Christina's Tapestry (11 page)

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The three men behind him looked similar enough to pass for triplets. Rippling muscles in tight pants and open vests. Didn’t any of these guys ever get cold? “I assume you’re the rest of the Bakra brothers since no one else has seen fit to introduce us.”

One of them placed his hand over his mouth and coughed, trying to cover his laughter. His brother thumped him on the back. The third one just shook his head and stepped forward. “I am Bador and these are my brothers, Garrik and Jarmon. We have come to invite you to our home.”

Christina nodded at Bador and Garrik, but frowned at Jarmon, who was still trying to swallow back his mirth. “Thank you for the invitation, but I’m fine here. I might not be staying.”

Everyone froze and the air in the room became fraught with tension. She certainly knew how to kill a party. She felt Jarek’s hands on her shoulders as he pulled her back against his chest. She didn’t question how she knew it was Jarek, she just did.

“We will discuss that later.” His tone brooked no disobedience and right now she didn’t want to challenge him on it.

Her entire body felt shaky and all she really wanted to do was sit down somewhere, preferably somewhere far away from the Bakra brothers. But that wasn’t going to happen. Jarek led her to a table at the head of the room and seated her before sitting next to her. Marc sat next to Jarek. The Bakra brother sat on her other side with Zaren immediately to her right. This was not going to be fun.

As if their sitting had been a signal, everyone else found their places and servers came out from the kitchen with platters laden down with food. No one spoke as food was served and goblets were filled with ale and cider. The crowd was holding its breath as one, waiting to see how the events would unfold.

“Eat, Christina.” While she’d been busy watching the people, Jarek had filled her place with some choice bits of meat, some vegetables and bread. She leaned closer to him and he bent his head. “I’m too nervous to eat.”

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“Would it help if this matter were settled once and for all?” His finger tenderly traced her cheek as she nodded. “Very well.”

He pushed back his chair and stood. Everyone waited silently. “The House of Bakra has challenged for the right to Christina Beaumont, who belongs to the House of Garen.” The crowd hissed and booed. Jarek raised his hands and silence reigned. “It is their right to do so under law.”

Every ounce of her blood raced out of her head and she felt lightheaded. She hadn’t realized that he meant to challenge right this very minute. For a moment, she wished she’d never come here, never known either Jarek or Marc. She already cared for them both way too much and couldn’t bear the thought of them being hurt or perhaps killed because of her.

“Christina.” Jarek placed his hand on her head and gently caressed her hair. “The beautiful Christina belongs to the House of Garen.”

Zaren pushed back his own chair and stood. Christina scooted closer to Jarek, half afraid of what he might do. Jarek pulled a knife from a sheath at his side and sent it flying towards the table. It landed in front of Zaren with a loud thunk and vibrated as it rocked back and forth, the blade embedded in the wooden table. Zaren grabbed the hilt and yanked it free. Christina gasped as he flipped it over in one deft move and handed it back to Jarek hilt first. Jarek accepted it and sheathed the knife. “Challenge has been issued and accepted.”

“No.” Her words were little more than a whisper against the cheering of the crowd. Bador, Garrik and Jarmon stood beside their brother and Marc rose to stand by Jarek. Her throat felt tight and she could barely breathe. They were going to fight. Now. Over her. It was madness.

She grabbed Jarek’s arm, using it to pull herself to her feet. Zaren was already moving away from the table, but she reached out and touched his arm. He whirled on her quickly, his knife drawn.

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Her arm automatically came up to protect herself against the coming blow, but it never came. Slowly, she lowered her arm. Zaren was watching her, his face suffused with fury. Christina swallowed against the dryness in her throat, but she would not stop now.

“I won’t go with you even if you win.”

Zaren cupped her face in his hand and rubbed his thumb over her lip. “It no longer matters what you want. You have sealed your own fate with your spirit and beauty.”

Some of the anger left him. “I would never hurt you, but you would come to love us. You are a perfect bride for our House. A prize worth dying for.”

