Chapter 11
Chapter eleven
War had begun, and I was staring down the first battle.
I could barely see the tops of the princes’ heads, but they were easy to spot with their sparkling gold circlets atop dark hair. I rubbed the back of my new ring, wondering if Atlas would notice if I tapped it, but decided against testing it while a ballroom full of guests were watching him.
“It is an honor to have you all with us for this momentous occasion,” the steward continued, his shrill voice perfect for cutting through the crowd.
“As you may have heard, the time has come for Aemastia’s beloved princes to choose brides and continue to bless the kingdom with their skills and knowledge.
Which is why our great king has put out a search for equally exceptional young ladies. ”
I looked around at the other curtains, wondering if any other competitors were peering out, but I couldn't see anyone. One of the curtains was directly behind the king, the dark background contrasting his rich blue cape.
“However.” The steward’s voice darkened. “Being exceptional is far from enough. With enemies far and wide, we need to ensure that a future princess is capable of facing any challenge. Each young lady will be put through brutal testing, and the consequences for failure shall be even more severe.”
The crowd remained chillingly silent. I wasn't sure if it was because the mentioned brutality shocked them or because they had expected it all along. Knowing Septimus, this was probably unsurprising.
“There are six competitors.” The steward motioned to the six curtains around the room, and I ducked back behind mine for a moment while the audience looked around.
“The princess who wins will have her pick of husband, and those who fail will be banished from our kingdom, never to set foot in it again.”
I guess there’s no prize for second place. Which means only one of the princes will end up with a wife in the end.
“And the lady who comes in last…” The audience turned their attention back to the steward, and I peered back out through the curtain. “…Shall be executed.”
My stomach dropped.
The word executed echoed off the glass ceilings, but no one even flinched at it. Everyone was as still as if he'd simply said that lunch would be served at noon. The Aemastians knew their king all too well, and no one seemed surprised when he smirked at the front of the room.
The crowd had shifted enough that I could see Septimus’s wicked, yet subtle, curled lips. He was completely delighted by this little rule, and I’d bet it was because he already had plans to see someone fall into that last spot…
Is this how you plan to kill me, Septimus?
I could barely see the princes. Just the top of Cedric’s head, a little of Lochlan’s face, and the left side of Atlas. They were silent too, but I could see their muscles tensing. They hadn’t been made aware of the rules yet either, but like the rest of the crowd, they weren't shocked by it.
I shouldn’t have been either.
“Now, with the rules spoken, let’s meet our competitors.
” The steward motioned to the first curtain, which was on the opposite side of the ballroom from me.
I thought back to the list of names I'd run through my head a hundred times, eagerly waiting to put a face to one of them.
“First, may I introduce Princess Avalyn of Taynia.”
The curtain fell, allowing for a dramatic reveal of the impressively tall princess. Even though the crowd was completely blocking my view of the first curtain, I had no trouble seeing Princess Avalyn as she towered over every other woman and half the men.
She was stunning, with long black hair braided down her back and smooth dark skin that contrasted her bright green eyes. She was dressed in the same dark cotton dress as me, but with a deep-green sash draped over her shoulder to represent Taynia.
Despite her beauty, there was no charming smile on her full lips. A deadpan stare glazed over the crowd, her jaw set and arms crossed stiffly in front of her chest so we could see her well-defined muscles.
I had to admit it, she looked intimidating, but I wasn't nervous yet. You needed more than raw strength to win a battle.
Bring it on, Septimus.
“Next, please welcome Princess Ciara of the Shadoyan Seas.”
The next curtain fell, and I got the briefest glimpse of Ciara before the crowd clustered in front of her.
She was far shorter than Avalyn, and probably shorter than me as well.
Her hair was deep auburn, pulled back in a tight bun that allowed a few loose frizzy curls to frame her face.
Her skin was deeply tanned from being out in the sun, and her royal-purple sash matched the flag of her father's fleet.
