Chapter 14
A ll discussions of troops and unrest paused as the king and Andras witnessed the commotion in the arena.
Lord Levi Thatcher lay on the ground, foam bubbling from the corner of his lips as his body convulsed on the ground. The veins in his face turned red as he gasped, desperate for air.
Lord Thatcher hailed from one of the stronger magical lines in Brookmere. I wondered how long it would take for his powerful magic to heal him. Would he be able to finish in time? Elisabeth should be nearby if he couldn't heal himself. I didn’t care too much if he didn’t finish the first trial. He had been uptight, slimy, and I could still feel his overly wet lips upon my hand before our dance.
But his actions did not warrant my wanting him poisoned. Or worse, dead.
The other contenders hesitated, frozen in place until the crowd's fright quieted. Though Lord Thatcher hadn’t recovered, the others seemed to understand the contest continued despite the downed man.
Ian had pushed two of the four chalices to the side, removing them as options. Kade had done the same, catching up quickly to surpass some of the others who had edged him out in the strategy game.
Frederich’s gaze darted toward Ian’s table, then Kade’s, as if he were trying to decipher what moves they were making. Almost too quickly, he appeared triumphant and made his final decision, tipping the chalice back, consuming the liquid in one gulp.
A few droplets caught on his massive mustache, which he wiped away with the back of his hand, as if he sat in a tavern instead of competing to be King. Victory was his for this round, and as he stood before the wooden door, it swung open for him.
Ian and Kade made their final decisions within breaths of each other and locked eyes as they, too, drank their chosen liquids. Both of their doors opened simultaneously.
Edmund fell to the ground, but not paralyzed like Lord Thatcher. Instead, he scratched his body as though bugs crawled atop his skin. I shivered, watching him flip over, rubbing his back along the grass.
Elisabeth finally darted onto the field, hovering over Lord Thatcher.
Ryland passed through his door, and Hale followed.
Andras resumed his conversation with my father. “What are your orders, my King?”
“Send the fifth Calvary to Demarva with instructions to return in a fortnight. I’m tired of so few of our soldiers returning.”
“As you wish it, my King.” Andras’s oversized cloaks rustled around him as he bowed. His footsteps were hurried as they echoed from the pavilion.
Why weren’t our soldiers returning from their missions? Did he ever plan on telling me about the anguish of our people? In some ways, I may be grateful for the trials as they allowed me to be present when he received troubling news. News he’d done his best to keep from me.
Down on the field, the only contenders remaining in Round Two were Edmund and Lord Thatcher. Edmund had a healer by his side, and he rose on unsteady legs. The crowd cheered, and he grabbed a chalice, tossing it back with more confidence than I could have mustered after having just been poisoned.
He staggered through his door, leaving Lord Thatcher behind as additional healers continued to treat him.
After a few more moments, they dragged him from the arena. The crowd’s gaze was split between watching Lord Thatcher being taken to healing quarters, and the rest of the trial.
The remaining contenders were standing in front of more tables beyond the nature-made fence line, which held their doors. Each had a scroll laid out before them, as well as a quill next to it. Whatever they had come to, required them to give some sort of answer in order to complete the trial.
The king cleared his throat to get my attention and nonchalantly held up his own scroll as I furiously tried to keep up with the activities below.
“Can you figure it out? As our future Queen, you, too, will need to possess these same powers of deduction,” he explained. “While you will become Queen without passing the trials, what kind of Queen shall you be?”
The king had a copy of the contenders’ scroll. He cocked an eyebrow at me, ready to play another one of our games.
I gently lifted the scroll from his hand, unrolling it slowly. My heart pounded. I did not realize I would need to pass my own trial as well. Although maybe not as serious as my future husbands in the arena, this still meant something to me as my father wanted to see what I would do with this challenge.
I stared at the text.
I am your greatest friend and worst enemy,
Causing growth and destruction intertwined in every moment.
You are my greatest worshipper, and I am your greatest curse.
Fear some, fear naught, fear all,
For my beginning has no end and my end has no beginning.
In the darkest of moments, I consume you.
In the lightest of moments, I shine around you.
Amongst the greatest of warriors and poorest of paupers,
I treat all the same.
What am I?
Well, Fates above.
I hated riddles. Almost as much as I hated prophecies.
I read the scroll again, pausing after every line, determined not to disappoint my father. I wanted to be a queen he would be proud of.
Sweat formed on my back, my dress growing damp, as I continued to decipher the riddle, my heart beating harder and faster. I wanted to defeat the contenders on the field. If only I could compete and win my own hand.
