Chael's Luck (A Knights of Dorathan Novel) (5 page)

“Alright, then, here it is. Tomorrow.” He
scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Tomorrow, you’ll get hurt.”

“But…” I had never had specific looks into my
future in my dreams before. The man waved my objection away.

“You’ll be fine.” He looked at me intensely
and I tried not to shift under the scrutiny. “I came here for a
reason, Chael. The next little while in your life will be
difficult. Just remember that you’re never alone; there are those
out there who will fight with you.” He walked to the ladder. “The
day will come when you’ll no longer know who you are and others
will question it as well.” He frowned, his black eyes on mine.
“When that day comes, only you can decide who that is.”

I sat heavily on a bale, trying to decipher
his words, and was whisked into another dream before I could make
sense of it all. When I awoke in the morning, the only thing I
remembered was a deep voice saying, ‘only you can decide’.

*****

“Ladies and gentlemen!”

Everyone in the stands of the arena quieted
at General Krane’s greeting. I stood in line with my fellow knights
in training in the middle of the arena, facing the General, King
Gale, Queen Margaret, and Princess Katheryn. The ground we stood on
was hard packed sand. The round arena was surrounded completely by
bleachers which were presently filled with spectators. Flag poles
bearing all of the Knighthood family flags stood at regular
intervals around us. I found mine and smiled.

The General’s voice rang through the arena.
“It has been brought to my attention by multiple members of the
knights-in-training that yesterday’s race was not won fairly. For
this reason, we will not be handing out awards of any kind for this
event.”

I felt Caleb’s hatred as his gaze swept up
and down the line before settling on me. I stared straight ahead
and ignored him. By the way some of the others were shifting
nervously from foot to foot, Mac, Harry, and I hadn’t been the only
ones to bring this to the General’s attention.

“It was discussed by members of the war
council to have a rematch of the race, but with three members of
the Knights-in-training injured and unable to participate, we will
simply cancel the event for this year. As for those injured, they
will take the Knight’s test once they are able to do so.”

I glanced at Mac, John and Hal who were
watching from the entrance of the arena.

“Another change to this year’s agenda comes
at the request of Princess Katheryn. As you are all aware, the
princess turned sixteen but a few short months ago. The winner of
today’s tournament will have the pleasure of escorting her young
majesty to the banquet this evening.

A murmur spread through the crowd.

“Knights, I’ll have you exit the arena to
await your turn in this final test. Those of you taking the Shadow
Knight’s testing, be sure to stay close after your duel if you are
not too injured to fight. If you are not injured and you do not
show for the Shadow’s duel, you will be forfeiting your chance to
be one.”

We turned on our heels, the sound of armor
echoing in the arena. I stepped out of the gate and stumbled
forward as someone pushed me from behind.

“It was you, wasn’t it, little one?” Caleb
snarled.

Everyone gave us some space.

“As a matter of fact, it was.” I glared up at
him.

He spat on the ground and took a step toward
me.

“What are you going to do, Caleb? Beat me to
a pulp before the King himself. I’m sure he’d love to see your true
colors.”

“These are my true colors. I was born to be a
knight.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “And the rest of
us weren’t?”

“Our first fighters of the day will be Harry
Smythe and Caleb Kent.” The General’s voice carried down to us and
whatever Caleb’s answer to my question had been was interrupted.
The crowd cheered and the two walked into the arena.

“Come on, Harry!” My cheer was echoed by
quite a few of the others. The two pulled their sparring swords and
saluted the king and his family. The object of these games, of
course, was to show off your skills and not to kill your opponent.
The next ten minutes was filled with cheering, grunting, and the
sound of swords hitting armor.

Caleb brought his sword over his head and
swung down in an arc. Harry cried out as it connected with his
forearm. Everyone close enough to hear it cringed at the sound of
the bones breaking with the impact. Harry dropped his sword and
fell to his knees as was customary for a person admitting defeat in
the games. Caleb’s grin widened and I gave a yell before jumping
into the arena and sprinting toward them. Caleb’s sword swung down
to connect with side of Harry’s head. I grunted and my arm went
numb as his weapon smashed against my elbow. The sound of feet
running toward us and Caleb’s grunt as he was tackled to the ground
made me smile despite the pain I was in. I sat beside Harry, both
of us holding our arms.

