hear, he went on, “I couldn’t care less if you are male or female. All I care about is becoming the Clan leader, with or without you.”
Screaming, he attacked me and I had problems holding onto my sword that was slick with blood. He swung his sword downward and caught my sword and pinned it to the ground.
Glancing up, I saw his fist swing and I saw stars as he punched me in the eye. I heard the crack and I tried to draw power but he punched me again in the face and this time I fell and as I fell I felt my sword, bloody, slip from my fingers and hit the dirt. I landed on a large round rough bump and I realized sadly right then, that I had landed on the rope. I had lost.
The Dømari was too stunned to even call the count and winner. The whole crowd had gone deathly silent as soon as my identity had been revealed. I choked in pain and felt a hand touch my face and I looked into the angry, stormy eyes of the drunken clansman. How did I not notice his eyes before now? Was I that distracted by his smell and perverse acts that I didn’t notice how much they reminded me of Kael’s?
Chapter 11
“What were you thinking?” A familiar voice echoed or at least seemed to echo, as my head continued to ring.
“Stop shouting,” I murmured.
“I’m not shouting and you should explain yourself,” Bearen grumbled.
Opening only one eye because the other was swollen shut, I gasped as Odin leaned over me and applied a poultice to my numerous wounds. Reaching for the side of my throat, I felt the length of the already stitched wound that reached from my throat up the side of my jaw to my ear. Odin quickly slapped my hand away.
“Don't touch the stitches. You are going to have a scar to remind you of this day.” I grimaced at his tone of voice. I wished that I had the ability to heal myself, but I wasn't that strong. My own recklessness got me here and I would have this reminder for the rest of my life. Odin put something on my neck and I immediately took a quick intake of breath.
“That stings. What is it?”
“Harrumph, you don't want to know. But it will keep any infection from setting in,” Odin answered. I believed I already knew what he was applying because the familiar smell of cat urine invaded my nose.
“Did you know about this?” Bearen rumbled at Odin. “Were you a part of this from the beginning?”
Odin continued to minister to my wounds and spoke without making eye contact. “Aye! She told me of her plan.”
“How could you? She could have been killed and then Rayneld's son would appeal to the clan council for leadership.”
“And you!” Turning back to me. “You have a lot to answer for. Do you realize that Fenri is out of the running and that some stranger and your deceitful cousin Bvork are the last two standing to win the Kragh Aru?”
When he said deceitful cousin it made me wonder what he could have done to anger my father so. But then, I also had deceived people as I entered the competition in disguise. So maybe the apple didn't fall too far from the tree on both sides of our family. Sighing regrettably, I asked about Fenri's injuries.
“He'll be lucky if he can ever get the use of his hand back. I doubt he'll be able to hold a sword again. Bvork crushed it,” Bearen gritted out angrily and his eyes shown with anger as he looked at me.
Odin quickly interrupted, “Well, maybe it's not as bad as all of that, hmmm? Maybe Thalia should take a look at it, considering it was her fault that he was injured.”
“What? My fau...?” I stopped as I caught Odin's pointed stare. “Yes, I will look at it.”
“NOOOO! You won't!” Bearen roared loudly. Quieting down, he came over to me and spoke slowly. “Do you understand what the consequences are of being found out? If someone sees his hand ruined now and then sees it later and it’s fine, questions will arise, and you will be banished.” Turning, he ran his hands through his dark hair. “If I was a good clan leader I would have already banished you. But I can't do that to my Thelonia. You are her spitting image, except for the black hair.” I wanted