Before she knew what was happening, he’d leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. Her mouth opened on a startled gasp and his tongue slipped inside. While his kiss was skillful and she could feel her body responding, he left her heart cold. He was not Jarek or Marc. Laying both her hands on his chest, she started to push him away.

Before she had the chance, she was ripped from his grasp and thrust aside. She swayed on her feet but managed to stay upright.

“Challenge is now. Who is your second?”

“I am.” Bador came to stand next to his brother.

Jarek jerked his head towards the door. “The courtyard in five minutes.”

The Bakra brothers stalked towards the door, calling for their weapons as they went. Jarek accepted his sword from his captain of the guards and strapped it on. Christina looked to Marc, hoping to find a cooler head in that corner, but he already had his sword strapped on. Challenge was inevitable.

Her head was spinning. This was all happening so fast. One minute they were feasting and now they were ready to fight. She didn’t belong in this world. She didn’t understand it at all.

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“There is no choice, Christina. This has to be settled under the law. Once it is done, you are safe.”

“I am safe if I go home.” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. “And if you lose?”

A look of pain flashed in Jarek’s eyes before he turned and walked away. Christina willed him to look back, but he kept going forward. She bit her lip to keep from calling to him. She had every right to ask. It was her life they were playing with. She jumped when Marc wrapped his arm around her from behind and gave her a quick hug. “We will not lose.” Then he too was striding across the stone floor and disappearing through the door.

Christina stood frozen to the spot as the crowd spilled out the door behind the men. They were cheering and chattering as if they were all looking forward to the spectacle.

“You have to go and watch them.” Mara’s strong, bony hand reached out to steady her.

“It’s madness.” She searched Mara’s face for any ounce of understanding.

“Perhaps to you, but it is our way.”

“But not mine.”

“Is it not?” Mara’s gaze was fastened on Christina’s chest. Christina felt the edges of the torque that she had clutched in her hand. The edges dug into her flesh so hard that they drew several small beads of blood.

“Regardless, those men are willing to fight and die for you. You at least owe them the courtesy of watching.” Mara’s harsh words hit Christina like a slap in the face just as the first clash of swords rang out from the yard.

Her leather boots slapped against the floor as she raced towards the entryway. She bolted out through the door and shoved her way through the crowd. At first they grumbled and blocked her path, but when they realized who she was they parted and let her through to the front.

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Zaren swung at Jarek and he barely ducked in time to keep his head attached to his body. Christina slapped her hand over her mouth to keep from crying out and distracting Jarek. The other one she kept wrapped tight around the torque. Marc and Bador both stood watch with their swords drawn to make sure that no one cheated. This was a fight between the champions of each House. Christina lost all track of time as the battle raged. Both men were incredibly skilled and wielded their swords with deadly intent. She soon realized that what she’d seen in the courtyard this morning had been little more than play. Sparks flew as metal struck metal. Both men parried and struck, dancing away just before the blade struck home. Zaren’s blade slipped past Jarek’s guard, but he managed to block it at the last minute and it hit his armband instead. She could barely breathe as she silently prayed that Jarek would be safe. She didn’t want to see Zaren die, but if that’s what it took to keep Jarek and herself safe then so be it.

Sweat dripped down her temples and forehead, stinging her eyes, and she blinked it away. She stood like a statue as the men fought on. The end, when it finally came, happened so quickly, she almost missed it.

Jarek faltered and her heart stopped beating. Zaren lunged for the kill and Jarek sidestepped at the last possible moment. Zaren was unable to stop his forward momentum and fell. Jarek struck him with the flat of his sword, sending him sprawling. The tip of his sword rested on the back of Zaren’s neck. Zaren froze, waiting for the killing blow. Jarek glared at the three Bakra brothers.

“Concede your claim and I will spare his life.” The three brothers nodded as one.

“Your brothers have given up their claim. Do you concede yours?” Zaren said nothing, his breathing labored as he lay facedown in the dirt. Jarek pushed his sword point deeper, drawing blood. Zaren gave an almost imperceptible nod and Jarek stepped back.

