11. Chapter 11

OPHELIA

Queen Helvania's guards have taken over for King William's, two of them now standing outside my room. I'm allowed to don my armor and grab my sword but that is the extent of protection I can bring. There will be no tricks to pull, nothing to save me should the guards that are sent in have some advantage. And I know they will.

King William wouldn't set a deal if he didn't expect to win.

"Pheli, tell me that you didn't get yourself into a duel?" Blaise's words are much calmer than I expect and I twist around to see a flurry of emotions flooding his expression. He's trying to ensure that I stay calm at this moment so that I have a chance at winning.

I open my mouth to respond when Artemis cuts in. "It's not a duel, is it? Apparently, King William wasn't very quiet about his intentions. Our queen is speaking with him now to get him to change his mind. And-"

As much as I want that, it can't happen. "Unfortunately, without this, Juliette will still be promised to Queen Helvania. Worse, Queen Daniela can't undo Smunia's laws. Not without meeting with the council and putting it to a vote. I'm sure we would win on that front, however, we don't have the time."

Blaise and Artemis come up on either side of me, bowing their heads to mine. We stand there in silence and I draw strength from their presence. When they pull away, they begin fitting my armor as they did when I first became a soldier. The difference is that I was stepping into a life with them and now I might very well be stepping toward my death.

I have no idea what awaits me.

"Protect her, please," I ask of them. It's a selfish request but if I don't make it out alive, I don't want her to have suffered. Both of my brothers nod, clasping one hand behind them and the other over their hearts as a sign of respect.

I head toward the door, Queen Helvania's guards standing there, apologetic glances thrown my way. I want to ask them what they think of their queen but that's akin to asking them to betray her. It's easy to see that they don't agree with this turn of events but there's no undoing what's been done.

One steps in front of me, the other behind me as I'm led down several hallways. It takes me a moment to realize that we're a few floors down, and that these hallways are sloped downward. The stone walls are more dense, the air thick with a stifling musk. I do my best not to cough, confused and a little terrified that I'm being taken to my death rather than given a fair chance to fight.

"King William, this is a new low for you!" Queen Daniela's voice wafts into the hallway as we approach, a small hole in the wall opening to what can only be described as a dungeon. It's damp and the flickering lights only add to the eerie ambiance. "Why would you subject one of our soldiers to such a barbaric-"

His evil laugh rings out into the space. "Queen Daniela. Your Majesty, Seraphina. I think you would both do well to remember your own rules about this weekend. We are allowed in your kingdom so long as we keep the peace. However, I am allowed to enact punishment where I see fit when it comes to me and my daughter. That whore touched my daughter. She actually thought-"

"And that's where you're wrong," Seraphina comes in. Queen Daniela has always been a little soft-spoken but firm in her stance. Seraphina, however, has no problems saying her piece, as she did with me earlier. Now that I'm inside the room, I can feel the rising tension. Queen Daniela and Seraphina are standing side by side, their hands clasped in front of them as King William holds no regal stance. "That woman you're referring to is one of our best soldiers."

"But she touched my daughter!"

Seraphina leans slightly forward. To the untrained eye, she merely shifted. To everyone in this room, however, it's a silent threat. "Let's get one thing straight, King William. You were offered a place at this castle to attend the gala. For no other reason is your presence needed. Your daughter is to choose her suitor regardless of your demands. And she chose. The problem is your rules. Rules that we unfortunately can not stop from unraveling."

Those last words are for me, to warn me that there is nothing Kusovania can do as a kingdom. King William grins, turning to me. "Do you hear that? Touching my daughter will result in your death."

Queen Daniela clears her throat, her gaze pointed as she straightens her back just a little. "King William, the deal was that she would fight for your daughter's hand. This is not an arena. This is a duel."

"And that's where you would be wrong." He cackles gesturing to the room directly beside this one. Queen Helvania's guards lead me into it and he steps directly up to the entrance. "You see, fighting for someone's hand is an all-night event. A way to prove to me that you are worthy. A mere duel will tell me nothing. These tests require endurance and strength. Sending in one man? You must think me a joke." His lips spread wide in a sinister smile before he looks back to my queen and her wife. "I would vacate this space if I were you. It will be covered in her blood by the end of the night."

I swallow nervously, hand on the hilt of my sword, poised for an attack. There isn't any, though. Silence follows his words as Queen Daniela and Seraphina turn to me, bowing their heads in respect to my choice and my fate. These barbaric rules will be the first thing thrown out at the next council meeting but I may not be alive to see it.

King William remains, chuckling at my stance. "I'd ask you not to put up a fight, to get this over with but I'd like to at least wait before delivering the news to my daughter."

"You're a terrible father."

"I wouldn't be doing my job if I allowed someone like you to sit in my seat. I know how Kusovania does it but that doesn't mean I have to allow it." He leaves me with those words, the darkness closing in as the dim lights flicker again. Air whistles through the small rooms and everything seems to close in as I wait for the inevitable.

Except there's just silence and then the clang of metal. I frown and step forward, eyes peeled toward the entrance of the larger room. I knew this was a dungeon but I didn't expect to be locked down here. Will King William keep his word and allow me to fight or is he just barring access to his daughter?

Is there any truth to his words?