Scorched

Chapter 9

Gwen wandered around the castle anxiously. The competitors had been told the results of the second trial would be given over dinner. That gave Gwen a few hours to fill before discovering her fate in the competition.

Some of the boys practiced in the training room, while others went out to the stables to ride. Gwen was too nervous to do either of those things. Walking back to her room after the trial, Jennings had reminded her that just because she lost her fight didn't mean she would be eliminated. She hadn't paid much attention to the other fights after hers; she wasn't able to compare how she did with the others'.

The castle halls were becoming more and more familiar to Gwen; she could recognize certain paintings and tapestries that decorated the walls. Outside the library was a painting Gwen was particularly fond of: it showed a black stallion rearing up on its hind legs with a girl on its back. She looked positively regal; her armor bore the kingdom's crest and her black hair flew out behind her. The sword in her hand shone in the sunlight, ready to strike an enemy at any moment. The sunset behind her shone in bright yellows and deep oranges, adding to the fierceness of the rider.

Queen Genevieve, Othera, a small plaque below the painting read. Gwen marveled at the picture. The Queen in her youth had been beautiful and powerful. She had come from a poor family, like Gwen, and had caught the King's attention in a battle against a group of rebels. From then on, as the story was told throughout the kingdom, the Queen had become a symbol of hope for the kingdom. To the poor, the Queen was a hope that the King's tyranny could end some day.

Unfortunately for the people of Othera, when the King and Queen were married the spark seemed to die out of Queen Genevieve. She became very passive, not fighting for the rights of the poor like she had as a villager. The people's champion had faded away, becoming yet another ruling figure, and someone to carry children for the King.

It was heartbreaking to the kingdom. The weeks of celebration after Genevieve became queen came to an abrupt halt when she publically ordered the execution of a child who was caught sneaking through the Pegasus stables in the night. Their warrior, the Queen, had disappeared the day she announced she was pregnant.

Gwen shook herself out of the daydream. She had heard the story of the Queen many times throughout her childhood. Sometimes it was told as a warning, and sometimes it was told to create hope, that someday Othera would be free.

Gwen began wandering into halls she didn't recognize. As she descended a flight of stairs she could feel the cool air hitting her. Going deeper into the castle she hoped she could catch sight of Xander, and apologize properly to him. Gwen was firm in her belief that she hadn't imagined him during the fight. The thought that she had single handedly lost her trial from a figment of her imagination was too hard for her to comprehend.

The fancy decorating of the halls slowly disappeared, melting into the dark stone that surrounded Gwen. The walls were lined with torches periodically, casting just enough light for Gwen to see where she was going. As she walked deeper into the castle she started to hear animal-like screeches from beyond her.

The walls were dark and cold, making Gwen feel slightly claustrophobic. She rubbed her goosebump covered arms. She didn't know why she didn't turn around and head back to her room, but something in the back of her mind told her to keep going. The screaming continued, the noise twisting through her ears and crawling up her spine.

She kept her eyes wide open, watching carefully for any movement, her arms and legs stiff. She continued down the hall, each step slow and cautious. Her mind raced and her body quivered, heart pounding like a steady drum. Gwen's heart was jumping out of her chest by the time she reached the source of the sound. She stepped into a better-lit room and took in the scene in front of her.