Dueling the Suitors: A King Thrushbeard Retelling

1. The Second Powerful

1

The Second Powerful

A storia panted for air as she reached her brother’s door and banged on it, hugging her red panda to her chest.

“Come in, Storie.”

Of course, he knew it was her. There was only one person in the whole castle who didn’t know how to knock .

Astoria let herself in and shut the door behind her. Emmett sat at his writing desk, pouring himself into a notebook. He was a vision of calm and poise, in contrast to the storm brewing inside her and the wild chase she’d made to his door.

Merely seeing him relieved her like she had broken through the surface and inhaled the air.

“Oh, Emmett, you wouldn’t believe what Father is up to!” She stomped towards him, anger rolling off her in invisible waves.

Emmett looked up from his notebook and arched an eyebrow at her. “You look furious, little one. What did he do?”

“Something absolutely drastic and utterly outrageous!”

Emmett closed his notebook, keeping the enchanted quill between the pages, and leaned back in his chair. “I am listening.”

“He wants to sell me to the highest bidder in the seven kingdoms!”

“What?” Emmett leaped to his feet, his eyes flaring. There it was, his fierce protectiveness that she so desperately wanted to see after discovering her father’s betrayal. “Tell me you are in jest, Astoria.”

“I wish I was. But, Emmett, he is here—right in Father’s study!” A tendril of fear curled around her heart. Not that she would be forced into marriage—her father knew better than to force her—but this man was unlike the men who usually tried to woo her and received her insults.

Emmett’s eyes narrowed. “Who is this ‘he’?” He looked like he wanted to barge into their father’s study right away and strangle the man-in-question with his bare hands.

How pleasant that would be. However, she couldn’t allow her brother to walk into his demise. This man was not just anyone.

“The Wizard of Arden,” she said.

“What?” Emmett hissed in disbelief.

“You didn’t know about his visit either?”

“Of course not! Do you really think I would sit here in peace if I had a clue of this ridiculous scheme?”

No. Neither did she expect him to lose his composure easily. Emmett barely lost his cool; he was better at composure and maintaining a stoic mask than her or Silas. He rarely projected his feelings too, but of course, not around her. He was more Emmett than Crown Prince Emmett when they were together.

“Do you think Father only wanted us to find out in time? Which is stupid anyway, because I sensed the wizard—his magic —the moment he entered our walls.”

“What does he want?”

Astoria looked down at Skylar, her pet, and saw him staring up at her with his wide, amber eyes that were too intelligent for an ordinary animal. She combed her slender fingers through his red fur and met her brother’s waiting patient gaze.

“Emperor Cyrus is sending troops to the Emoran borders. Wizard Orion thinks a union between two powerful Mages within the unconquered seven kingdoms will magnify their powers and it will keep the Emperor away. He asked for my hand in marriage! How does he know about my powers, though? Father, of course, did not waste a breath before saying yes.”

Emmett’s eyes represented a storm. “And what makes him think there should be a union between you and him? ”

“He claims he is second most powerful to Emperor Cyrus himself,” Astoria explained seriously, taking a step forward and dropping her voice. “And Emmett, I think he might be. The magic I sensed in him wasn’t normal. There is something dark about him. Do you think he practices dark magic or something? Because it is impossible that he could be a Half-blood.”

Emmett’s dark brows puckered as he pondered the thought. “If he thinks he can keep Emperor Cyrus away at all, he has to be powerful enough, yes. And since Half-blood Mages don’t exist anymore, his only source is dark magic. Must be why he took upon himself the title of a wizard .”

Astoria wrinkled her nose in disgust. “But, Emmett, I don’t want to be married.”

“And you will not.” Emmett grabbed her shoulders in a gentle grasp and stared down at her with determination. “Especially not to a bidder. You are my sister, not a trophy for showcasing.”

That was all she needed to hear. Astoria knew she could count on him; he had always been her anchor in life. She despised the very idea of marriage because she knew it would separate her from Emmett. The mere thought of life without her older brother was horrible.

If only Emmett was King. Her life would be so much easier. No one would tell her she needed to get married.

“Let me guess, you sent little Sky into Father’s study to eavesdrop on them,” Emmett said.

Skylar fixed his gaze on Emmett, his golden eyes narrowing beneath furrowed brows—a fierce, almost comical glare for a red panda, yet unmistakably serious. He hated it when someone called him little .

“I had to. I was curious as well as suspicious, so I hid behind the curtains and sent Sky after them to Father’s study. He projected his mind to me, so not only did I hear what they were saying but I saw their reactions as well. I have never seen Father look so greedy, and when he exchanged glances with Marcia, he looked so ugly!”

“As much as I understand the gravity of the situation, my darling sister, that last bit was an insult to my own face,” Emmett said with a twitch of his lips. He was the spitting image of their father and he had always hated it.

Astoria swatted at his arm. “You know I did not mean that. I only meant—” She stopped short as a knock sounded on the door. “I have to hide!”

“What?”

“I have a hunch it is Marcia. She volunteered to fetch me to meet Wizard Orion just before Sky and I took off.” She crawled beneath his bed and hissed, “Go get the door!”

Emmett grumbled something under his breath and stalked off to answer the door.

Once Astoria settled securely, Skylar wriggled out of her hold and turned to face her. Under the bed? Really, Princess? The closet would have been better.

Shush! She narrowed her eyes at her red panda admonishingly.

It’s not like anyone but you can hear me.

I am trying to listen, silly.

Right. Forgot.

“Emmett, dear,” Marcia greeted Emmett. Astoria wanted to gag, like every other time she heard her sickeningly sweet voice despite how many years it had been since the woman became family . “Have you seen your sister?”

