Chapter two

“A mbassador Lyklor has won the first challenge,” announced the king, sitting on his throne.

The court erupted. There were some cheers of support, while others were enraged. That was to be expected. The king gave me a small nod and smiled. There was emotion behind his eyes. He knew about the child. This was his way of letting me know.

Ravion stepped forward. “If Ambassador Lyklor wins the next challenge, the tournament is over, and he will be crowned. If he fails, the winner of the second challenge will compete against Ambassador Lyklor in the third.”

The other three contestants glared at me.

“The next challenge will assess your skill in combat,” continued Ravion. “As king, you will oversee our military. You will need to think strategically under pressure. The objective is simple … survive. If you endure a fatal blow, you will be pulled from the game and a healer will assist you. May the strongest alfar win.”

The crowd roared. The room began to spin as the court was transported to an arena outdoors. We stood in the middle of a large circular structure, sand beneath our feet. The court members sat up in the stands and cheered. The heat was almost unbearable, and the air was dry and thick. Five stands of weapons lined the back walls of the arena.

A loud horn erupted through the air. The four of us took off running towards the boards. I grabbed two daggers, sliding them into my belt before grabbing a sword and ax. I turned to see Soddram rushing towards me, armed with two axes. He swung the weapons overhead and flung them forward. I rolled out of the way and brought my sword around, attempting to slash through his midsection.

He jumped back, bringing one of the axes down aimed at my head. I blocked the attack with my own ax as I stood to my feet, pushing him back. He turned quickly, momentum fueling the speed and power of his other weapon. I dodged the attack, clashing metal with metal. He was fast and strong, and almost double my size. I could out maneuver him, but if he got a blow on me, I’d be done.

I sliced his arm, cutting through the first layer of skin. He slammed the hilt of the ax into my face, shattering my nose. Blood spilled from my nostrils and my vision blurred. I heard a grunt from behind and turned to see Therosi preparing to attack with a long blade. I jumped back, forcing him to collide into Soddram. The two plummeted to the ground just before another horn sounded.

Therosi and Soddram got to their feet as four bright portals appeared around us. Avalon was nowhere to be found. I assumed Therosi had knocked him out of the game. Four creatures that I recognized from the rift came crawling out of the portals. The first was the acid monster Gen had taken out on her first mission. The second was a large, armored creature with a horn on the tip of its nose. It had a massive body and claws at the end of each foot.

The third was a winged beast the light court had taken down on their land. It had multiple eyes and a sharp, curved beak with talons on the end of each wing. The fourth was a nuckelavee, a hybrid melding of a skinned horse and a human body. Its flesh was red and raw, revealing the muscle and tendons. It had sharp teeth and claws.

Soddram, Therosi, and I stared at each other. I waited to see if there would be a deal made. We could work together to kill the creatures and then fight each other, but neither of them said a word. Instead, Therosi charged me, bringing his sword down towards my shoulder. I blocked it with my axe while he used the opening to kick me back to the ground.

The armored creature charged towards Soddram, knocking him back. Acid flung towards us as another monster appeared out of nowhere. Therosi swung and dodged the beast’s sharp feet and claws. I readied to attack the abomination when I was suddenly hoisted into the air by the winged beast.

I slashed and swung at it with my swords, but I couldn’t get a hit. Closing my eyes, I focused, imagining its wings bending and breaking apart. I sent out my gift and the creature yelled in pain as it lashed and spun in the air. Its grip finally released, sending me plummeting to the ground. I misted back to the center, taking note of my other two opponents.

Soddram was fighting the acid monster while Therosi attacked the nuckelavee. A hard galloping sound came from behind me. I turned just in time to meet the armored creature’s horn as it slammed into my chest. I flew back into the air, landing on my back. My ribs felt like they had been shattered. It was hard to breathe while I fought to stand to my feet.

The creature came towards me again. I held my hand up, forcing its brain vessels to burst. It hollered, slamming its head into the ground. An alfar screamed behind me. I turned to see Soddram’s arms and chest covered in acid. The creature’s head lay on the ground, removed from its body. Soddram disappeared out of the arena.

I looked for Therosi, but couldn’t find him. The nuckelavee laid in pieces a few yards away. I turned back to the armored creature, still reeling in pain. I walked over to it and slammed my sword into the soft hidden part of the neck I had read about in the autopsy report. It growled while I watched the life fade from its eyes. It fell to the ground before I pulled my sword from its neck.