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Zaren slowly came to his feet and turned to face Jarek. He eyed the other man with respect as he saluted him. Jarek nodded in acceptance and then scanned the crowd until he found her.

She couldn’t move as he walked towards her, coming to a halt just in front of her. His usually warm eyes were cold and emotionless as he looked her over. She suddenly felt like a prized filly that had been won, but was now deemed unworthy. All her insecurities rose to the fore. He was sorry he’d fought for her.

“I have won the challenge. It is now your choice. Go or stay.”

A gasp came from the crowd and she sensed their surprise. The Bakra brothers hurried forward. “Come with us, Christina.”

Christina was beginning to feel like she was locked in a nightmare. Didn’t he want her anymore? She bit her lip to keep from screaming out the question, afraid of his answer. She’d hurt his pride mightily when she’d questioned him and now it seemed he was questioning if she was worthy of him. She glanced at Marc but he looked away.

“What do you want?” She reached out to Jarek, but he backed away from her. She could feel the tears on her cheeks as she stood there, not knowing what to do. There was no way she was going with the Bakra brothers, but she couldn’t stay here if Jarek no longer wanted her.

“It is your choice, Christina.” There was no emotion in his voice. “I fought only for your right to do so.”

Defeat washed over her. She would stay and remain in her room until the tapestry reappeared and then she would go home. Home to her cold, barren life. And she would live with the thoughts of the life that might have been hers and she would live on the memories of Jarek forever.

For she knew then that Jarek was her choice. She cared deeply for Marc, but Jarek touched her soul.

But it seemed as if he no longer cared what she did. There was certainly nothing in his manner to encourage her at all.

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Bowing her head in, she turned and walked back through the crowd.

“Christina.” Jarek’s voice was filled with anger now as he called her. She could not face his disdain and anger. “Stay,” she whispered and continued to walk. The door seemed to be getting further away rather than closer and, like a wounded animal, she longed for the safety of her room. Her body swayed and she held her hands in front of her, searching for something to hold on to. Anything. She noticed the blood on her fingers and opened her hand. The imprint of the torque was there and she wondered if it would remain when she was gone from here. The blood dripped one drop at a time onto the stone beneath her feet. Darkness swarmed around her and she embraced it gladly. Anything to escape the pain. A hoarse yell pierced her consciousness as her legs folded beneath her. Then she heard nothing.

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Chapter Eleven

A cold fury enveloped Jarek as he watched Christina walk away from him. That she could even think for one moment that he would lose her was unthinkable. Her lack of faith in him had deeply wounded him. Unreasonable or not, that was how he felt. When he’d won the challenge, he’d known he had to give her a choice. It was the hardest thing he’d ever done in his life. Giving her the opportunity to leave him went against every ounce of his being. His instincts were to claim her now that he’d won the right to her, but in his heart he knew it had to be her choice or he would always wonder why she stayed.

She looked so lost and unhappy as he approached her that he was willing to do anything to make her happy. Even set her free, or worse, let her go to the Bakra brothers, if that was her choice. She’d looked wounded when he’d given her the choice of leaving or staying. He’d thought that she would be pleased to have the power of choosing, but her eyes had filled with pain and she’d turned her back on him and walked away.

He’d almost given in then and swept her in his arms and carried her to his room. Even though his entire body was screaming for action, he’d forced himself to remain still and asked her again to make a choice.

She wouldn’t even look at him. He’d barely heard her whispered reply, but the word “stay” echoed in his mind, bringing with it a relief that was incredible. Then before his very eyes she’d swayed and crumpled to the ground. A battle cry had erupted from his throat, but as fast as he’d moved, he could not catch her in time. Marc pounded up the steps behind him and Mara was already kneeling at Christina’s side when he reached her.

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He carefully eased his hands under her and turned her onto her back as Mara began to run her hands over Christina’s limbs checking for damage. “What’s wrong with her?”