Champion's Bond

by Rinelle Grey

  “Jasyn has a plan to talk to the humans and see if we can negotiate with them.”

  Bekinda frowned. She hesitated, but the urge to speak up was too strong. “But, Kriss,” she looked at Jasyn, then back at her friend, “excuse me for saying this, but didn’t that already fail?”

  “That’s because we didn’t have enough information,” Jasyn said calmly. “We can’t just walk into the human village and expect them to listen to us. But while I was in the human village, I found out about a powerful magic item that will allow me to use magic there. Once I have it, they won’t be able to touch me. They will have no choice but to listen. This time, I will succeed.”

  He wanted to explain more. To tell them that they were once human and could be again. But a quick glance at their faces said that now wasn’t the time. That it would be too much for them to take in all at once. He was already asking enough of them, to consider peace instead of war.

  “A magic item?” Bekinda looked sceptical. “Do you believe that, Kriss?”

  It was the second time tonight that someone had asked her if she believed in Jasyn’s plan. She’d hesitated when Mugos asked her, but she didn’t this time. “I do.”

  Her reply warmed Jasyn’s heart and filled him with nervousness at the same time.

  The entire crowd went silent.

  When Bekinda looked back at Jasyn, there was a new respect in her eyes.

  Then she frowned. “But if you’re not planning on using violence, then how did you… defeat… Mugos?”

  “They used magic,” Mugos spat. He pointed at Jasyn.

  There were gasps from the crowd. Kriss reached for her sword as the trolls edged closer.

  Jasyn stopped her hand before it reached the weapon. “Not that way,” he said quietly.

  Kriss stared at him, then folded her arms.

  “Magic?” Bekinda said quickly, staring at Kriss.

  “When Kriss dared to suggest that there might be a better way of doing things, Mugos asked if Kriss was challenging him,” Jasyn said loudly. “He may have been pretending to ask, but in reality, he was giving her no choice about fighting him, counting on the fact that she couldn’t beat him alone. I said we could beat him together.”

  “Of course you could, if you were using magic,” Mugos growled. “It was still cheating.”

  “You said that physical strength was more powerful than magic,” Jasyn said to him. “How could it be, if I beat you?”

  “That’s stupid,” Orlis called out. He turned to the crowd. “Letting a champion win by magic endangers us all because they can’t use magic in the human village. That’s why magic is a fake power, not a real one.”

  Jasyn raised his voice higher than Kriss’s brother, amplifying it with magic. “Didn't you hear what I just said? There is a gem in the human village, one that both prevents anyone using magic in the village and allows the one holding it to do so. Once I have that, I can change the troll’s future forever.”

  Orlis put his hands on his hips. “And how do you plan to get it?”

  “I’m going to help him,” Kriss said firmly. “That’s why we’re working together. Strength is part of who the trolls are, but we’ve overlooked our magic for far too long. It’s time for the two to work together to achieve a permanent victory.”

  They were starting to come around, he could see. Trolls exchanged looks with each other, and there was a different expression on their faces now.

  Hope.

  “Right up until one of you stabs the other in the back,” Orlis sneered. “Then the trolls are right back to where they started.”

  That was always going to be a sticking point. And they had the perfect solution. But Jasyn couldn’t voice it. He needed to talk to Kriss first, to be sure she agreed.

  He knew it was too much to ask of her.

  “Jasyn and I are getting married.”

  Her words started a flutter in Jasyn’s stomach. It was out. Public. Official.

  She’d agreed.

  Would it be enough?

  He searched the faces of the crowd. They looked uncertain, hopeful, but no one was willing to be the first to accept.

  Then, from the back of the crowd, someone cheered and began to clap. Jasyn recognised Uma. The sound rang loud in the silence, then Bekinda joined in. Then another troll, and another, until the whole crowd was clapping and cheering.

  Mugos’s head jerked up and he stared, first at the crowd, then at Jasyn.

  He’d had no such acclaim when he’d become champion. No one had, as far as Jasyn knew.

