t have it.

  “I love you,” she said, wrapping her arms around Jasyn. “I’m sorry it took me so long to realise it. I was too afraid of losing you to admit to myself I cared for you. But I know now, even if it is too late.”

  The army halted. “We just want to talk,” Lyall shouted back, his voice distant.

  He was stalling, hoping Brianna would take Mugos from behind.

  Jasyn’s eyes searched Kriss’s face. “Really? You’re not just saying that because I’m about to die?”

  She needed him to know, to believe. She stared into his eyes, trying to use their bond to tell him in more than words. “I’m not just saying it. Although the situation is what made me realise it. That, and Mianna hitting me over the head with it.”

  Jasyn still looked sceptical. “You were so certain, back on Isla de Magi, that there was no hope for us. You didn’t even want to give it a try.”

  Guilt so strong it felt like real pain stabbed Kriss in the side. She’d hurt him more than she realised. “I was scared,” she admitted. “Scared that loving you could be used against me.”

  Jasyn glanced sideways. A giant troll hand was wrapped around his upper arm. “Like what’s happening right now?”

  Kriss was surprised to find that her words could be all choked up, even though she didn’t have a physical throat. She nodded. “It turns out that being scared of something doesn’t stop it from happening.”

  Jasyn arms were warm and soft, a hint of tears in his eyes. “I’m glad you told me, Kriss, but for your sake I wish you weren’t in love with me. It would be easier that way.”

  In her magical form, Kriss could clearly see the magic building up in Oriana’s hand, her face turned towards Lyall’s army.

  “No talking,” Mugos shouted back. “Turn around and leave, or Jasyn dies.”

  Kriss scanned the villagers standing behind the wall and spotted Brianna’s upturned face. Several humans, Mugos’s friends, held the crowd back from the wall. Brianna was advancing on them, her hand on her sword.

  But she wouldn’t be fast enough. There was no way she could make it up the wall before Oriana unleashed her magic on Lyall and Mugos killed Jasyn.

  Everyone would be dead and Kriss would be all alone back in the forest. Not for long though, because after Jasyn died, she would die too. She could feel that now. And she had no wish to change it.

  Better to stay here with Jasyn. They could spend their last minutes together.

  She buried her face in his chest, focusing all her attention on him and imagining her love washing over him.

  “You fool, we don’t want them to leave,” Oriana growled. Her voice was not magnified. Lyall and the others wouldn’t be able to hear it. “They need to come closer so I can have the prince. I have plans for him.”

  Kriss’s heart went cold.

  “We had a deal,” Mugos said flatly. “I get my position as champion back, then you can go after your revenge.”

  “That’s already done. Your people are cowering in fear. I’m taking my revenge now.”

  “I’m not guaranteed that position while there is a mage army at my gates.”

  “That’s your problem. If you can’t hold your kingdom against your rivals, you’re not going to last long. There’s nothing I can do about that.”

  Kriss had to hand it to Mugos, he didn’t show any sign of fear. He dropped Jasyn’s arm and faced Oriana, his chest puffed out. “You promised me magical protection. You can’t pull that right when I need it most.”

  “Fine,” Oriana huffed. She turned back to Lyall’s army. She raised her hand and magic washed over her.

  This was the moment. “Run,” Kriss hissed to Jasyn.

  He stared at her.

  The sound of a scuffle broke out behind them and the first of the guards between Brianna and Jasyn fell. If she could get Jasyn down the stairs…

  Kriss pushed him, and to her surprise he actually moved, taking two steps backwards. He stared at her.

  No one else noticed them. Everyone’s attention was on Lyall and his army, who were hesitating to advance because Jasyn was still in harm’s way.

  “Get down the stairs, Brianna is there to rescue you,” Kriss whispered. She had no idea why she was whispering when no one could hear her astral voice anyway.

  Jasyn glanced over his shoulder at the fight that had broken out below them. But his chances were better there than up here, so he took another step towards the stairs, watching Mugos in case he had noticed.

  Kriss stared out at Lyall’s army, wishing there was some way to tell them to attack now. If they waited, they were doomed.

  They could well be doomed anyway.

  Oriana’s magic could destroy them all before they even reached the village walls. Why had they ever thought this plan stood a chance?

  Chance or not, there was no backing out now. Lyall raised his hand, and with a chilling shout his army rushed forwards.

  Kriss gave Jasyn another shove towards the stairs. They were nearly there.

  Brianna’s force broke through the defences and rushed up the tower.

