AllFreeNovel
Share Us
No matter what, I had to win this test and marry the crown prince.
* * *
It feltlike much too soon, but not long enough, before the door to the tiny room opened, and I was ushered out and taken up another set of stone stairs.
Guards surrounded me, as if I was a prisoner. The irony of it made my stomach twist into knots because if I won this Trial, I would be the continent’s queen. All of these guards would bow to me and do as I commanded with Prince Norivun at my side. We wouldn’t have a marriage like his parents. I knew my mate would treat me as an equal and seat me beside him on my own throne.
When we reached the top of the stairs, the sun shone down brightly into the open stadium. Frigid air swirled about as the pale-green sky was clear and cloudless, as if the gods were smiling down on us and the capital’s celebration.
“You’re to wait here until the test begins.” One of the guards pointed to an area on the arena’s floor. A small X had been placed there.
I took the position as instructed and waited for whatever was to begin, but the second the crowd became aware of my presence, they went wild.
Screams and yells cascaded through the stadium. A flash of purple across the arena caught my attention. Georgyanna stood opposite me, coming from a tunnel on the other side of the open arena, emerging from it just like I had.
At least a quarter of a millee separated us. The stadium was so huge that it could easily seat thousands upon thousands of the capital’s residents.
And not one of those seats was empty.
Ignoring Georgyanna, I searched the crowd, trying to find the prince. My eyes fell on the dais in the middle of the stadium, hovering directly over the arena and undoubtedly with the best view. Now that I’d spotted it, I didn’t know how I hadn’t immediately zeroed in on it.
King Novakin sat on his throne, his sons at his side. My breath sucked in. I could practically feel the power emanating from Norivun. He sat rigidly in full-black attire, royal embellishments on his chest and shoulders, and the shining silver crown on his head made him look every inch a royal. It was the first time I’d ever seen him wear a crown. But it was a prince’s crown, small and simple, nothing like the crown perched atop his father’s head.
Despite his resplendent attire, it was the look on Norivun’s face that truly captured my attention. His features were a mask of fury encased in ice, and the way he stared at the king with murder in his gaze made my heart beat even harder. He looked as though he wanted to kill the king.
Behind them, Queen Lissandra sat on a smaller throne, and the king’s throne blocked her view.
I didn’t have time to assess anything further since Sir Featherton bustled out to the center of the arena and used a magical device to project his voice. “Good morning, sons and daughters of the Solis continent! I welcome you to this fine day in which we welcome our rising queen to the royal family.”
The crowd went wild as Sir Featherton dipped in a low bow toward the king and queen.
“Queen Lissandra has ruled by our blessed king’s side for many centuries, and she will continue to do so until our king is ready to step down. When that day comes, we shall always hold her dear in our hearts, and she shall remain a beckoning light in our memories. Her beauty and kindness have surpassed all of our great continent’s presiding queens, and I know that she is beloved among all of us.”
Everyone stood in their seats and angled to face the dais. Each and every citizen brought a fist to their chest and bowed deeply toward their queen.
Queen Lissandra rose from her throne and brought a fist to her chest in return, nodding her head in quiet acceptance of their love and praise.
The crowd cheered again, their love for their queen obvious, but the second Sir Featherton turned his attention to the king, their cheers rose even higher.
“And our great king, King Novakin, is why we’re here today on the Eve of Olirum. It is his great foresight and strong leadership that has created this Trial that shall once again prove to our realm the strength and might of the powerful Solis race!”
The roar became deafening.
I bristled from where I stood. Sand shifted beneath my feet. My hands clenched into fists as the king, oblivious to the daggers I was mentally shooting at him, seemed to relish the cheers and roars of the fae around him.
It made me want to scream in fury.
After the crowd finally quieted, Sir Featherton spoke of the affinities Georgyanna and I held as the crowd oohed and awed under his theatrical performance. The entire time I felt Norivun watching me, but I couldn’t look at him. This was happening. There was no way out of it, and I couldn’t let anything distract me.
“And now, without further ado. May I present your rising queens.” Sir Featherton spread his arms wide, his right arm going toward me and his left toward Georgyanna. He beckoned us closer as the wild cheers rose again.
Georgyanna and I walked toward him. I took in the expanse of the arena and the thousands upon thousands of Solis citizens who had arrived for today’s final test.
“I’m sure you’re all wondering how the victor will be decided today,” Sir Featherton said, stopping Georgyanna and me with his hand motions when we were halfway to reaching him. He halted in a dramatic pause as everyone seemed to hold their breath. “There shall be many perils and challenges presented to our future queen today. The winner...will be the first to reach the crown.”
As if on cue, a pillar abruptly rose from beneath the sand just behind Sir Featherton. It shot from the ground to rise high above and wait fifty feet in the air. Seated atop it was a crown worthy of a queen.
The crowd sucked in a collective sound of breaths as the glittering gems and jewels upon it sparkled in the sunlight.
