"Lady Silja won." The man on the side announced. He couldn't believe what he was saying.
Silja threw the spears on the ground and soon her legs gave away. They were already injured and with all the pressure she put on them the pain was back.
On the royal platform king, Zachary looked at the girl amid ground with dirt all over.
A small smile came on his lips and vanished before anyone would notice it.
Donovan was also shocked. How in the world she managed to injure one of his best female knights.
He narrowed his eyes as he looked at the petite girl. She looked so fragile like she could be snapped with just a slight pressure.
He doubted she could have done it, maybe Seria (the knight) lost focus and Silja took a chance.
Soon the Mira came and helped Silja stand up and led her out of the arena. Few more people ran to help the knight.
As the competition came to an end everyone started to scatter off with shock on their faces.
Well, unexpected has happened, the girl whom they thought won't be able to take a few below actually won proving them all wrong all along.
Donovan followed his family and then straight left to the barracks.
"Where is Seria?" He asked.
"She is in the infirmary," replied one of the soldiers.
Donovan followed him and saw two women laying on the infirmary bed.
One was injured by Lady Olivia and the other one was Seria who was injured by Silja.
"How's she?" Don asked, looking at the woman name Seria.
She looked pale and lifeless.
"She was hit just below her heart, the main artery was hurt which made her lose blood and then fall unconscious. Apart from that no more damage. The vitals were cleverly avoided," replied the healer.
"But losing so much blood has made her unconscious, I can't tell how much time it will take her to recover," he added.
Don looked at the woman laying unconscious and then the other one who was hurt by Olivia.
He was right the woman didn't fail to amuse him.
How in the hell did she pull that off.
Something was off about that girl he could tell.
###
Late at night in the royal quarters.
King Zachary was sitting in his room with Abrielle.
Three princes walked in and greeted their parents.
"How is everything? Settled?" Zach asked.
"It is," Sam replied and all three of them settled down.
"How about injured soldiers?" He asked.
"Being treated, no permanent damage, but Seria is still unconscious," Don replied.
" I must say I was surprised by the stunt that the human princess pulled," Zivan commented.
"Indeed, that girl surprised everyone today," Abrielle agreed and took a seat near Zachary.
"How did she do that, we should interrogate her," Zivan stated and receive a glare from his father.
"Don't look down on humans you haven't witnessed what a small ant can do to the giant elephant. It's not about strength all the time, mind and strategy plays an important part," Zachary said. The last thing he want was Silja's truth to be exposed before the right time. The girl was an incomparable treasure yet can be disastrous if not handled carefully. But he couldn't share these thoughts with his sons.
"Seria must have been distracted by you and she took chance By chance," Zivan scoffed. There was nothing about smartness.
"But the question is why is she here?" It was Samuel who asked.
"Why did the human king all of sudden send his daughter here?" Sam added. And including him everyone looked at Zachary.
"Of course he has to. Witches have already started to show their true colours, the treaty has been broken," Zachary explained.
"All it took was a little push and the west has no choice but to take initiative," Zachary has a sly smile on his lips.
"What did they ask in exchange?" Don asked.
There was no way they would become ready to join hands that easily.
"Protection," Zachary replied.
"Are you sure that's all? There must be something that they need, if not now than in future," Zivan lifted his eyebrow.
"You guys don't have to worry about it. As a king, I know what to do and I have thought it through," Zachary smiled at his sons.
"Father, I'm having a bad feeling about this, don't tell me brother has to marry the human princess too?" Zivan asked.
"What do you mean human princess TOO? Does he want to marry all of them?" Zachary snapped.
And Zivan closed his mouth and then looked at his brother.
Zivan blinked his eyes as if asking 'Do you?' well given his brothers record with women it wouldn't be surprising if he do that.
And Donovan glared at him.
Zivan instantly looked away.
"We just want to ask what you are thinking, father," Don asked looking at Zachary, calmly.
"Well, I have thought about it for a long time and then came to the conclusion that I should let you decide," Zachary looked at Don.
"What are you planning, father?" Don asked. And Zachary pursed his lips.
"I said I will let you decide," Zachary repeated himself.
"That's not how you operate," Don stated.
"Sorry father, but I totally agree with brother," Zivan joined his brother and like on rare occasions Samuel also nodded his head, agreeing with his brothers.
Zach and Abrielle looked at each other and Abrielle was having a hard time surpassing her laughter.
"I'm being serious here,'' King Zachary was on the verge of losing his mind. For once in his life, he was hating the fact that his children know him so well.
"Donovan, I'm giving you permission to choose your wife yourself. I won't pressure you nor will I interfere in the matter, alright,"
All four of them looked at the king.
"Im serious," Zachary couldn't help but raise his voice.
"Alright, it's fixed then?" Don lifted his eyebrows.
"How many times you want me to repeat myself," King Zachary's irritation was at its peak.
"Fine," Don nodded.
"We should not disturb you anymore, let's go Zivan, Sam" Don stood up and his siblings followed.
"Good night father, Queen mother," Don greeted both before leaving.
"Goodnight Mother, Father," Sam and Zivan greeted at the same time and left.
"They played you, you know?" Abrielle said as their sons left the room.
"Let them for now," Zachary smiled.
Well, how can it be that easy to fool an old sly dragon?
"You should have been born fox you know, darling," Abrielle said in a joking tone.
Hardly surpassing her laughter.
Zachary narrowed his eyes and pulled her towards him smiling mischievously.
"Is that so?"
"Ahuh.." Abrielle nodded.
"You know me so well, dear" he replied before planting a passionate kiss on her lips.