Allured

Ch. 14

Raul glowered at Banu across the table as he felt restless. Yesterday, he was able to get rid of his restless because Theron kept him occupied with his presence. It was a very nice experience since they mostly stayed in his bed for most of the day, making idle chat to silence. Waking up to that handsome face? That was something he could get used to.

Theron had went out to practice this morning, which reminded Raul that the games were still going on. Hemissed out on the third day of games, which apparently Theron lost to as well. Today, which was the fourth day, was the flag team. So, of course, Raul would like to go see how that was going to play out even if he was supposed to have his second day of rest.

"I want to go." Raul told her. "I have to see how today and tomorrow play out. I can't stay oblivious on what's going on forever or I'll regret it when I do find out."

Banu sighed, closing her eyes, and rest her forehead against her palm of her hand. "Just because you can move, doesn't mean you're not still sore."

"I'm a man. I can handle it." Raul grumbled, feeling like he was being treated like a child. "Let me go watch the games. I won't be doing anything else but sit and watch."

She peeked at him with one eye open. "Are you really going to sit and watch?" She asked, suspiciously. "I saw how you're like with him. You might end up doing a particular activity---"

"Ah!" Raul purposely interrupted her. "I realize I must go meet Parnell for the games." He hurried towards the door before she could start getting up. "I'll see you later! I swear I'll be less careless!"

Banu gaped and got up. "Raul, you piece---"

He was out of the door and shutting it before she could follow. "Now to freedom!" Raul took off running as the last thing he needed was to be within her sights. It was true that he felt really sore, uncomfortably so, but he wanted to see the tag fight today.

The tag team was always done in a huge field that was on the outside of the left village. It was a direction that only people can come and leave the village if they wish to visit like merchants or other villagers, especially ones that were family related to this one.

Thankfully, his home was closer to the outside of the village because they take care of the animals that were usually roaming in those fields. Because of that, it didn't take him long to find the crowd for the games. He hurried over to a higher spot so he can peer down at them versus looking straight on. It was something he always did since it was easier to see everything.

Obviously, he came later than most people since it started much earlier. Right now, it was considered mid-game. The teams were split by the mythical legends that they listened to. It changes every year, but this year it was Fafnir versus Sigurd. Fafnir was a dragon that was a son of Rodmar that guards gold, who later gets slain by Sigurd, who acquires the treasure of Andvari.

Raul sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "The only thing that would have been good in that treasure is Loki's magical ring." He sighed. "But legends stay as legends as they say." He looked over and notice that the Fafnir team, whose flag colors were green and blue, was in the lead against the Sigurd team, whose colors were red and yellow. It was still a close game. Twelve points versus ten points was the current score.

Without thinking about it, Raul sought for Theron, and it didn't take long. He was on the Sigurd team. Theron wiped his brow as he began to talk to his team members. To his surprise, he noticed that Welch was on the same team. He swallowed. Welch – that was right. How could he of forgotten him and his confession?

He groaned, feeling like an idiot. "I didn't even really properly thought of him for his sake..." He sighed and look at Welch in the distance. "Well, that's my answer even though he'd be the safest option for me." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Should I tell him tonight? Or after the games are completely over?"

Raul didn't want to run away from one of his best friends. Perhaps getting it done and over with by doing it tonight would be a good idea. His gaze moved over to Theron again. All this only confirmed his feelings about him, and he can't decide if he was overjoyed with it or terrified since it was going by so quickly.

Perhaps he should go with the flow of things and see where it leads him. Raul rubbed the back of his neck again. Jump right off the cliff without worrying about the consequences? He let out a breath. Scary, but would be worth it if Theron was serious. A jump of fate they would call it.

Blinking, he moved away from his thoughts and realized he wasn't paying attention to the game at all, which started up again. Everyone had colored fabric to match their teams, but if it gets removed then you're disqualified as it's considered as "you're dead". Both teams lost a lot of their members, but the Fafnir team was still in the advantage of team members. Egil was on that team.

Wait. Raul looked around at the field again and realized there was a lot of holes in Theron's team's formation. He furrowed his eyebrows. "What are you doing Theron?" He mumbled. He knew he wasn't an idiot since he was raised by the chief. Narrowing his eyes, Raul wondered if he was doing this on purpose to catch Egil off guard or what.

Of course, Egil's team took advantage of those holes to make their attack. Tackling people, taking their fabric cloths, and going further into Theron's territory. To the flag.

Instantly, Raul got on his feet while he noticed that Theron was going to be up against Egil personally. When did that happen? His heart rate picked up. How did he miss that? He was so caught up with the strategy that he didn't see Egil reach Theron, who was protecting the flag behind him. How did they end up one-on-one together?

His eyes searched quickly and realized some people had taken out the other guards that was helping Theron protect the flag. Well, shit! This game was going by like lightning.

Swallowing, he flinched when Egil and Theron tackled each other to the ground to get each other's colored fabric. Obviously, they aren't allowed to use weapons, but doesn't mean fists won't hurt either. They tumbled over each other until Theron finally got the upper hand on getting on top of him and revealing that he got the flag.

Instead of looking defeated, Egil only smiled. Feeling bewildered, Raul didn't take time to process why when suddenly there was loud shouts that turned into cheering.

Feeling like something creeped up his back, he looked over and saw that a different raiding group had gotten the flag from Theron's team. Raul swallowed. A decoy for sacrifice. That was Egil's plan all along. He was the man in charge for their team, used himself as a decoy as well as sacrificed himself, so that his team would come out victorious. Did he knew that the plan would be successful? Probably not, but he trusted them anyways.

Raul let his legs crumble in surprise as he sat there. "What the hell was that?"

He could hear Theron laugh and helped Egil up. Theron patted his shoulder, and the two spoke some words together as they walked towards the group that was collecting the fabric and flags. Why did he looked so happy that he lost? Shouldn't he be more upset?

Raul frowned when he remembered that Theron had confessed that he didn't care for the games. He was going so strong--- until Raul's accident. Furrowing his eyebrows, Raul wondered if his accident became an excuse for him to do bad for the rest of the games. To purposely lose?

Now, that couldn't be it because he heard Theron won the game yesterday. Maybe he was trying to break even?

"Either way," Raul said, watching Theron, "I need to speak to him. I need to know if he's doing this on purpose."

Because if he was, Theron better have a good goddamn excuse for making himself and the chief looking bad to the village.