  The trolls were eager for this change.

  Jasyn let out his breath. He’d spent the whole night acting on instinct, pushing himself to do things he’d only ever dreamed of. And now, somehow, he found himself joint champion with Kriss.

  And engaged to her.

  She’d said it to the entire camp. That meant it was true.

  Of course, it didn’t mean that she cared about him. How could she? She barely knew him.

  There was no way she could have been thinking and dreaming about him all these years, as he’d been dreaming of her. And she’d probably tell him so, as soon as they had a moment alone.

  She couldn’t begrudge him the delusion, though. What troll wouldn't dream of having a chance to be with Kriss? Only Jasyn’s dreams had nothing to do with her being the alpha female in the camp, and everything to do with the sensitive side he was sure she had.

  Maybe now he'd at least have a chance to find out a bit more about her.

  Or maybe he was dreaming again.

  “Where did Mugos go?” Kriss hissed in his ear.

  Jasyn looked around, but the former champion was nowhere to be seen. He shrugged. “I guess he didn't want to hang around and hear people cheering us. Must be a bit disheartening, to find out that trolls didn't worship you after all.” His answer was louder than Kriss’s question, and the nearby trolls overheard him and snickered.

  Kriss didn't say anything, just grabbed his elbow, her fingers biting into his skin, and said loudly, “Sorry everyone. As I'm sure you can understand, it's been a big night for us. Jasyn and I are going to bed.”

  That caused more snickers and a few wolf whistles. Jasyn felt his face burning, though Kriss’s expression didn’t change. She pulled him back towards the tent.

  “Give us some privacy,” she said to the guards, “but keep an eye out for Mugos. If he comes anywhere near the tent, raise the alarm.”

  Then she let the tent flap fall behind her and they were alone.

  Any hopes Jasyn had for a quiet moment of getting to know Kriss were immediately dashed.

  “Letting Mugos live was the biggest mistake you've made tonight. And, considering how many mistakes you've made, that's quite an achievement,” she said. She put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

  “I couldn't kill him. That's no way to start a peaceful reign.”

  “I would have had no problems doing it for you.”

  Jasyn shook his head. “I won't hide behind you. And I won't use you to do something I can't do myself.”

  Kriss raised an eyebrow. “You won't? Then how do you plan to get your hands on one of those gems? Walk in and ask for one? Look, I'm all for peace, Jasyn, but you're not going to get it without a few battles. And you know you can't do that, or you wouldn't have asked me to rule with you.”

  “I know,” Jasyn said softly. “And I accept that. This is worth fighting for. When we go after that gem, I'm going with you.”

  Kriss folded her arms. “I'm not taking you into the human village again. You're a liability.”

  “Then teach me to fight.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Now you're willing to fight? You expect me to believe that, after you wouldn't even touch a sword?”

  There was only one way to get that gem. He couldn't use his magic to sneak in and get it. And he couldn't ask Kriss to go if he wouldn't.

  He couldn't sit at home and hope she returned. He had to learn to fight.

  “Yes.�
��

  Their eyes met and Jasyn found himself holding his breath.

  Finally she nodded. Just nodded.

  He was going into battle again, willingly this time.

  How had it come to this? Only a few hours ago, Jasyn was bemoaning the fact that there was more food on the champion’s table, and now…

  Now he was the champion. Co-champion anyway.

  The thought was inconceivable.

  Jasyn sat down on the edge of the bed, the champion’s bed. It was soft and luxurious, with real wool blankets. The exact opposite of the pile of furs on the floor that was his own bed. Jasyn looked around the room at the wooden table and chairs, the patterned rugs on the floor, and the bowl of—was that fresh fruit? Where had that even come from? The raid tonight?

  “How did this happen?” he asked.

  The question didn't make much sense, especially not in reply to Kriss’s comments about his unwillingness to fight, but she seemed to understand. She sat down next to him. “I think you may have talked yourself into the position.”