“Thanks for that.” He shook his head in
disbelief. “I can’t believe he was going to try and brain me when
I’d already surrendered. How’s your arm?”

I shrugged. “Numb. Yours?”

“I wish it was numb.”

“What in the name of Dorathan’s honor is
going on here? I have never seen the likes of this in all my years
in the Knighthood! Caleb!”

Everyone jumped to their feet and stood at
attention. The General stood before us, red with anger while the
entire arena held their breath, waiting to see what was going to
happen.

“Harry, Chael, you’re free to go see the
healwife to have your arms looked after and Caleb…”

“No.”

Everyone looked at me, shocked by my refusal.
Even the General stood speechless.

“Sir, when we spoke yesterday, you promised
me the match I wanted.”

He nodded.

“I want it now.”

“Chael, son, you’re hurt…”

“With all due respect, sir, my arm’s not
broken.” I moved it to show I wasn’t lying and tried not to wince
as the pins and needles moved along the length of it.

The General threw his hands up in
desperation. “Chael’s luck,” he mumbled before throwing an
apologetic look my way. “Alright, Chael. Nothing else is going as
it should and quite frankly I’m at a bit of a loss. Caleb, you
fight Chael for the Shadow Knight challenge.”

“Sir?” He shook off the hands holding him. “I
just finished a fight, sir.” He shrank where he stood as the
General’s glare honed in on him.

“Caleb, if it weren’t for the fact that your
father has served under me for years and proven himself to be a
fantastic and loyal Knight, I’d be throwing you out of this
tournament and sending you home a peasant. Strip out of your armor.
Now.”

He turned back to me and nodded before
heading back to his place by the king.

“Ladies and gentleman! There has been a
change in the order of our duels. Since they are now the only two
Shadow Knight nominees not to be injured, we will now watch Caleb
Kent and Chael McKinney battle for the honor of top Shadow.”

I tried to hide my groan as I pulled the
armor from my arm. My father appeared with my protective vest and
Caleb’s with his.

“Stay focused,” coached my father. He put a
hand on my shoulder. “Whatever happens, I’m proud of you.”

I smiled. “Thanks, Dad.”

By the look on Caleb’s face, it wasn’t
encouragement his father was giving him. Sir Vincent turned to me.
“Good luck, Chael.”

A hush fell over the crowd as our staffs were
carried in, not by a fellow Knight as was customary, but by
Princess Katheryn. Her long dark green satin dress brushed against
the dirt, her small footprints followed by a drag line on either
side as she pulled the staffs toward us. She handed Caleb his staff
with a nod of her head and came to stand before me.

“Sir Chael.”

I smiled. “I’m not a sir, yet, your
majesty.”

She smiled back, her dark brown eyes serious.
“Everyone who’s been around the last two days can’t deny what
you’re obviously meant to be.” She gave a nod and a slight bow
which caused her blond hair to fall into her face. “I’d say good
luck, but I don’t think you’ll need it. I look forward to the
pleasure of your company tonight.”

I watched her walk back to her father where
she turned and flashed a smile in my direction. I smiled back and
turned to stare, surprised, at my father who was already looking at
me with wide eyes. He gave a slight shake of his head, as if to
clear it.

“Never mind about that.” He pulled me into a
hug. “Make him regret every time he’s ever made fun of you.”

I grinned despite myself and nodded.

“I’m going to enjoy this,” snarled Caleb as
everyone cleared the arena. He lunged and jabbed his staff toward
my midsection. I twisted sideways, dodging the shot, much to the
pleasure of the crowd who cheered their approval. I shook out my
arm, trying to get complete feeling back into it. He thought to
take me off guard and swung in an arc at my legs. I jumped over the
staff, swinging my own at the same time and connecting with his
elbow. He swore and switched his weapon to his other hand.