  A crack of lightning split the air, streaking through the clear sky towards Lyall’s army. A grou
p of mages fell, creating a gap in the invading force.

  A gap that was quickly filled.

  Oriana frowned in concentration. Another bolt of lightning took out a few more warriors, but still the army rushed forwards. They reached the gates below, just as Brianna breached the tower. She pushed past Jasyn and rushed at Oriana, her sword out.

  “What are you doing? Kill them all!” Mugos screamed.

  Time seemed to slow down and Kriss could see every action clearly.

  Brianna swung her sword at Oriana, but before it could touch the mage Brianna flew back, hitting the battlements and sliding down them, not moving.

  Oriana’s whole body crackled with lightning. She flung a careless bolt at Mugos and he tumbled backwards, a surprised look burned onto his face. She turned in a slow circle, sending a follow up bolt at Orlis, Kriss’s brother. Then her eyes landed on Jasyn and her mouth twisted in a hard smile.

  Kriss turned and buried her face in Jasyn’s chest, clutching at his shirt. Perhaps the magical attack would take out both of them at once and she wouldn’t have to go through the pain of losing him. She tried to cover him with her love, hoping to dull the pain.

  Lightning flashed around Kriss and Jasyn.

  But it didn’t touch them. Oriana roared in frustration and the lightning flares increased until they became a glowing ball encasing them. But Kriss felt nothing.

  After a few seconds, she lifted her head. The lightning ceased abruptly. Oriana stared at them, rage and confusion warring on her face.

  What had happened?

  Oriana threw back her head and screamed, reaching her hands to the sky. Lightning crashed above them, streaking over the whole village.

  “This was my moment of revenge and you’ve destroyed it,” she shrieked at Mugos. She pointed at the troll, who had pulled himself to his knees, clutching at his side. “Do you think I care about your goals or your pitiful village? You dared think you could try to tell me what to do! I will destroy everything!”

  “I can stop her, Kriss, but I need your magic,” Jasyn said urgently.

  Kriss felt like her brain was honey, flowing extra slowly in deep winter. “My magic?”

  “That’s how you protected us from her. It’s more powerful than she is.”

  Kriss opened her mouth to argue, then shut it. She couldn’t make a cohesive argument right now, so instead she opened herself up completely to him.

  She felt him gather up her magic and focus it towards Oriana. Unfortunately, the mage sensed it too. Her lightning flicked towards Jasyn, but couldn’t reach him. In her astral form, Kriss could actually see the lightning battling it out against Jasyn’s magical light.

  She held her breath, as both forces pushed against each other, neither able to force the other back.

  At least the lightning show above them had stopped. Oriana couldn’t maintain both at once.

  Lyall’s army smashed at the gates below them, the wood cracking and splintering.

  Through the magical haze, Kriss caught sight of movement. Mugos stumbled to his feet, dragging a sword that seemed almost too heavy for him. He took a step towards them, then another. He paused, wavering on his feet for a moment, then lifted the sword.

  Instinctively, Kriss pulled back a little of her magic, holding it ready to protect them from Mugos.

  The lightning moved an inch closer to Kriss and Jasyn.

  Mugos took another step towards them.

  Then he stumbled towards Oriana.

  The mage was grinning in triumph as she pushed Jasyn’s magic back another inch. She didn’t notice Mugos coming. All her power was focused on one front, so there was none left to protect her as the troll brought the sword up and plunged it into her chest.

  The magic resistance disappeared immediately and Jasyn’s magic rushed towards her, stopping short and fading away. Clutching at the sword impaled in her chest, Oriana tumbled backwards, Mugos falling after her.

  Kriss stared, unable to take in the fact that it was over.

  Unable to take in the fact that Mugos had switched sides right at the end, and saved them.

  Jasyn stepped forwards, using magic to break the rope that bound his hands. He bent over the pair. Oriana’s dead eyes stared up at the sky. The woman had been so bent on revenge that she had turned against her allies. She hadn’t even seen the end coming.

  Kriss shuddered.

  Mugos though, still drew laboured breaths. Jasyn gently rolled him over.

  All the animosity was gone from the ex-champion’s face. He reached up and clutched Jasyn’s shoulders. “Don’t…” A fit of coughing interrupted his words, then he continued, “Don’t think this means I agree with you. But at least you have the troll’s best interests at heart. She was just using us. I never should have trusted her. She wasn’t one of us, how could she possibly understand?”