I turned. Therosi misted directly in front of me, sword crashing into my chest. His eyes shimmering with excitement. I fought to breathe. Warm blood pooled in my chest. I gasped for air, but all I could taste was blood.

I blinked and reappeared in the throne room. Blood poured from me as I shook on the floor from the injury. It wasn’t ulyrium, but it still hurt like a bitch. Vena appeared next to me, hovering her hands over my wound. I could feel my skin and muscles mending themselves back together. Once my lungs were clear, I took in a deep breath, desperate for air.

Therosi appeared with a smug smile on his face. He extended his hand to help me up. I took it, trying to appear like a good sport. He pulled me into him, bringing his lips to my ear. “When I become king, the first thing I am going to do is kill you, you lowborn piece of shit.”

“Lucky for me, you will never be king,” I replied calmly.

He narrowed his eyes as we both turned back to face the royals. Gen‘s face was empty of expression as she looked between the both of us.

“For the last challenge,” began Ravion, “The king has requested he be the only one privy to the simulation. This challenge will test the remaining two candidates’ willpower. It will challenge their morals, dedication to the crown, and their ability to make difficult decisions. Remember,” Ravion said, looking at the both of us, “you will not only become a husband, but a king. What are you willing to sacrifice to ensure Doonak survives?”

King Drezmore came down from his throne and the four of us stood in a circle. Ravion took a blade and slit both of his hands. He passed the blade to each of us and we did the same. The king grabbed our hands, as did Ravion. He connected our minds to his and then to the king’s, so he would have a front row seat to the last challenge.

“Shall we begin?” asked Ravion. We nodded. Ravion’s eyes went white before we were flung into the last simulation.

I opened my eyes to see the beautiful clear sky above. I lay upon a bed of thick grass; flowers surrounded me. The wind smelled fresh and sweet as it rustled over the earth. A body misted on top of me out of nowhere. I grabbed at it, readying to attack before I realized it was Gen. She laughed, her body stretching out across mine.

She wore a stunning cream dress that fluttered in the wind. Flowers were scattered through her thick curly hair. I wrapped my hands around her waist, pulling her closer to me, savoring the feeling. She sighed in relief, nuzzling her nose into my neck. I leaned into her face, smelling lavender and sandalwood. She pulled back and looked into my eyes.

“Don’t let me go,” she whispered before disappearing. I blinked once and was teleported to the light court. King Lysanthier stood in front of his throne, holding Gen by the neck with a ulyrium dagger to her heart. To his right was a podium with King Drezmore’s crown. Next to it stood my family in ulyrium cuffs. Guards stood behind them with ulyrium swords to their necks.

The light court surrounded me, including Gaelin and Levos. Gen’s face was wracked with fear while Lysanthier trailed his hand down her chest into the top of her dress. I lunged forward before two guards appeared on either side of me.

“Don’t you touch her!” I roared.

Lysanthier laughed, pulling Gen closer to his body. “Now, now, Ambassador Lyklor. Don’t worry. I will leave some of her left for you after I have had my fill. There’s plenty to go around,” Lysanthier said, licking up her face.

Gen grimaced as tears fell from her cheeks.

I fought to get to her, but I couldn’t break free of the guard. “I will kill you, you disgusting son of a bitch,” I roared.

He chuckled. “Is that any way to speak to a king? I think not. But I am a generous man. I will allow you this one pardon and in return, you will provide me with some entertainment for the evening.”

“The only entertainment there will be this evening is your death.”

“There will be death, but it won’t be mine, ambassador. I am going to provide you with a choice. If you choose correctly, you will become my equal. If you choose incorrectly, it will mean your death. Are you willing to play?”

This was just a simulation. The fucker was dead. All the same, I still wanted to rip his head from his shoulders for touching her. “I’m listening,” I spat.

“The choice is simple. Choose between Doonak, or Genevieve. If you choose Doonak, your family and your kingdom will be safe, while Genevieve dies. If you choose Genevieve, Doonak, along with your family and the court, will be destroyed.” I looked at Gen and then to the crown.

This was just a simulation. They were testing me to see if I would put my kingly duties before my wife. That was how it should be. The king’s priority was always his kingdom, but could I watch her die? Could I look upon her cold and lifeless body again? It wasn’t real. She wasn’t going to really die. This was just a test.

I closed my eyes, trying to erase the images of her mutilated body that still haunted me. I wasn’t doing this to become king. I was competing in this tournament to become her husband. That was more important to me than anything—even the kingdom I had fought so hard to earn the respect of. She came before all of it now.

“Time is up, ambassador,” spat Lysanthier. “What will it be? Your kingdom or this whore?”