“What I want to know is what in the name of
the gods has gotten into you?” I ducked and dodged another jab. “I
mean, I’m used to you thinking I’m worthless, but what have the
others done to you to deserve this?” I swung at his legs in an
attempt to trip him. He jumped back and counter jabbed. The staff
connected with my shoulder and sent me falling backwards. Pain
flared down my arm and up my neck. His next jab caught me on the
inside of my thigh. I grunted and rolled away from him.

“There’s a bigger picture, Chael. The rest of
you are just too daft to see it.” He swung down and swore as he
connected with the dirt.

My next shot took him in the knee and he went
down with a cry of pain. I spun and connected with his midsection.
He grunted as all of his air left his lungs in a rush.

“Come one, Caleb. Get up. We’re not done
here.” I stepped back and took deep breaths, trying to get my
breathing back to normal. He glared and stood with a growl.

I waited until he was on his feet then
managed to connect with his thigh before spinning again and hitting
his other leg. Caleb fell to his knees.

Realizing he couldn’t outmaneuver me with the
staff, he threw his to the ground and tackled me. The air left my
lungs as his entire weight fell on me. He straddled me and pressed
a hand over my neck.

“Did you actually think you could beat
me?”

My face exploded with pain as his fist
connected with my cheek. Spots started to fill my vision. Somewhere
through the fog I heard a woman scream that he was killing me. He
rose up on his knees to put more pressure on my neck. Being small
had its advantages and I brought my knee up as hard as I could. The
crowd let out a sympathetic groan as he fell sideways and I rolled
away from him. I sat on my hands and knees, trying to suck as much
air in as I could. He crawled toward his staff.

“I don’t think so, you bastard!” I stood, ran
a few steps and kicked him as hard as I could in the midsection. He
collapsed and rolled, trying to avoid the rain of kicks I was
letting loose. My boot connected with his chin and he fell back,
his body limp. The crowd jumped to its feet and roared. I bent with
my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath, taking a second to
wave a thank you at my admirers before straightening as much as I
could to face the king and his family.

Princess Katheryn’s smile slipped and she
pointed behind me in warning. I turned and felt the dagger stab
into my thigh. I cried out, pulling it out and putting pressure on
the wound. Caleb struggled to his feet. The only sound in the arena
was our heavy breathing. Caleb grinned a bloody smile. His eyes
widened as I launched myself at him, my shoulder driving into his
midsection. I managed to get a few punches in before he rolled so
that he straddled me. One second he was pummeling my face and chest
and the next he was gone.

I looked up, surprised, and watched as four
Knights dragged him away. I closed my eyes for a moment and
reopened them as cool hands lightly touched my face.

“Chael, are you alright?”

I gazed into Princess Katheryn’s dark brown
eyes.

“Believe it or not, I’ve had worse from him.”
I sat up with a groan and pressed the heel of my hand onto the cut
on my leg. “Bastard.”

The princess’s eyes widened and I smiled.

“Sorry.”

She started to laugh. “Don’t be. That’s
precisely what I was thinking.” She took the hem of her dress and
pressed it to the cut over my eye.

“I must say, I’m impressed, Chael.” The king
stood behind his daughter.

I quickly stood and bowed. “Your Highness.”
Realizing I’d left the princess in the dirt, I stooped, offered her
a hand up, and bowed to her as well.

“General Krane told me you were the one to
watch out for in this competition and I must say I had my doubts.”
He had the decency to look embarrassed.

“Most people do, your majesty. It’s one of
the advantages to being small. Most people don’t expect much from
you, though, I have to admit, I’m not sure I was going to win this
one if he hadn’t been pulled off of me.” I tried not to flinch as
my father put a hand on my shoulder. He bowed to the royal
family.

“Your Majesty, if it suits you, I’d like to
get my son to some medical attention.”

The king smiled and nodded. “By all means,
Sir James.”

My father turned me around and started
walking toward the exit gate.

“Chael! Chael! Chael! Chael!” The chanting
barely registered as I stumbled toward my horse.

I swung onto Klora with some difficulty and
kicked him into a canter, suddenly eager to get away from the
arena. By the time we’d reached my uncle’s, every muscle in my body
hurt. I stumbled into the house, dragging the leg with the stab
wound.