  Jasyn gave an involuntary laugh. “I think this is the worst trouble I've ever talked myself into.” He turned to look at her and found her looking earnestly back. “Can we really do this, Kriss?”

  Her expression turned grim. “We don't have a lot of choice at this point. You can't back out after defeating the champion.” She hesitated, then added, “But if you really don't feel capable of doing the job, I can do it alone if you want.”

  Jasyn searched her face. Was this what she really wanted? Was she hoping he would back out? He couldn't tell from her expression. “Would you prefer that?”

  She'd make a good champion. Probably far better than him. She'd be fair, but tough. Exactly what the trolls needed.

  Turning away from him, she stared at the opposite wall for a few moments, before saying, “I didn't expect this job either. I won't say challenging Mugos had never crossed my mind, but it wasn't really what I wanted.” She turned back to him. “All I ever really wanted was to be left in peace. But, of course, that doesn't happen for trolls—the only peace you get is one you make yourself. So if I have to, I'll take on the role.”

  Jasyn wasn't sure if he felt relieved or disappointed. Was it possible to feel both at the same time? “I'm sure you'll be a great leader,” he said. “And you'll probably do far better without me.”

  “I wouldn't be so sure about that.” Kriss's voice was gruff.

  Had he heard her right? “What do you mean by that?”

  “I mean that cheer out there tonight wasn't for me. If I'd become the champion by myself, trolls would nod and accept the leadership change, but they wouldn't be excited.”

  “That was Uma.” Jasyn dismissed her comments. “He's my friend. Of course he's going to cheer for me.”

  Kriss shook her head. “That cheer wasn't just from your friend. Everyone joined in. And it wasn't because Uma started it. They cheered because you were offering them something different from what they'd known. Something that sounded worthwhile.” She paused, then said quietly, “And because you sounded like you meant it.”

  Her voice sounded like she believed him, too. That thought intimidated him even more than all the trolls believing it. Jasyn swallowed. “Do you think so?”

  Kriss nodded seriously. “If I took over leadership, they might accept it, if I can make them fear me enough, but they're never going to cheer for me the way they cheered for you today.”

  She really was serious. She thought the people liked him more than they liked her.

  “I'm willing to bet they would,” Jasyn said. “You'd be a strong leader, willing to do whatever was necessary to protect the trolls, but fair too. Everyone would love you.”

  Kriss shook her head. “It's kind of you to say so, but the reality is, the only reason I ever wanted to be champion was for myself. That's not the right motivation for a leader.”

  “If it ends up being best for the trolls, it doesn't matter what your motivation is,” Jasyn pointed out.

  She shrugged uncomfortably. “That’s what I always told myself. But it’s not what motivated you, was it?”

  Him? What had motivated him? He couldn’t explain it. A sense of injustice? Did he really think he could do it any better than Mugos? “I wanted things to change, but was that just for me, or for all trolls? I don’t really know,” he admitted.

  “Our motivations don’t really matter very much at this point. We’re already here. So do you want to do this?”

  Could someone like him, from the bottom of the food chain, ever do anything useful for the trolls? Or would he just mess up, like he'd messed up everything so far tonight?

  Could he back away from the possibility? What if this was what he was meant to do? There was only one thing he knew.

  “I can't do it alone,” he said softly. “Will you help me?”

  Kriss was silent. She knew what he meant. This was about more than help. It was about marriage.

  He should never have asked. Trolls like Kriss didn't marry trolls like him. She'd never be happy with him, he was too staid and boring for her.

  “I think… I think we could work well together.”

  Jasyn almost held his breath. Was she saying..?

  “But this partnership means more than just working together. We both know that,” she continued. “The reason the trolls trust that we won’t kill each other is because the magical bond means that if I killed you, I’d die too. But the bond only forms when we have sex.”

  Jasyn felt his cheeks heat. She sounded so matter of fact. As though it meant nothing.

  But the thought tied his stomach up in knots. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to—he was more than attracted to her. But he didn’t want it to be like that. He wanted her to be intimate with him because she wanted to, not just to keep their position as champions.