I glanced down at the arena as the contenders hunched over the tables, attempting to figure out the riddle. My gaze shifted to the loyal subjects of Brookmere, waiting in anticipation of so much more than just a few trials. The air hung around us, heavy with suspense. The kingdom held their breath, watching and waiting, as we went through steps to learn what kind of king would lead them at their Queen’s side. A breeze rustled through the arena, and the swaying wildflower fields surrounding the outskirts of the stadium caught my attention.
I closed my eyes and breathed in the sweet floral scent the wind carried. I let the air envelope my body as I searched within for the answer. Allowing myself to become one with the beauty surrounding me, I recited the phrase of our people— May nature guide you.
My eyes bolted open, the answer as clear as the sky above.
Triumphantly, I turned to the king, as I rolled up the scroll and handed it to him. My mother practically buzzed with excitement. Her fingers clasped together tightly on her lap. I allowed my eyes to lock with my father’s. They blazed with excitement, a smile forming as he grasped the end of the scroll. I didn’t let go.
“You may best me more than I best you, Father, but you’ll have to try harder.” I smirked. “A mighty Queen I shall be when the time comes, but until then, may nature guide you, my King.”
Our eyes stayed connected as his smile widened. A slight nod of his head. “A mighty Queen you shall be my daughter.”
Father -65, Lana -4.
Swiveling on my seat, quite pleased with myself, my attention returned to the trials below. Ian scribbled his answer on the scroll, and as he set down the quill, it floated upon a gust of wind to my father’s hand.
A small nod is all he gave before one of the aides whisked Ian away. They strode toward an empty holding area on the outer curve of the arena.
Edmund rubbed his neck, putting his head in his hands for a moment, and I wondered if he still worked on overcoming the potion he’d consumed.
Frederich wrote his answer next, and similarly to Ian, took his place in a holding area after an acknowledgment from my father.
How could that man have finished second? I shivered.
Another movement of my father’s head, and I noticed Kade on the receiving end. My pulse quickened, surprised at the flutter of knowing he came in third. I quashed it as quickly as I could and forced myself to not even pay attention to his entry to the holding area.
While the top three were now accounted for, the remaining five contenders were still furiously working to not come in last place. Nobody wanted to be eliminated during the first trial.
Lord West, Hale, and Ryland all completed the final task and were led to the same holding area with the others.
Edmund stumbled toward the holding area last, not led by anyone after getting the nod he answered correctly.
The first trial was complete.
“Lord Levi Thatcher is recuperating in the hospital wing from the poison ingested. While his efforts were valiant, it is not enough to secure my daughter's hand in marriage and be the future king of these lands. He will return to his town with honor and the kingdom’s thanks for his loyalty and devotion to the crown.” The king touched his heart as he bowed his head. “May nature guide him and bless his lands in his future endeavors.”
The seven remaining contenders filed back into the main area and stood proudly before the pavilion. Edmund swayed, still sweating slightly, but at least he remained on his feet.
The king held his arms out wide. “Gentlemen! Congratulations on completing the first of three contests. You have proven your mind and fortitude are strong. Tonight, we shall celebrate your victories and movement forward in the marriage trials.”
Addressing the crowd below us, the king grinned. “We thank all of you for supporting these victorious contenders. We look forward to seeing everyone again in a fortnight for trial number two.”
Clapping and cheering sounded in a wave across the arena. The people of this kingdom were excited for more. The king raised his hand, and his loyal subjects began exiting their seats and the stands.
The king, queen, and I walked to the edge of the pavilion. The king now spoke solely for the contenders to hear.
“Tonight, each of you shall dine in my private dining room, with some of my most loyal advisers,” he said. “After our dinner together, our top three, Captain Ian Stronholm, Frederich Hanslet, and Kade Blackthorn, will have dessert and drinks with Princess Illiana on the royal garden terrace. We shall see you at seven.”
I caught Ian’s eye before I left the pavilion and flashed him a smile. I still hated that he had entered, but I could be proud of him, nevertheless.
Frederich’s eyes narrowed on me, but I refused to give him a lingering moment.
After all, now came the part where I actually had to interact with each of these men instead of watching from afar.
This dinner wouldn’t be over soon enough. Unless, of course, I had the opportunity to hear more of what mysteries were evolving within the kingdom.
Suddenly, it seemed as though life breathed into me again. If I were to be forced into these trials, at least I could use them to my advantage. Learning the truth about the kingdom I thought I knew would be worth sitting through a few uncomfortable dinners.
And more.