Rory POV

The evening did not get better. They warned me I was in for a fight, but this wasn’t my kind of fight. We entered the banquet hall where there was a ridiculously long table with fancy gold place settings, and fifty butlers in fancy suits surrounded the table to seat each guest. Gold embellishments decorated the whole room. This was my first time having dinner with Queen Amory. I usually ate dinner at a tavern in the city or took a tray in my room. A butler with a beard on his belly tried to seat Silas and me in different areas of the table. Queen Amory watched the confusion on my face and took my arm to lead me to the seat next to her. Silas sat on my other side, boxing me in. I felt trapped.

The other guests filed into the room once we were seated. There was a male and female human pair from Solis named Piggy and Bella Zarranos. Mylor Anifya entered with his guests, Samuel Galin and Grand Fairy Flora. General Ceres, Milow, and Grand Duke Hylon Kurts rounded out the end of the table. All their eyes would glance toward me and sneer. Ema and Braxton were right across from me, which made me feel a little better. I think I would rather be trapped in ice with Athyra than at this dinner. I bumbled my way through the ceremonious bits of starting dinner. We were halfway through the fourth course of food when the drama started.

“Queen Amory, who is your delightful friend next to you?” Grand Duke Hylon Kurts asked politely.

“Ah, you have noticed her among such a diverse dining party, did you?” Queen Amory flashed her signature royal smile. The game was on. All attention was put on me. My cheeks might be as red as my hair right now. “This dear woman is Rosewyn Sillber. You might have heard her as the ‘Red Lady’, the Rescuer of N’ila. She is to be my sister-in-law.”

And, there it was. My engagement to Silas was out there like a giant in a mouse’s house. The looks and shock were enough to make me feel suffocated, but I swallowed that feeling. I smiled with fake confidence as Silas took my hand in solidarity. This was a political move for my benefit. I just had to focus on the gains of this choice instead. My engagement will open doors for the future.

“What is the meaning of this?” Bella Zarranos shouted over the rest. “You spent all day beguiling me with talks of peace, knowing the key to avoiding war is marrying your brother.”

War? Solis was truly willing to go to war over not capturing me. It was worse than the queen’s letter had said. If Silas hadn’t asked me to marry him, I am positive the queen would have made us pretend to be engaged anyway unless she had considered turning me over until Silas now. I walked away from White Rapids to protect my family. Ema and I have crossed mountains to escape danger, but nothing compares to the danger I face at this moment.

“I assure you, Ambassador Zarranos, I was honest in our discussions today. I want peace between our kingdoms, however, my brother has asked this woman to be his wife. My race’s struggle with fertility is well known throughout Gleaca. I am barren as well as many other elves across Desfyra. Ms. Rosewyn is the only candidate so far to be capable of producing an heir to the throne with my brother.” Queen Amory took a breath. “Surely, Solis will not rip the future of Desfyra away over the deaths of illegal slavers when she rescued the innocent people of N’ila. Right, Ambassador Zarranos?”

The ambassador shrieked and threw her plate of mashed berry custard straight at me. “You little tramp, climbing your way into the innocent prince’s-”

“Shut up, Bella!” Mylor Anifya spoke out. “You had no claim to the Red Lady anyway. She’s to be taken into the Gleaca Council’s custody.” He spat. “She’s the rumored hybrid. I am certain of it.”

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Everyone gasped at Mylor’s accusations. Act shocked, Rory. I tried to be aghast, but a laugh spilled out of my mouth. If anyone wasn’t looking at me before, they were now. I suppose it would sound crazy to most, but it is my truth. This stupid game of who gets to hold my leash was no longer tolerable. Silas, Braxton, and Ema waited for me to speak. They knew I wouldn’t be able to stand this. I would venture to say they were giving me encouraging looks.

I stopped laughing and stood up. “What a sign of disrespect. All of you are fighting over my life like I belong to you. When, in truth, I have committed no crime to warrant your desire to cage me. I exist because my parents fell in love, Mr. Anifya, and that doesn’t make me dangerous. Ambassador, I rescued the wrongly enslaved people of N’ila at Silas’ request. Any who died or were hurt chosen to get involved in an illegal capture of innocent people. And, Queen Amory, though I appreciate your attempt to protect me. I am not a person you can control. I am a free person. A life that deserves a chance to flourish without threat of capture or death.” I pushed in my chair while everyone began to argue. “I will be taking my leave, Queen Amory.”

“The hell you will!” Ambassador Zarranos charged toward me, but Braxton forced her back.

Ema and Silas stood next to me like guards. Braxton bucked up to the ambassador. “We are all taking our leave.” He growled.

Guards flooded the doors blocking the four of us from exiting. “I hoped you were smarter than this, Rosewyn. All you had to do was stay quiet,” The queen stood from her seat, making everyone else in the room stand automatically. “Now, you all have forced my hand.” She walked over to the wall where there were swords displayed. She grabbed an elegant-looking short sword and turned back to us. “We will settle this. Here and now. My dear guests, if you wish to have some control over this girl then you too must participate in this battle royal. Whoever wins against the other opponents will decide Rosewyn’s fate. If she wins, she decides her fate. Fair?” The rest of them grumbled about how to settle things, but the queen’s solution won out.

My life was seriously hanging in the balance as we all moved to an outside arena. We were still in our fancy clothes when Queen Amory bid everyone to select a weapon from the wall around us. The battle royal would feature the ambassador and her husband hoping to take me back to Solis. Samuel Galin and Mylor Anifya are trying to arrest me for being a hybrid, so I face the council. Queen Amory and General Ceres for forcing me into service to the crown and providing an heir with Silas. Lastly, Ema and I were fighting for my right to decide my fate. I made Braxton and Silas sit this one out. Ema and I started the journey together, and I intend to continue it together. I wonder if I will still be engaged to Silas after tonight. Do I even want to be? Nothing is certain at this moment.

Ema stood next to me with a bow and quiver of arrows. I pulled my daggers out from under my dress. There were a few comments on how unladylike I was for concealing weapons like that. If I wasn’t in the fight of my life right now I might have laughed at the comments. I am an adventurer fighting for my life just like my parents before me. Given the level of these competitors, I won’t be able to relax a bit. They all think I am a hybrid right now anyway, so why don’t I show them what a hybrid is really like?

“Ro, don’t do anything stupid,” Ema chastised me.

“This coming from the girl who thrived on chaos,” I snickered.

She rolled her eyes, but I saw the faint smile on her lips. “They can’t be any worse than the saber bear, right?”

“Saber bears? No, I think they might be worse. Think more Athyra level.” I answered.

“Dragons? Ugh, fine. I can take them.” She shook out her nervous energy while doing a handstand.

“No dying though, okay?” I gave her a serious glare.

“Wouldn’t dream of it. Just win, Ro. Tap into your crazy mana and beat their asses.” Ema sounded sassy as she bounced out of her handstand. “Just no frenzy mode. They’ll be dead if you do.”

“Yeah, yeah. Nothing more than my base form, I promise.” I gave her my best smile.

“Ok. Let’s do this.” Ema linked arms with me as we stood toe to toe with our opponents.

Grand Duke Hylon Kurts became the referee since he had no stake in my future. He thought this whole battle royale thing was ridiculous. “You are competing in teams of two for custody of one, Rosewyn Sillber. When both members of your team are no longer able to compete, you will admit defeat and return to your rooms. No killing will be permitted in this competition. Knockouts are permitted. Are the combatants ready?”

“Yes,” we all voiced.

“Then, begin!” He called.

The fight for my freedom has begun.