ROYALTY

Chapter 37

He rose from his seat and dropped his hand by his side, the game began. At first no one moved, everyone looked at the two lone figures on the sandy parcel. The duke broke into ran, spear held straight and ran for the princess. She dodged with enough grace but in the process hit him down.

He fell but still had his weapon in hand, he advanced again and she dodged pushing him to the ground. He had his stamina this time because he did not fall. They circled each other, predator and prey, the princess tried to strike with her fists but he dodged and pushed her to the ground, she had barely had enough time to moan her pain as the sword came crushing down on her, she jumped up just in time.

She sent a look of discomfort towards her father and the duke took it as a distraction and leaped forward, the princess had her short dagger in one hand and blocked the spear and the man, puzzled he stumbled back and she came for him, with her fists and feet, kicking and punching him merciless. He had had enough of the brutal assaults as his spear came crushing down on her, leaving a map of blood on her body and on the sand beneath her. She did not even notice it but stood up with range and moved for him with her fists, her dagger on the other side of the arena. He felt the blows of the first three punches and gave his own, sending her to the dirt again, he came for her and she patiently waited. He was about to hit her face when she kicked him right in the middle of his legs.

I could have sworn I heard a bone crunch, he fell to the ground, one hand supporting his weight the other holding his groin. She took the opportunity and pushed him to the earth, she twisted his hands behind his back and held his legs in a painful position, her arm around his neck. She whispered. "I should have killed you when I had the chance." And the bell sounded. She stood up and held out her hand for him, after all it was a peaceful fight, he grabbed it and stood up.

She turned ignoring him and bowed to her father.

The spear came from behind slicing her skin on her right hand, she turned just in time to stop the second spear from reaching her. The crowd was on its feet, the game was over he had lost, he did not seem to care, as he grabbed another tool from the arsenal and tried to bang her skull out. She dodged and slid down to the ground into a split and tackled him from down below. The weapon fell from his hand, with her dagger now in reach she got and struck it right in between his legs while the other dagger that she pulled from her boat was placed along the hallow of his throat, she had a grin on her face, blood gliding down her lips. "Do not tempt me." She spat out the words.

A piercing scream came out from the queens direction. The king had fallen off his seat and landed on the bare earth below. The prince was by his father's side in no less than a minute shouting for help. The princess turned back her gaze towards the man below and beneath her. "You would not want to know what happens when you do." and she walked from him, graciously, slowly, ever confident to her wailing mother.

I was on my feet watching her every move, she did not ran, she did not hasten her pace but moved slowly, the crowd pushed against me, looking for shelter, the king had just been attacked, but she moved like nothing happened. she felt my gaze on her and she turned towards my direction, with a blood-stained smile.

***

I sat in front of the kings chambers not that anyone minded but I felt the need to do so. I had never seen a man on his knees crying and that I saw once I looked at Trenton. He looked like he was about to fall, his walls crumbled down, helplessness was written all over his face. No one, not even a soul noticed my presence, even though I was forbidden in the eastern wing.

The door to his room was closed, hushed voices coming from inside, in the next room raised voices could be heard, the maids and servants rushed to and fro, carrying hot water bottles, clean linen clothes, blood-stained clothes and foul looking ones. No one said a word, as they moved to do the biddings requested of them but on their expression the horror was clearly written, the king was dead. The door slammed open and I jumped up, I took in the state Trenton was in, his eyes were red and he kept on pinching the bridge of his nose.

Once he saw me, he rushed to me, leading my into another room, he closed the door and I placed my hand on his shoulder. "How is he?" He looked at me with so much intensity that I felt my insides go marshy. "He is dead, Naomi." He looked like he wanted to say more but walked out of my grip and slammed a bottle on the desk besides him, he held onto a broken piece of glass and squeezed his hand. I screamed as I rushed to him and tended to his bruises.

"But how, who could have done it?" I asked him, I had his hand bandaged in a long white linin handkerchief. "I would not know, it could have been from the food he ate or from his wine, whoever did his, out did himself, do you know what this means?" He looked at me and walked to the window, his tears still flowing freely down his eyes, I came up behind him and held his hand.

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