I looked at the seven members of my family and then back at Gen. I swallowed hard, but I had to be honest with myself. “The princess. I choose Gen,” I said boldly.

The seven guards in front of my family brought their swords up and down, slicing through each of their necks. Seven thuds echoed through the court. I looked down at seven familiar set of eyes that stared back at me, scared and surprised.

King Lysanthier tilted Gen’s neck back before he shoved the blade through her back. The tip of the sword made its way out the front as he dragged it down slowly, creating a large slit in her torso.

I heard myself scream as her cream dress filled with blood. Lysanthier released her to the floor; her knees hit the cold marble floor. I pulled away from the guards, rushing to her side. I picked up her body and held it tightly against mine, trying to make the bleeding stop. Her body convulsed as blood poured from her mouth. Her eyes locked onto mine. Silent tears fell from them. I rocked her gently, trying to think of a way to fix her. I brushed her hair away from her face as the flowers fell to the ground.

“Please, don’t leave me again,” I cried. “Please … you must survive. I can’t bear to lose you again. Gen, please.” She began to choke on her own blood as the light faded from her face. I held her lifeless body once again in my arms.

The room evaporated around me. I refused to remove my eyes from where her dead body had laid in my arms. Finally, I looked up to see Ravion, King Drezmore, and Therosi staring down at me. I was shaking and crying, trying to pull myself back into reality. I looked up at the throne to see Gen alive and well. It wasn’t real. It was just illusion.

I pulled away from Ravion and the king, checking my hands for her blood, but they were clean. She was alive. It was just a test. One I had failed, which meant I lost the tournament. I had lost Gen.

The king returned to his throne. Therosi smiled victoriously at me. I dropped my eyes, realizing I had let my feelings get in the way of my mission. I couldn’t bear to watch her die again, and yet my decision still didn’t save her.

“I would like to thank each of our candidates for participating in the tournament,” said the king. “You each have made your houses proud. The tournament revealed the true king within each of you, but only one can have the honor of calling my daughter their wife and, in return, becoming our next ruler. I am proud to introduce our next king of Doonak: Erendrial Valor Lyklor.”

I snapped my head up as the crowd around me erupted with screams of excitement. What? How can this be? I failed. I chose her over the kingdom. No real king of Doonak would ever do that. Therosi looked at me and then at the king with pure hatred and rage. I looked up at Gen and couldn’t help but smile. I had done it. I had won her. I had proven myself.

Her face was blank. She looked out onto the court, refusing to acknowledge me.

“This is an insult, to my house and to our kingdom,” yelled Therosi, taking a step towards the king. The court quieted, eager to watch the drama unfold.

“Ambassador Lyklor has proven himself worthy of my daughter and the throne,” stated the king. “How is that an insult?”

“The scales were not balanced,” roared Therosi. “He was her keeper. He got to spend more time with her than any of us, which gave him the advantage in the first challenge. Then, in the last, no one saw what happened except you. How do we know who really won the challenge, when none of us saw what his test was?”

The king stood from his throne assertively. “How dare you question my judgment? I am the king, and I know what is best for my kingdom. You each had your chance to spend time with my daughter in the months that she has lived here, yet none of you did. The blame falls solely on your shoulders,” yelled the king.

“A lowborn should not be permitted to sit on the throne,” spat Therosi. “It is a disgrace to our kingdom and makes us look weak!”

The king held out his hand. Therosi began to grab at his chest, fighting to breathe while his face turned blue and purple from the lack of oxygen. Finally, the king dropped his hand and Therosi fell to the floor, gasping for breath.

“Let me make myself very clear, to all of you ,” said the king, looking around at his court. “Erendrial Lyklor has completed the challenge, winning two of the three categories. He will be the next king, and he has earned his place among our court, regardless of the station he was born to. Never think to question the position of this crown again.” He stopped, turning towards me with a small grin. “Erendrial Lyklor, please approach the throne.”

I walked up to the steps and bowed before him. My eyes shifted to Gen, but she still refused to look at me.

“Erendrial Lyklor,” said the king proudly, “do you accept my daughter’s hand in marriage and the mantle of the future king?”

I looked up at him. I was about to get everything I ever wanted: respect, power, a title, but most importantly, her.

“I accept Princess Genevieve as my future wife and the mantle of future king,” I said with pride. He signaled for me to rise as he stepped aside, allowing me to stand next to Gen. I held out my hand to her. She was hesitant, but took it. I smiled at her as we stood united in front of our kingdom.