The Elder Tournaments (Warrior of Blood Series #1)

Chapter 3 The Trial

The Palace

First Age of Man Year 101

Allyria's Point of View

His face told her everything. The King was going to kill Wesley.

Wesley, her best and only friend, gave Allyria a helpless look. He knew it too.

Time seemed to press down on everyone standing in the throne room.

"I, Richard Bartholomew, from House Targan, the King of the Realm, and one of the nine kings in the Aion Kosmos, sentence you, Wesley of House Thatcher, from the slums of Redbone, to die for illegally hunting in Treelorn Kingdom's forest. Allyria Ocean Rose, from house Pilar, your family will be stripped of all honor, your family shamed, and you will be whipped as penance for your crime."

Allyria watched the sullen faces of Wesley's family. Their hearts were dying within them. Their only son, and the sole food provider for the family, would be executed. His family would not be long for this world without him. Allyria turned to Wesley; he looked utterly lost. Allyria turned to her own family. Her mother seemed more angered by the family's removal of status than the sentence; not that someone living in the slums had much standing to begin with amongst the wealthy capital residents. The judgment meant that the Pilar family would go from a low, poverty-stricken caste to a tainted, untouchable one. Being adorned in red was meant to be a symbol of their shame, their punishment on display for all to see and know they were guilty of conspiring against the kingdom by associating with a traitor. No one would cross the threshold of their home in friendship.

Allyria had only a heartbeat to make up her mind and choose.

She hit the guard that held her and leapt forward toward the fat king sitting on the throne. She stopped in the center of the room before the large throne. She straightened her back, refusing to kneel, and stared directly into the hateful eyes of the king. The guard who had been restraining her moved forward to strike.

It was forbidden to look the king in the eye, yet she held his gaze. A challenge.

A black-clawed hand closed around her shoulder. Before the guard could react further, the king held up his hand to stop him.

The room fell silent as the king's eyes once again met the challenge of hers.

"I will take his place in punishment. It was my fault. I persuaded Wesley to come with me into the forest that day."

The king smirked. His cold, hazel eyes locked with hers. A faint smile danced on his lips at the challenge.

"Allyria Ocean Rose Pilar, if you take the place of this boy you will be sentenced to die at the evening hour of 4 o'clock tomorrow. You will not be given the honor of the Death Rights, and what remains of your body will be thrown into the ocean. Do you accept these terms of the sentence?"

"No!" yelled Wesley. He began fighting against the guard that held him. "Allyria, don't do it!"

The guard looked at Wesley and laughed at his feeble pleas. Wesley rocked back and forth, trying with all his strength to remove the restraints. The guard seemed annoyed and struck him in the face, knocking him unconscious.

Allyria turned to the king and bowed her head in understanding. The divine ruler's face was blank, emotionless, and so cold. We are nothing to him.

"So be it," said the king. "Now get her out of my sight."

***

A cold prison cell and a few hours were all that remained before her execution.