Page 107 of Upon Buried Embers
“Being Dragorie, we pride ourselves in strength. It’s our honor. To be seen as weak is like a killing blow. So why not try and kill a Dragonbond? It’s a great honor to do so.”
“So people come and try to kill Rohan?”
He nods. “A few times a season, at least.”
“That’s terrible,” I whisper, watching as a man and a woman are thrown over the fence by three men, who throw their heads back and laugh, until they get tackled to the ground.
Darcia and Fiona swing towels in the air as they chant something.
“Terrible? Is it? Wouldn’t you want to kill your Master? Take your power back? Show him you’re the one on top?”
I’ve never had any power over anything or anyone.
The mention of my Master fills my veins with ice, and I choke out, “I just don’t want to see him ever again.” I rub my arms, my shoulders hunched and a roar comes from the crowd.
Rohan is in the center, leaping in the air and hitting the face of a man. He crashes to the ground, and Rohan wastes no time turning his body and extending his leg, kicking another in the face. He’s shirtless, those ribbons around his forearms and his skin shining with exertion, but there’s a smile on his face I haven’t seen before.
The fight continues, more blood is spilled, more sweat dripping from their bodies, and before we know it, there are only four people left— bruised and bloodied as the others limp away to the edges.
Rohan bares his teeth at a man and grabs him by the jaw as another comes at his back, jumping on him. I suck in a breath as Rohan’s choked, but it’s like he’s not even affected.
“Rohan is a great warrior and a fierce protector, no one can beat him in our clan,” Calian says, a proud smile on his face.
The man in Rohan’s grasp is thrown to the floor and kicked in the stomach before he reaches behind him and grabs the man onhis back, throwing him over his shoulder and punching him in the face as he lands.
He’s knocked-out cold.
That leaves one. Kaldar.
Kaldar smiles at Rohan, wiping blood from his mouth and Rohan smirks back, lifting his hand and bending his fingers in a “come on” motion.
They collide in a flurry of punches and kicks, and the wounded watch on, catching their breath and nursing their wounds.
Those on the hill with us cheer on their Dragonbond, and Kaldar takes a moment to lift a middle finger at them, laughing.
Kaldar dodges a kick, then sends his fist flying toward Rohan’s face, but instead of dodging, Rohan takes the hit, then spears Kaldar in a tackle, taking them both to the floor. They wrestle, trading blows and eventually, Rohan is wrapped around him, bending Kaldar’s arm at an odd angle.
“You piece of shit,” I hear Kaldar shout, wiggling to get out of his hold, and I hear Rohan laugh for the very first time.
His lips spread wide, head falling back, keeping a tight hold on Kaldar.
“Just admit I’m better. You’ve never won a fight against me.”
“That’s not true! There was that time last summer when I had you in a headlock and I would’ve won if it wasn’t for your horse distracting me!”
“She was eating grass nearby!” Rohan huffs, and Kaldar growls, but he raises his hand in surrender.
Rohan immediately lets go, both of them falling back into the dirt, chests heaving as everyone cheers for their Dragonbond.
Rohan gets to his feet a short while later, blood and sweat glisten off his chest, his muscles rippling with every harsh breath. His hair has come a little loose in his braids, and my hands twitch to fix them.
To put them back.
Then his eyes collide with mine as he wipes his hand down his chest, and my cheeks flush with heat. He smirks, tilting his head, and I rock back on my feet, clearing my throat.
“I’m not expected to go in there, am I?” I ask Cailan, and he shakes his head.
“No. We have several weeks before The Games, but we would need years to get you in there.”
