Page 70 of Rune

“No.” She swung hard, her long hair whipping in her face. “I will not hide. There is no honor in that.”

I stepped back to speak. “This isn’t about honor. You aren’t fighting for valor; you fight to be the last one standing. If you do this right, there will be no one left to speak of how you fought.”

She frowned. “It is not right.”

“Neither was the spear you used in the last match, but that is why you are alive.”

“The spear?” Tova let the hilt of her axe drive into the stone. “I used that spear to stop you from hurling yourself into the arena. That saved your life, not mine.”

I opened my mouth, but she was right. I was going to throw myself in there.

“You weren’t the only one with an advantage,” I said. “Gods are helping other mortals win. If you find an advantage, no matter how honorable it is, you take it.”

“She’s right.”

Both Tova and I raised our axes at the person who slipped through the door, but it was only Ve. He gave my axe a wary look even though it was poised nowhere near his chest. I could almost see the painful memory of his sister flash through his eyes.

I dropped the weapon with a clatter and stepped away.

Tova’s brows furrowed as she took in the action, slowly lowering her own.

Ve cleared his throat. “Ruin is right. There are other dealings at play here. In the match just now, the winner had a secret weapon on him before entering.”

“Odin didn’t notice?” I asked, purposefully leaving my axe where it was as I selected a long-tipped dagger instead.

“Truthfully?” Ve shut the door and leaned against it. “I think he’s turning a blind eye to give you room to throw the match.”

Tova’s frown deepened. “Why would he care who wins?”

“He’s doing it for Ruin.”

I flipped a second dagger to Tova. “Let’s keep going.”

She caught it, but pointed the end at Ve. “Say that again.”

“What? That he’s doing it for Ruin? She’s his granddaughter. He’d do anything for her.”

I could see the wheels turning in Tova’s mind as she spun the dagger in her hands a few times. “How are you pronouncing her name?”

“Ruin?”

My eyes widened, but before I could stop her, Tova turned to me. “He doesn’t know your name?”

Now Ve turned in disbelief. “I don’t know your name?”

My cheeks warmed. I gave Tova a quick glare before acknowledging Ve. “You. . . almost know my name. It’s just Rune.”

“How did I not know your name? You’re my fiancée.”

“Am I, though?” I tilted my head. I understood playing the ruse for his friends, but I wouldn’t lie to Tova. “Besides, I’ve known people for three years before being brave enough to tell them I didn’t know their name, so a few weeks isn’t that bad.”

Tova’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not engaged?”

“This is a lot of information being shared. Let’s just fight?” I suggested.

Ve rubbed a hand down his face. “I didn’t realize we were sharing that, but apparently it’s just our names we aren’t sharing.” His gaze burned. “No,Rune,” he put emphasis on my name, and I tried not tonotice how my heart pounded as he said it correctly for the first time, “and I aren’t engaged. It’s just a ploy so we can sneak to Earth later where we will part ways. I’d rather the gods not follow me there.”

Now Tova looked at me as I dropped my eyes to the ground. Her gaze usually unraveled my inner thoughts, and right now I preferred to keep those to myself. “That’s why it’s so important you win,” I told her. “I don’t want to return to Danmark without my best friend.” When I looked back up, she was readying her stance for another fight.

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