She didn't look nearly as tough as Avalyn, but the fire in her eyes couldn't be doused by any ocean.
Even in that brief glance, I could see that she was ready to kill for her victory or her freedom, whichever was more important to her.
“Lady Brisa of the Southern Temple.”
Another curtain fell, and this time I had an almost perfect view of the reveal.
I felt foolish for thinking Ciara was short.
Lady Brisa was five feet tall, maximum, with platinum-blonde hair that hung past her waist. Her eyes were grey like Atlas’s, and instead of staring off blindly, she seemed to be looking at everything all at once, taking in every detail she possibly could.
She spotted me in an instant, and I flinched when she narrowed her eyes at me before deciding to look for something more interesting. She was a scholar, according to Mara, which meant she probably wouldn't hold up well in a battle.
Still, I feel like she might pose a problem…
“Lady Sybil of Freyar Castle.”
Freyar Castle? Where have I heard that before?
The curtain next to me fell, and I shifted my view until I could see the side profile of one of the more mysterious competitors.
Mysterious was a good word for her, since even her appearance seemed to evoke the title.
She had pale skin, shortly chopped dark hair, and a cold expression that made her look almost ghastly.
She was about my height and looked sturdier than most of the other girls, aside from Avalyn.
Her sash was a dark grey, and I tried to think back to where I'd heard the name Freyar before…
“Freyar.” My ring vibrated, and I barely caught the first letters when I realized what was happening. I looked back to the princes, barely able to see Cedric whispering to Atlas with a pale face. “Assassin.”
He didn't even finish tapping out the word before the memories came flooding back to me. My fingers felt numb as I gripped the curtain, a lump rising in my throat as stories of Freyar Castle played through my mind in my father's voice.
It was no kingdom; in fact, no one knew exactly where it was located. Freyar Castle was a training ground for assassins that were employed by only the richest nobles in the world.
Like kings.
King Leopold had once hired one to kill Queen Vivica, Septimus’s wife.
I looked back at this Lady Sybil, wondering if that was even her real name. She probably had no real interest in marrying a prince. I imagined she had a different mission in mind.
She flicked her gaze to me and I narrowed my eyes.
Well played, Septimus.
The pieces in his game were already well placed, and the odds were meticulously stacked against me. I'd be killed if I couldn't score above last place, but that was only if I lived long enough to be ranked.
“Lady Diaspro, honorary guest of Aemastia.”
Hearing my name tied to Aemastia threw me off, but the applause that followed encouraged me to stand tall. The guard pulled down my curtain, revealing me and my blue sash to the crowd.
I was met by smiling Aemastians and even noticed soft smiles from the Ivalonian servants scattered around the walls. They knew my blood still ran red even if I was clothed in blue.
The other girls seemed to be studying me in the same way I had done with them. I wasn't sure how much about my history they knew, but hearing the title of honorary guest of Aemastia seemed to leave a bigger target on my back the louder the crowd clapped.
That's why you put me in blue…you wanted the people to like me so the competition would hate me.
It was one thing to throw me to the wolves, but another to strap bait to me first.
I stood tall, trying not to let their scathing glares shrink me back. I had to be fearless in their eyes; I needed to borrow Damon's strength for this. Diaspro might struggle against these girls, but Damon was just as powerful as they were. I could handle this. I could beat them.
Except there's still one more curtain…
The king stepped aside, allowing everyone to soak in the mystery of the final unveiling. I felt prepared for anything. Warriors, pirates, scholars and even assassins were all formidable foes, but nothing could stand against the fallen prince of Ivalon.
Do your worst, Septimus.
The curtain fell, the king's smile grew, and I felt time freeze. No…not her.
A young girl, dressed in black and draped in Ivalonian red stepped forward, her light hair pulled back to reveal her scarred face. She was shaking like a leaf, and my entire body trembled with rage at the sight.
Septimus, you monster…
“Last but not least, Lady Mara of Ivalon.”