Sun and Star Academy: Book 3: Moon Kingdom

Chapter 2: This Is My Help

Once more, a gasp from the crowd before the silence that was eerie. 

“Yield?” King Christian enquired whilst glancing between Chris’s body and Seth

Seth seemed to understand the doubt, “He isn’t dead. Just unconscious for the time being- he wouldn’t yield because of who he’s fighting for, and he wouldn’t let me yield because of the warrior he is. This was the only way.”

“This duel was to be to the death” King Michael added

“I am aware of that” Seth said without facing him

“If you’re aware, then you know that you yielding is of no use” King Michael retaliated

Seth ignored him and focused on the Moon Kingdom royals, “This traditional duel was of no use from the start...the rules were changed before it even began so I urge you to allow the change here too. Chris Ashford is a valuable warrior and now he has won”

“I see...” King Christian said quietly, he glanced over at Serena

“If Seth yielded, it’s for a good reason- I trust it. Pardon Liam, father” Serena said with a nod

“Are you sure my dear?” Queen Charlotte asked

Serena nodded once more, “I’m alive and well now thanks to Seth- give him what he asks for”

King Christian nodded and turned to look down on Seth once more before addressing the crowd, “I declare Chris Ashford the winner of this duel and thereby pardon Prince Liam Winters. You are given another chance my boy...”, he finished with a nod to Liam

The crowd seemed to have mixed feelings about this, but the people of Sun were overjoyed

King Michael seemed agitated, “We do not need your charity boy!”, he snapped at Seth, “This was no win for Chris- not in my eyes...”

“Michael, stop...” Queen Margaret plead

“Because you are still alive!” He snarled in Seth’s direction

“He yielded. It is over...Liam is pardoned- enough of this now” Queen Margaret spoke again

“Yielded? In a duel to the death, ha! Liam may have been spared, but Chris will not share the same luxury. Let him enjoy the remainder of his life, exiled from my kingdom!”

The crowd let out a unified gasp 

“Michael...do not make rash decisions!” King Christian intervened

“My King, please, don’t do this” Rachel spoke out

“Just as you have made your declaration Christian, that was mine!” King Michael said, he glanced at Liam and frowned, disdain showing on his face. Almost as though he wished Liam wasn’t pardoned and would have been sentenced to die instead. 

Liam watched his family leave their area before the two elites began leading Leo and himself out as well 

*******

Seth glanced up at his father, almost as if he was asking something with his eyes, his father understood and nodded

“Christian...” King Alastair called out, “Let it be known that the boy will be taken into our care... indefinitely”

King Christian glanced at Chris’s body before giving his nod of approval

The crowd, who were still feeling a mixture of things, heard this too- it seemed to be a night for a lot of different changes 

*******

The crowds were cleared out and the royals had already exited their areas

Seth waited as an Elite walked over to carry Chris’s unconscious body away. He knew it was a matter of time before his family would reach him to talk- he wasn’t sure he was up for it just yet and thankfully, he did have somewhere else to be