  “Well, I don’t plan on killing you, and I’m hoping you feel the same way,” Jasyn said. “So the trolls can believe what they want. We don’t need to actually do it.”

  Kriss considered his words for a minute, and Jasyn wished he could read her expression. Maybe she did plan on killing him? The thought didn’t frighten him any more than Kriss herself did. He knew his magic could protect him if it came down to it. The thought that she might want to get rid of him did disappoint him though.

  “I suppose so,” Kriss said slowly. “If the trolls believe we are bonded.”

  Jasyn nodded, relieved. “Good. I’ll speak to the circle and make sure they don’t spread the word. The warriors don’t know enough about magic to be able to tell…” He broke off when he realised Kriss was staring at him.

  “What circle? Wait. You mean… they can tell?”

  “The magic circle, where the mages gather to discuss magic and train new mages. And yes, the bond is quite obvious if you know what you’re looking for.”

  Jasyn was surprised she didn’t know. But then, she’d never studied magic. Warriors tended to ignore its existence.

  “But if I speak to the circle, they’ll make sure it won’t get out. It’s not done, to speak of such things anyway.”

  “Maybe not if you’re talking about normal trolls,” Kriss said dryly. “But we’re the champions. Do you really think no one is going to whisper to each other? Rumours will spread and our plans will be ruined.”

  “No, I’m sure the circle can keep our secret. They’re used to keeping secrets. There’s no need for us to… to…” He couldn’t even say the words out loud. “I didn’t intend to put that sort of expectation on you.”

  Kriss stared at him for a moment, her eyes dark. Surely she believed him. Then she sighed. “Intention or not, it looks like we’re committed now. But it can wait until after the wedding. I think everyone could understand that.”

  “Of course,” Jasyn said quickly. “The serious nature of the bond means most trolls don't… don't… do that, until after the wedding. There’s nothing abnormal in that. And there’s no hurry to have the wedding either…”

 
; He trailed off as Kriss scowled. “You were the one who came up with this charade, Jasyn. You know how important the bond is for what we’re trying to do here. We can’t both not have sex and not get married. There will be enough unrest in the trolls after tonight’s events, we don’t need to add more. We need to get married soon.”

  “Not until after the battle,” Jasyn retaliated. “We have the perfect excuse. We can’t risk both of us dying.”

  Kriss shook her head. “This raid is going to be bigger than we’ve planned before. We need the trolls feeling safe and secure. We have the wedding first. The night before the raid should be perfect, everyone will be feeling positive for the raid.”

  Jasyn swallowed, and nodded. “All right,” he agreed.

  That gave him several months. In that time, he could convince her that they could keep the secret. That they didn’t have to do this if she didn’t want to. He couldn’t bear the thought of it being any other way.

  Kriss nodded and stood up. “Right, well I’m going home to get some sleep. It’s been a big day.”

  Jasyn relaxed. “Good idea, I think I’ll head off too.”

  Kriss stared at him, then started to laugh. “This is your home now.”

  His home? Jasyn looked around the huge tent. Then shook his head. “No, you should stay here. That makes more sense. You’re the warrior.”

  “This isn’t the warrior’s tent, it’s the champion’s.”

  “I would never have become the champion without you. I wouldn’t have even thought of it.”

  “And I wouldn’t have won that fight without you,” Kriss countered.

  Jasyn tried to think. Who would the trolls outside expect to see staying in the champion’s tent?

  There was only one answer. “I think we both need to stay here.”

  A frown crossed Kriss’s face. “There’s only one bed. I already said I wasn’t sleeping with you.”

  “Pretending to be married is about more than sleeping together. It’s about a relationship and a partnership. And that means sharing a bed. Even if we just sleep.”

  It would also be a good way for him to show her that the mages could keep their secret, and that he didn't expect anything of her. When she found out no one knew if they had been intimate or not, then she’d be more relaxed by the time the wedding night came around.