“And why are you looking for my sister, may I ask?” Emmett asked in a clipped tone.

“Oh, no need to be so cross with me, dear boy. Can I not ask after my stepdaughter whenever I wish?

Skylar snorted, and Astoria imagined her brother fighting off the urge to roll his eyes.

“I have not seen her since breakfast. Perhaps you should look in the library.”

“I was originally headed there, but I met Silas on the way and he told me he saw her heading this way. She is not in her room, so I assumed she would be with you.”

Traitor. Astoria clenched her teeth. Of course, he would betray me too. He would no longer have to endure his mother’s murderer if I were married off.

Now, now, Princess. Don’t be hasty. Except you, me, and now Prince Emmett, no one knows what happened in your father’s study. Especially not Prince Silas.

Are you defending him?

No. But I thought you wanted to listen to a certain conversation rather than have me clogging your mind?

Astoria pursed her lips in annoyance and listened to her brother and her stepmother.

“… like to have a word with her. Won’t you help me find her?”

There was a beat of silence before Emmett asked, “What does Father want with her?”

“Oh, it is pleasant news.”

“And your definition of pleasant is?”

“Why don’t you come with me and find out?”

“In a moment.”

Astoria heard Emmett retreat into the room and walk towards his desk. A moment later, he walked back to the door and slammed it shut.

Skylar poked his head out. The coast is clear.

Astoria scrambled out after him and went straight to the desk. There, as she expected, was a note from Emmett.

Stay here until I return.

Skylar hopped onto the chair and then to the desk. What does it say?

He wants me to stay here until he returns.

And how long would that be?

I have no idea, Sky. But the longer the better.

Princess, you cannot hide forever.

Astoria sighed deeply. I know, Sky.

I have an idea. When she didn’t respond, he continued, you must confront your father and the wizard.

She gave a hollow laugh. I know I have to, someday.

I am suggesting that the day should be today.

Astoria gaped at Skylar. You are not serious, are you?

He dipped his chin. One hundred and one percent, Princess.

Well, I refuse. That day is not today.

Astoria.

Astoria’s eyes widened. He only used her name when he was utterly and completely serious. And Skylar being serious was not a good sign.

Skylar tilted his head and gave her a penetrating look. You are a princess. And as one, you are not supposed to act like a coward. As long as I stay your sidekick, I will not let you cower away from a shaggy old wizard, nor will I let you be married to him. Therefore, heed my words. Go to your father’s study, listen to what he has to say first, and when he mentions your betrothal, you must tell him that you refuse to get married. Of course, he will get mad and demand it of you since he cannot possibly ‘force’ you. Then, Princess, you shall tell him that you will marry the wizard on one condition.

Skylar paused with an intelligent gleam in his eyes. Astoria held her breath. Realizing he was waiting for her to ask, she prompted, and the condition is?

Skylar’s fluffy, rounded features curled into a smile. You will challenge him to a magical duel. If you win, you will not marry him. But if he does—ah, foretelling’s whisper: he will not.

And how are you certain he will not?

Because he is not the second most powerful to Emperor Cyrus, you are.

Astoria stifled a laugh. What?

I know you are shocked, Princess, but I have known this from the moment I met you. Who knows, there is even a chance that you are equal in power to the Emperor. From everything we have heard of him and his powers, I am certain of that.

But how? You have never seen me do anything half as impressive as what we hear he does.

No, but the magic I sense in you is equal to the powers we have heard Emperor Cyrus has. You have yet a lot to learn about your powers, Princess. So, you are powerful enough to beat the wizard in a duel. Think about it, Princess, this is a superior plan! Your family is well aware you are the most powerful of all the Mages in Daliston. Therefore, you can tell your father that you will only marry the one who bests you in a duel. That, he who bests you is the only one who would stand a chance against Emperor Cyrus. However, make sure you don’t tell anyone that you are the ‘actual’ second most powerful to the Emperor.

She was the second most powerful to the Emperor of Draken, the mighty and unbeatable Cyrus the Great? That was ridiculous.

It is the truth, Astoria.

She sighed in defeat. She had to trust Skylar. He was a mystical red panda who was believed to be from Windlewade, the realm of Mages, where the original Mages—the Purebloods—lived.

Centuries ago, Pureblood Mages used to live among normal humans. However, as many of them fell in love with normal humans and had children, and the king of the Mages learned that the children inherited powers from their Mage parent, he locked the portal between the two realms. He hated normal humans and loathed the idea of Mage magic running through their veins.

Therefore, the Mages who were trapped in the human realm were denied the chance to ever step back into their realm. They grew old and died here.

Everyone in their bloodline possessed powers, but with each generation, the magic became weaker. Therefore, while the ancestors had a wide range of powers, the current generation of Mages could only use telekinesis and generate beams of light, bursts of force, and other forms of energy for offensive or defensive purposes.

But not Astoria.

Her powers, however, were still a mystery, especially because she was the only one in her family with the gift. According to history, there was not a single Mage in the royal line, or her mother’s. Now, Skylar claimed she was the second most powerful Mage in the entire continent.

How was that possible?

I have never told you this before, but your powers are exactly like those of a Half-blood.

Astoria laughed with an unladylike snort. Now, that is utterly ridiculous. I still don’t know how I am even a Mage. My father is a normal human, and so was my mother. My brothers are normal too.

I wish I had an answer. But Princess, I am serious about the duel. Your father will not disagree with you on this since it will be more like you are volunteering to see if the wizard is as powerful as he claims—which he is not—and you can prove that to your father. And like that, you will be free from marriage!

Astoria stared at him. You are sure?

I believe the only one who can best you is Emperor Cyrus himself.

She smiled at his words.

Strangely, it was assuring.