Page 85 of Bloodguard

We follow the path the parade took, which is easy to see from the stragglers and trail of flowers.

As the castle comes into sight, Jakeb yells, “Halt!” which causes our horses to stop so short, my face nearly rams into Star’s neck.

Maeve stands before the castle gates, beside Vitor.

Her face is bright and joyous, smiling.

The night sky pulses with bursts of magic and color, and the crowd claps and cheers, some of them chanting Maeve’s name.

My face heats. I’ve rallied her family and we’ve raced here as if her life hung in the balance, but she’s not in danger. She’s laughing and grinning with her “uncle.”

I lower my head. “I, uh…”

Jakeb lays a hand on my shoulder. “You made the right call, Leith.”

Giselle edges her horse back toward mine. “Last time we participated in the Memorial of the Phoenix, it was not so pleasant, was it, Father?”

“No,” Jakeb says. “They booed and heckled us. Maeve cried for days.”

I imagine the crowd treating Maeve with such open hostility and derision, and it makes me violent.

“Everyone was upset in the aftermath of the trial,” Giselle explains.

“It was a good lesson for all of us,” Jakeb says.

For me, it’s just one more glimpse into Maeve’s character.

In the arena, I’m jeered. It’s common for the bettors to do that—they’re looking for any advantage they can gain. But that doesn’t make their words any less hurtful. I act like I’m impervious, but any gladiator will tell you, wehatethe crowds. Whether they’re for us or against us, we’re just a thing to them. The crowds don’t care about the harm they inflict. They just want to win. And nobody deserves to die with such cruel taunts in their ears.

“Stop growling, Leith,” Giselle tells me. “You’re starting to sound like him.”

She jerks her head toward Caelen, who merely grunts.

“My daughter could’ve hidden behind those high walls.” Jakeb points to the castle. “But she didn’t. At great risk to herself, Maeve made it a point to regain the trust of the community.” He inclines his head to where Maeve basks in the adoration of Arrow. “She took a chance.”

I nod. “And it paid off.”

There are tears in Jakeb’s eyes when he turns back to me. “Yes, it did.”

We say nothing for several minutes.

Giselle is the first to break the silence. “Caelen, I’m in the mood for a jug of ale.”

He sighs. “Of course you are.”

She turns to her gladiator. “Pega, dearest, I imagine you’re parched, too.”

Pega looks between me and Giselle. “I could use a wee bit of ale to wet my mouth. It was a rough ride here.”

The three of them move off while I remain behind with Jakeb and the guards.

I keep my hood drawn and my gaze on Maeve. It takes a while, but my heart rate gradually settles. As the overwhelming sense of dread fades, I find myself wanting to smile.

Maeve has done it.

She’s won over the people of Arrow with kindness and hope.

The same as she did with me.

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