  “Shh, it’s all right,” Jasyn said. “We can sort it out when you’ve recovered.”

  Mugos shook his head. “I’m not recovering, I know that. Don’t lie to me.” Coughs racked his body again, and when he took his hand away from his mouth it was covered in blood.

  “We can heal you,” Jasyn promised.

  “You can’t heal magical damage, even I know that.”

  “Lyall, Brianna and the others can,” Jasyn insisted.

  “If Brianna is still alive,” Kriss said. She stood next to Jasyn, though no one could see her but him.

  Jasyn glanced over at Brianna. Kriss could see the broken parts of the other woman’s aura, but her light still glowed.

  “She will survive,” Jasyn said. He turned back to Mugos. “And so will you.”

  Mugos shook his head. “I don’t want to. I don’t have a part in this peaceful world you created. I only know war, fighting, and dominance. And it seems I’m the only one who still wants that. You win, your way is the way forwards. But I don’t belong here.”

  Kriss never expected to feel pity for Mugos. She’d admired his physical power, hated his determination to dominate everyone including her, was angered by his stubbornness, but never had she even considered that he might be deserving of her pity.

  Now she understood why he had fought so hard to go back to the way things had been. She could even sympathise with it. The trolls had done things the same way for centuries. Change was hard.

  Harder for some than others.

  Jasyn had adapted to it quickly. His temperament had fitted perfectly with the ideals of peace and cooperation. She’d struggled at first, but underneath, she had always desired peace. She’d been a warrior out of necessity, not desire.

  Those born with the desire for the thrill of a fight could easily feel out of place in this world. And they might just be right.

  “Nonsense,” Jasyn said firmly. “You are part of our camp and part of our family, just like every other troll. Do you think you are the only one who feels this way? I’m sure there are others, and all of you are going to have to learn to live in peace. You don’t get to take the easy way out.” His words were softened with a smile. “Even if you did just save our lives.”

  Footsteps thundered up the wooden steps. Lyall appeared at the top, his sword ready and his eyes dark with anger. He scanned the situation, noting that the main opponents were down. Then he saw Brianna. He crossed to her quickly, throwing his sword aside and kneeling beside her. “Do you have the gem?” he demanded of Jasyn, his eyes not leaving his unconscious wife.

  Jasyn searched Oriana’s body and retrieved the gem. He gave it to Lyall and stood beside the prince as he laid his hands on his wife. Mianna and Terion reached the top of the stairs and raced to help him. The magical rainbow surrounded the four of them, Brianna’s blue-green magic muted, but still there.

  Brianna’s body spasmed under Lyall’s hands, then her eyes flicked open. Lyall sighed in relief and bent to kiss her.

  The tender display warmed Kriss’s heart. For the first time, the only jealousy Kriss felt was for the fact that she couldn’t kiss Jasyn right now. Her physical body was s
till back in the forest.

  Time to fix that.

  23

  Bonds of Love

  Jasyn watched as Lyall, Mianna, Terion, and the fully healed Brianna all laid their hands on Mugos’s troll form. It had been agreed upon that the curse would not be removed until the ex-champion was fully healed.

  Mugos had stopped his protests against being healed, but his face was still drawn and uncertain.

  Jasyn was uncertain too. The idea of Mugos as an ally was hard to take in. So was the fact that Mugos had rescued Jasyn.

  But he couldn’t imagine not giving the troll a chance to prove himself.

  Everyone could find their place in a world where peace was the focus, he was sure of it.

  He glanced up at the forest, but there was no sign of Kriss yet. It could take her an hour to make it here from the place where Lyall’s army had been camped. His impatience wouldn’t make her arrive any faster.

  In truth, he was a little nervous about her arrival. Would she be as certain that she loved him in person as she had been in the astral? It should make no difference, but he found it impossible to believe.

  Kriss loved him.

  Or she said she did.

  The white sheen faded from Mugos’s face under the twins’ hands, a healthy green returning. They had worked their magic. The troll would live.

  One way or another, they had to find a way to integrate the fierce warrior into their world. Perhaps Kriss could help him. She had faced the same difficulties when switching from war to peace.

  Bile rose in his throat at the thought of Kriss and Mugos working together on anything. He had watched their relationship from afar for months and had watched the interaction between them. Kriss had chosen to leave Mugos and his warrior ways, but if he was turning over a new leaf…

  Jasyn shook his head.

  He couldn’t control what Kriss decided. And he didn’t want to. If she chose him, he wanted it to be because she loved him, not for any other reason.