The Queen's Guard

Chapter 5

In the aftermath of Maya's revealing moment, the air in the room seemed to thicken with tension. Even under the concealing clothes she wore, her face had immediately betrayed her identity. Perhaps it was the striking intensity of her big blue eyes or the notable absence of a beard, but there was no escaping the truth—she was unmistakably a woman. The same woman who had initially triumphed to claim the highest position in the queen's guard.

The room, once filled with the echoes of her victorious feats, now buzzed with an uneasy silence. The commanders and counsel, faces etched with panic, exchanged furtive glances. The weight of the situation was tangible, and something in Maya's instincts hinted that this might signal the conclusion of her journey, despite her impressive results.

As the truth hung dense in the air, Maya's mind raced, attempting to anticipate the consequences of her unmasked identity. The queen, whose knowing smile had faded, exchanged a subtle glance with Maya before one of the commanders approached her. He apologized to the queen that they hadn't discovered this earlier and assured they would deal with the situation immediately. Then, Ben approached, attempting to figure things out before the rest of the council could intervene.

"Your Majesty," he addressed her, asking what she wanted to do, reminding her that she didn't have to make the decision right away. However, Carina already knew her course of action, and Ben could see it in her eyes. This immediately stirred a desire in him to intervene, to make Carina reconsider if this was truly the best choice. Before he could voice his concerns, the queen warned him, "Every point you're about to make, she has already proved you wrong." Ben, acknowledging the truth in her words, quickly came to terms with the queen's choice.

"Okay, but they may not like this," Ben expressed concern, his gaze shifting toward the other courtiers and nobles. "I'll deal with them," Carina asserted confidently. She glanced at Ryan, who responded with an approving smile, fascinated by the queen's impending course of action.

One of the commanders approached Maya, who had barely moved a muscle, ready to escort her away, but the queen spoke. "Wait." The entire room hushed. "What is your name?" she addressed Maya directly. Maya could feel her throat drying up, but she managed to say, "Maya Bishop, Your Majesty."

"And how did you come to be here, Maya Bishop?" the queen asked curiously. "Well, it was said the application was open for all, so I..." Maya was nervous and couldn't finish her sentence, but it wasn't necessary. "Indeed it was," Carina agreed, amused. Then a noble interjected, voicing the skepticism that had been building. "Your Majesty, you can not possibly be considering this. It has merely been an act of deception, of lies. How do you see that fit for the queen's guard?" The murmur of agreement in the room suggested he had support.

"Deception and lies?" Carina silenced them, "Did she not complete all of the trials?" she asked, seeking affirmation. "She did," confirmed one of the officials. "And she won before our very own eyes?" Carina posed the question, though it carried the weight of a statement.

"That does not change the fact, Your Majesty," another interjected. He was somewhat right; it might not have changed the fact that Maya was a woman, but it had made it completely irrelevant.

"Then am correct I assume you will fight her? Any of you?" The room fell silent once more, a heavy hush settling over the assembly. The reluctance to volunteer for combat was palpable. The memory of the trials lingered, dissuading anyone from stepping forward, even the other candidates remained hesitant. Carina's challenge echoed through the grand hall, prompting an uneasy silence.

Carina's gaze swept across the assembly, her eyes narrowing with determination. "If anyone objects," she declared, her voice carrying a regal authority, "I expect you to fight. Prove me wrong, or your silence will be taken as complete agreement with my decision."