Stolen Princess

31. No One Is Coming To Save Me

The king's voice rings out over the crowd, the arena, possibly reaching the very edges of the dark Shadow Forest - and he's glaring right at me.

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Alek calls in a somber tone, bowing to my father's throne before doing as he's told. I feel his gaze of pure sadistic pleasure as he passes me, but I don't give him the satisfaction of returning his look. He'll draw plenty of blood from me in the next few minutes.

I stare one long last time at my father, standing there, thunderous over this embarrassment... ready to see my brutalized over it, and I know once and for all ... I'm not worth a thing to him.

Without a word or a bow, and perhaps with a tad of a snarl, I turn on my heel and head for my corner... just as he asked.

"Danaya..." Sosha growls a warning, rushing to catch up with me, "You cannot do this... forfeit now and we can make it to the dark Shadow Forest. We'll have plenty of magic to protect you there -"

"Wren - please -" Leif starts in, but I get to my corner and whirl on them both.

"I met the witch in the portal, I know what you've done - why you've helped me all this time -"

Both of them turn a shade paler, but they don't even try to make excuses as they meet my anger with silence. I wish they weren't so Goddess damned noble sometimes. It would be easier to hate them if they weren't so honor torn just now.

"Doesn't matter," I mutter at them, letting out a deep breath and letting my eyes close for just one moment before I level another hard glare at them, "If you go now, you'll make it to the others - even Alder - before this is - finished," I swallow hard at the topic of my impending death, "I'll give you whatever time I can."

They stare at me blankly, and for the first time since I've seen an Orc I understand that rude comparison of frog that's made so often in reference to our appearance. They stare at me wide eyed and stunned... even the Honorable Priestess Guardian whatever she is - Sosha's mouth hangs open in shock.

"Go -" I order in a growl, drawing my sword as the Master of Ceremonies begins announcing the stipulations of the duel. I don't need to hear the particulars... I know exactly what's about to happen.

"No."

I'm surprised enough that I nearly drop my sword as I swing back to them in frustration, my pain raging like a wounded wild animal inside of me.

"We... are with you, Danaya," Sosha says in a kind - kind?- voice, her eyes soft, sorry, sad as she beats one fisted hand over her heart and leaves it there in a salute. Leif matches her an instant later and then I'm left staring at two warrior Orcs who I can tell are trying not to cry.

"I can't stop you," I say with a shake of my head, I've run out of time to argue with them anyway, "Just... would you just tell him I said goodbye?" I whisper this last bit past a chokehold of emotions. Sosha just nods, and I suspect it's the most she's liked me since the moment she first heard my name. And with that, I raise my sword, take my stance in the sand and brace to fight.

The noise of the crowd is distracting as Alek and I circle one another in the sand. I've always known I was no one's favorite princess... but now they're outright jeering. Some of them shout slurs at the top of their lungs, others throw whatever garbage is in reach.

Somehow, it's the garbage throwing that finally settles me as I wait for Alek's first strike. Just like I always preferred Alek at his truest, most cruel self... I find I prefer my father's courtiers that way too.  But then my opponent swings the battle axe towards me, and I don't have time to be distracted anymore.