A Throne of Fire and Blood

Chapter 13

It had taken 2 baths and 3 bars of soap to remove the tar from her hands and feet and a healer had a spent 30 minutes cleaning out her wounds on each hand and foot.
      When she arrived to lunch most people had already finished and left, only Nathan and a few other champions remained. Farai was getting up to leave but he thanked Tianna once again when she sat down.
After a short while, it was only Tianna and Nathan who remained at the table.
"Cheer up, Tianna." Nathan said as he took a drink of his wine, "You came 23rd, which is fine and at least Farai placed behind you." Tianna said nothing as she pushed the food around her plate. She doesn't fully regret saving Farai since he was one of her only friends here, but saving him showed weakness, and weakness is dangerous.
Nathan didn't try to talk after and they just sat in silence.
After a few minutes of silence, Tianna heard footsteps coming towards the door of the other side of the room. She looked up and saw the Prince walk in and sat down opposite her.
"What you did was amazing, Tianna." The Prince told her, "I definitely didn't expect that from you."
"Thank you, your highness. But I kind of wish that I hadn't, what if people start questioning who I am? I have most likely just caused a lot of unwanted attention." Tianna said.
"Don't worry about that, you're smart, you can think of something." Tianna nodded at him. She looked up at the clock on the wall and realised the time. She was late for her lesson with Calissia.
"I have to leave." She said quickly and walked out of the room.
When she got back to her own room, Calissia was sat at her desk, looking out of the window. When Tianna entered she turned to her.
"Nice of you to join me, Evalyn."
"I'm sorry I'm late, my Lady." Tianna apologised.
"I understand. You were busy saving that thief's life." She said with a smirk on her face, "You showed true bravery earlier, Evalyn. You should be proud of yourself." Tianna stood there in shock.
"How... How did you know about that?" Tianna asked slowly.
"I watched it happen." Calissia sighed, "Why didn't you tell me you were in the King's competition?
"I'm sor-"
"How could you do this?" She cut Tianna off, "After what he has done to your home, after what he is doing to me and my people, how could you serve him?!" She was mad. Very mad.
"I'm so sorry I didn't tell you, Calissia, I was just scared of what you would say!" Tianna tried to explain to her.
"Scared of what I would say? You mean you were scared that I would talk some sense into you, that I would try and tell you that serving him is wrong? Well, I didn't think I would need to tell you that, I thought you were smart enough to know, but clearly you aren't." Tianna was tearing up now. Calissia walked to the door and opened it and turned back to her, "Remember where you came from, Evalyn Havenmark and remember who you are." Turned back round and left the room, slamming the door behind her.
      Tianna laid on her bed and cried. She hurt Calissia. Tianna hurt Calissia and she hated herself for it. Calissia was the one person that brought Tianna joy in this place, and she ruined it. She prayed that Calissia would forgive her for lying to her. But what hurt most is that she was still lying to Calissia, she is lying about everything.
      Tianna didn't eat dinner that night, she just got into bed after Calissia left and just tried to sleep the pain away.