VALERIA

Chapter 1

Copyright © 2015 by C.J Lising

All Rights Reserved.

***

"Your Highness! The king will be very furious if he finds out about this!" A servant named Meredith cried out from the sea of people who are watching what's happening.

Valeria ignored the servant's precautions and walked inside the ring with her sword in hand.

Marcus, her opponent, stood in the middle of the ring looking confident and smug.

"Don't worry Your Highness, I'll take it easy on you." He said with a smirk.

The crowd who are watching the two of them are already eager and excited for the match to start.

"Trust me Marcus, you won't be smiling after this." Valeria smiled wickedly at him.

"Whatever you say, Princess."

She gripped the sword tightly in her hand and then she lunged forward towards Marcus's direction.

When she was already close to him and her sword was barely inches from his body she thought that she would be able to strike him but she was wrong.

His reflexes are fast. He managed to block her attack with a simple swing of his sword. Valeria was taken aback with his sudden movement.

She can clearly hear the clashing of metal when their swords collided with each other.

The spectators are all cheering and shouting from the intensity of the fight. They are certainly entertained. Each time Marcus and Valeria attack each other the spectators would shout with glee.

Valeria swung her sword again, this time trying to aim at his arm which handles his right hand that has the sword.

She thought that if she can wound his arm he would no longer be able to fight properly.

With her plan in mind she really thought that she could do it but he blocked her attack again, it's as if he read her mind.

Anger grew inside Valeria. She can't believe he knew what she was about to do.

"You can always give up, Princess." Marcus, with a smug look on his face said loud enough for the audience to hear which made them laugh.

Valeria gritted her teeth. "Never."

Once again she lunged forward.

All she was thinking is that she should win this match no matter what or else she will bare the shame of being defeated by Marcus and that's the last thing she'll do.

His attacks are strong and fast. Valeria was having a hard time blocking and attacking him. This just proves that those years of training did him well.

The pressure coming from the crowd was really taking a toll on Valeria.

She knew that she was already losing but her pride kept telling her body to still continue and strike back at her opponent.

Marcus swung his sword hard and fast which made her weapon fly from her hand.

The crowd clamored. They all chanted Marcus's name with glee.

Valeria was still shocked with what happened. 'I lost.' she thought.

She stared at her empty hand that was once holding her sword and then she looked up to where her weapon lay at the farthest cornern of the ring.

Meredith rushed to her side and placed her coat above her shoulders.

"Your Highness, are you alright?!" Meredith worriedly asked.