The Boon of Alon

EPILOGUE

Today is the last day of the first major tourney on the Pangessan circuit, and I'm still annoyed that I have to be here.

"When there's been a lot of change, people like to cling to the familiar," Chama told me before it started.

"That doesn't explain why I have to go, and don't say it's 'cause I'm champion," I retorted, but she laughed. And then Suthi talked me into it anyway somehow. Possibly with lots of kisses. And also how we need to be more visible in Pangessa so that people trust us again and so on, but mostly the kisses.

Suthi is the only reason this bullshit has been tolerable. She's done the victory lap before, for one thing—for another, I can hide behind her when our fans get annoying.

"Ready, sunflower?" Suthi asks me as we wait to enter the arena. Admittedly, it does also help that the weather has been beautiful all week. Down off the mountain, it actually feels like spring.

"Depends." I tighten my ponytail—my hair is finally long enough to tie back again. "Are you going to lose on purpose to make me swordfight again?"

"He was easy. You didn't even need your boon against him."

"Not the point."

Suthi nudges me. "I won't lose on purpose. But can you take care of the mage this time? I always hate what you guys do with sand."

I have to laugh. "Okay."

Suthi beams at me. She's resplendent in her new armor—she thought the little gilded bits were silly at first, but Tack and I insisted and she honestly looks like a dream. Plus, they'll match Yrite when he finally bonds her; or, rather, when she finally lets him. She's made a lot of progress, but we're still working on the confidence thing.

A horn sounds and the gate opens. I follow Suthi out into the arena as the crowd hollers—much smaller than the one that saw us meet, but plenty loud. I spot Rev and Lemi among them, cheering like proud parents specifically to embarrass us. Erno wanted to come too, but he hasn't quite made it off the throne yet—we're hoping that by the time the Royal Tourney comes up the name will be outdated.

Gred's here, though, cheering next to Rev, which is actually kind of sweet—he doesn't have to care, or pretend to care, what we're up to anymore. Ferdah found him in Runsta a month ago. He'd retired, which is not strictly allowed by the oath that asks us to die in service of justice, but the conversations about what a rider should actually do and be are still ongoing. And what were we gonna do, kill him for wanting to sit on a beach all day?

But that's another day's problem; today's now stands in front of us, across the sand. A young man with sword in hand—the younger man behind him looks like his brother. It's common for local kids to join the tourneys that stop near their towns, but these two must have some talent to have made it to the finals.

"Aw man, they're just kids," says Suthi.

"Don't lose on purpose." I don't want to be here but c'mon, we're both champions. It'd be pretty pathetic to lose in the first tourney of the season.

"Fine, fine."

The horn sounds and Suthi darts forward. I sink the mage boy into the sand—it's a classic for a reason. Suthi's fight against the other warrior only lasts as long as it does because she's audibly giving him tips on his footwork.

And then it's over and we've won again.

Suthi comes and lifts me off my feet, spinning us around, and the crowd cheers. I think they like the whole true love thing better than actually watching us fight—it's all anyone asks about, anyway. I still haven't quite figured out what to say about it, mostly 'cause I don't think it's anyone's business, so I usually let Suthi tell the story.

"You realize this means we'll have to go to more tourneys," she says in my ear as she puts me down.

"Unfortunately," I say. "Do you think they'll have figured out what to rename the Royal Tournament by the time it happens?"

"I heard someone say yesterday they might just keep calling it that. For nostalgia or something."

"Lame."

We're handed our modest winnings—and hey, we get to keep all of it, isn't that nice—and we're about to finally stop waving at everyone and leave when there's a commotion in the stands. Bystanders scatter as a man with the royal crest of Pangessa painted boldly across his tunic pushes through them and jumps over the fence into the arena.

"Long live the king!" he shrieks at us, drawing a sword.

"Again?" I sigh. There are more people than you'd think still violently loyal to shitty dead men. Periodically they find us and make themselves a problem, but this is the first time we've had an audience for it.

"Former Knight, I think," says Suthi, as the tourney staff clear the area. In moments, we're alone on the sands with the newcomer, who paces like he's trying to intimidate us.

"Get him!" Rev hollers from the stands. A few uncertain cheers agree and peter out.

"Do you wanna handle it, or should I?" Suthi asks.

"You got the last one," I say, and hold out a hand. "Sword please?"

She grins and hands it over. "All yours." Then she kisses my temple and backs off. I lift the sword, and the bystanders—now watching from wherever they'd scattered to around the stands—grow hushed. A tourney duel is one thing, but this is a real fight, and though I don't intend to kill this guy, he's definitely gonna try to kill me.

But that's nothing new. As he lunges toward me, I activate my boon and step forward to meet him. I'm a rider—and I have something to prove.

It's showtime.

*** A/N: Yayyyyy it's done. As far as I know, no one's actually read any of this, but if you're lurking out there, thanks for reading. :) Happy holidays! ***