Read Dragon Harper for Free Online

told her firmly. He turned back to Vaxoram, raising his head to stare at the taller boy. “You apologize.”
    “To her?” Vaxoram demanded, a sneer on his face.
    “To both of us,” Kindan replied, stepping toward the older apprentice. Kindan was shivering, and he realized that not all of it was with rage; some of it was from the cold, wet clothing he wore.
    Vaxoram peered down at him consideringly. He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
    Kindan’s temper snapped. In a move that surprised him, he swung his arm swiftly, palm open, and slapped Vaxoram hard on the cheek.
    “I challenge you,” he declared.
    “Kindan, no!” Nonala cried.
    But a hot, burning anger had overcome Kindan and her words didn’t even register.
    “Challenge me? Do you think the Masters will permit it?” Vaxoram snorted. He bore down on Kindan. “No, I’ll beat you to a pulp here and now, and you’ll not tell anyone, or I’ll do it to you
and
your friends.”
    Some of the other apprentices looked at one another apprehensively.
    “Kindan,” Nonala pleaded. Kindan heard her worry for him, but he also felt her concern for the long-term repercussions. She knew as well as he did that if he gave in now, Vaxoram would not only torment him more but would also see it as permission to harass both Nonala and Kelsa. He couldn’t allow that, no matter what.
    “No, you won’t,” he said. “And if you beat me, I’ll still be here and I won’t give in.”
    “Let’s see,” Vaxoram said, slamming a fist down into Kindan’s nose and lips, pulping them.
    Kindan felt his teeth rip into his lips and swallowed the hot blood that spewed from the tattered inside of his mouth. It only made him angrier. He swung, but Vaxoram had stepped back, smirking, admiring his handiwork. Then Vaxoram bore in again for another blow to Kindan’s jaw, but before he connected, a voice rang out. “Hold!”
    Everyone in the room froze as Weyrleader M’tal stormed into the room.
    “What is going on here?” the dragonrider demanded, turning from Kindan to Vaxoram, his eyes narrowing as he took in Nonala’s distraught, teary-eyed face.
    “I challenge Vaxoram,” Kindan said, his words slurred with blood and pain. “I call him a coward and a bully and a man who would use his strength to have a woman.”
    There were gasps from the entire room, including M’tal and Nonala. Eyes locked onto Kindan. In front of him, Vaxoram’s anger was a palpable thing; the older lad’s breathing was ragged and outraged.
    Kindan had issued the harshest condemnation possible of a man on Pern—that he would use his strength to overpower a woman.
    “I demand the right of cold steel,” Vaxoram responded through clenched teeth, his eyes tight, beady, and glaring angrily down at Kindan’s bloody face.
    “You shall have it,” Kindan replied, matching the taller lad’s glare. He caught the look of surprise in Vaxoram’s eyes and, deeper under it, a flash of fear.
    “Kindan!” Nonala shouted. “No! He’ll kill you.”
    “Are you certain of this, Kindan?” M’tal asked intently.
    “Yes,” Kindan said.
    “And if you prove your claim?” M’tal asked. In a duel such as this, if Kindan prevailed, he had the right to exact whatever penalty he desired, given the severity of the claim.
    Kindan stared up coldly into Vaxoram’s eyes and saw the fear grow there. Kindan could have Vaxoram banished from the Harper Hall. Kindan knew that before coming to the Harper Hall, Vaxoram had been the son of a minor holder. If banished, Vaxoram would certainly not be accepted back by his family, particularly under such shame. Banishing Vaxoram would be worse than Shunning him, and Kindan had seen enough of Shunning. His thoughts turned to C’tov and his Shunned father.
    “He’ll serve me,” he said.
    “Never!” Vaxoram roared.
    “Heard and witnessed,” M’tal declared, overriding Vaxoram. He looked at the older apprentice. “And what is your penalty?”
    Kindan met Vaxoram’s eyes.