Rivals
Five villages send their chosen to The Run. For Bram and Rune, coming second was never part of the plan.
Bram has trained for this since he was old enough to understand what winning meant. In the arena, he is Darkhound, disciplined, relentless and determined to leave no room for anything that might dull his edge.
Rune arrives at it from the opposite direction. Instinctive, brash and far too pleased with himself, he knows exactly how to get beneath Bram's skin, and seems to enjoy doing it.
Bram takes the Chase. Rune takes the Hold. With one trial remaining, neither is willing to give an inch.
But somewhere between trying to outthink each other and refusing to look away, the rivalry begins to feel like something neither of them trained for.
