Page 74 of Only a Breath Away

“Those are videos, can ye wheesht?”

He clamped his mouth shut, then said, “Magnus is too injured tae fight, what happens if Domnall wins?”

Lady Mairead said, “His brother Ormr will become king, and all of us will likely die.”

He said, “Och, I daena like the sound of that, Ormr is a maniacal arse.”

“On that we are agreed.”

He stood. “Tis tae the death?”

Lady Mairead said, “Why — what? Aye, this is a battle tae the death.”

He pointed, “See Ormr waitin’ on the side? If Domnall loses, Ormr will fight, he means tae kill Magnus if Domnall daena. Tis nae fair.” He drew his sword.

“What are ye doing?”

He jumped on the rail and balanced there crouched, watching. “I’m joining the fight on Magnus’s behalf!” He jumped, landing deftly on the ramped floor below. He raced down into the arena.

Magnus and Domnall looked shocked.

CHAPTER 57 - MAGNUS

“What are ye doin’?” Lochinvar stood beside me, spinning his sword.

“Comin’ tae help ye, auld man, ye are injured, tis nae fair. Ye will die and then I winna get the box of sweet cups yer mum has promised me.”

My shoulder was desperately sore, damp from bleeding again. “I am hardly older than ye, maybe a few years…” My sight was doubled, I dinna ken if I was strong enough tae lift m’blade. “But aye, I am verra injured.”

Lochinvar tossed his heavy sword from one hand tae another. “Ye are at least a decade older, enough tae hae fathered me.”

I laughed.

Domnall said, “I ken ye, ye are Lochinvar! What are ye doin’ here?”

Lochinvar set his stance. “I am Lochinvar the Fearsome, and I hae decided tae live and fight alongside King Magnus.” He whipped the sword around, showin’ off. “Ye ready tae fight, auld man? Why nae bring yer brother over, I can fight ye both at once.”

Ormr stepped from the shadowy side of the arena and called, “Mag Mòr, ye goin’ tae allow this lad tae fight for ye? He is a nobody, a bastard. Ye canna allow him tae fight in a stadium battle for the kingdom of Riaghalbane, tis—”

I looked from the young man tae Ormr and then tae Domnall. “I can, he carries Donnan’s bloodline. As a descendant of Donnan, and as my brother, he can be called upon tae protect my kingdom, tis all fair in thrones and family.”

Domnall said, “He is a bastard, Donnan never claimed—”

I chuckled “He never claimed ye either, his father never claimed Ormr, none of it matters. Donnan had many bastard sons, I daena care at—”

Lochinvar charged past me, straight for Domnall with all the fearlessness of youth. Takin’ him by surprise, he whipped his blade back and forth, then with a quick jab he nicked Domnall at the waist.

Lochinvar yelled, “I marked his weakness with m’blade, King Magnus!” He skirted Domnall, and raced toward Ormr, swinging.

The crowd cheered.

Ormr rushed tae meet Lochinvar, their blades meeting with a loud clang, but Lochinvar was faster, quick on his feet, driving Ormr tae fury. Twas a good strategy, tae enrage an opponent, one I often used when I was in better condition.

I had taken the moment tae catch m’breath, but I was verra weakened and I was givin’ Domnall a chance tae recover as well. His injury was — I glanced from the corner of m’eye. There was a great deal of blood seeping through his shirt.

I watched his movements in my periphery as I looked down at my sword tip, pretending tae be too exhausted tae fight. In my far vision I could see the movement of Lochinvar against Ormr.

I couldna worry on them, if the young man was killed, at least Ormr would be worn down by their fight. I was sure that if I killed Domnall, Ormr planned tae immediately challenge me for the throne. One after another they would fight me and in my weakened state it was likely to cause m’death in the end.

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