Crown of Purple Fire (English)

~IV~

The feeling of might in Tessa's gut faded. "A challenge?"

"Thessalyne Aschere," Roman said. "Do you challenge my authority as King of the Eagles?"

Before she could stop herself, Tessa replied, "Yes."

"And are you willing to fight me to prove your point?"

"If that's what it takes." Tessa gritted her teeth. Why did she feel like this was a mistake?

Roman straightened, and his nostrils flared. "It is settled, then." he looks past her, and at the crowd. "My wife has issued a Challenge!"

The crowd gasped. Tessa's mother shouted, "NO!! Tessa, take it back--"

Roman stared at her, still in disbelief. But he said, "Here are the conditions of the Challenge: a fortnight from today, we will meet on the Isle of Nim for our battle. You are allowed to train in combat, but not with anyone of our subjects," he gestured towards the crowd. "Anyone in this crowd who will be caught sparring with you will immediately be put to death."

"But that's exactly what I'm fighting against--" Tessa started.

"No, you are fighting against me. That's what you said when you issued the challenge." Roman said slyly. "I will release your traitor mother, though. I'm feeling generous." He gestured at Victarion the executioner, who was still holding the torch near the tree. He blew the fire out, and started to untie Thalia, rope by rope, until she was flapping her wings and by Tessa's side.

"See you on the battlefield, wife," Roman snarled. "You will regret it instantly."

Tessa, though still confused, glared at him and said, "No, husband. Regret is on no one's side. However, I think it will make an exception for when I wallop your sorry tail and cut off your wings."

Roman only laughed. "All bark yet no bite. This should be interesting," he looked at Victarion. "Send for the guards. We'll return to the mainland until the Challenge's battle."

And with that, he flew away. Tessa's anger faded when she saw her mother. She looked hurt, but smiled anyway. Daughter and mother perched on top of the cliff and hugged each other, for a long, long while. But when Tessa pulled away, her mother frowned and said, "What were you thinking?!"

"What's a Challenge?" Tessa asked innocently.

"It's a duel, you imbecile! By the Faerie, a duel in which you challenge the authority of a leader. If the challenger wins, they take over the leader's position. If the leader wins, the challenger will be hunted and exiled, if the leader was merciful. If not..." The challenger dies, were the unspoken words, but Thalia didn't need to say that.

Tessa gulped. She was an imbecile. How could she win a duel to the death, when she herself has no experience in fighting? And with that, she couldn't train with anyone in the crowd earlier--and the crowd contained thousands. It might as well have filled the whole isle. She was such a fool. Fool, fool, fool.

Her mother must have seen her despair. She said, "Look at me child. Look at me," Tessa did. Her mother's eyes stared right into hers. "You will win this battle. I don't care how long it takes, you will win it. Do you understand?" Tessa nodded. "We will find a way to give you as much training in two weeks as possible, and we will do it together."

"Together," Tessa repeated. Even though they grew up by each other, her mother and she never really got to spend time together. It was either polite conversation, meetings with Ingrith, or no interaction at all. Finally, in the moment she needed her most, her mother has come. "Together," she repeated one more time.

Finally, they chorused, "Together." And flew off into the night.

~ ~ ~

"Talon, child," Thalia chirped, "talon. Roman will use every weapon in his bodily arsenal, and if there is one thing you can defend yourself with, it's your talon."