Chapter 174

The King stood and Sveta his daughter walked forward with him. The look on her face said she knew what was about to happen, and she was going to enjoy this. The look worried Amaris. The King walked down from the dais to the center of the cirlce that the guards had created. He looked at the group of prisoners in front of him and then turned around and looked at the group behind him. The King spun around one more time making Amaris dizzy looking at him. In a loud booming tone he began. "We have our two groups all set down here, but I think that our guests from the vampire relm will not be able to enjoy the show in their current spot. Let us give them better seats to enjoy the show. Come right down here." The King waved his arms as if he was directing air traffic. He pointed from them to the open space toward the back of the room. Everyone waited for the vampires to move from their alcove to the space at the back, facing directly opposite of the dais. The King stepped back to the center of the cirlce and raised his arms. "We are here to celebrate. We have the good fortune today to finally have our queen home. Tonight we celebrate her arrival, and tomorrow we feast at our union." The King roared and the guards and all the vampires present cheered with him. The King clearly was feeding off their excitement. "Now let us start off the festivities with a little sport. On either side of me you see two separate groups. These two groups will be competing tonight against one another. The winner will get to stick around and participate in the after nuptual celebrations tomorrow." He spun around looking at everyone. "Each team will pick three persons to represent their team in three tests. Their Champions if you will." The King flourished his hands and then continued booming out. "The winner from each test will gain their team one point. The team with the most points at the end will be able to stay around for the ceremonies tomorrow." The King paused here looking to see if there was a reaction from the on looking crowd. When he did not get the response that he had been looking for he decided that further explination maybe in order. "Before we go any further, I will give you some time to choose your three champions each. Choose wisely, your team depends on them. Once they have been chosen they will stand inside the circle on your side facing each other. I will give you ten minutes starting now." The King walked out of the circle and back to the dais followed closely by Sveta. It appeared she wanted nothing more but to be in the center of attention. It seemed that she must be like her father that way. He walked up to his throne and before he sat, walked around the back and grabbed the cadeusus. He came back around and sat. "I am parched." He said turning first to look at Amaris and then to look at Adam and Sveta. Sveta had returned to stand at Adam's side. The King clapped his hands and two people who looked to be servents, dredded all in black, came out of the same little door from the alcove that the vampires were standing in earlier. Each of them had a tray with several different drinks on them. They walked over and the man served the King first. The woman came right to Amaris' side and served her. The King picked his head up and saw that she stood before Amaris while she chose. "This is Lana. She will be your personal ladies maid and servant from now on." Amaris looked from the King to the girl standing in front of her. The girl looked terrified. Amaris hesitated. She had never had a maid or any servant before, she was sure that she did not want one now. The King saw her hesitation. "Not a problem my dear we will get you a new girl if this one is not satisfactory. I will have Wendel here get a large group of them together so you can choose. Guard take her away." His words and actions were so quick, Amaris almost did not have time to react. "NO! No wait. She is just fine." Amaris said standing up putting herself in front of the now terrified girl. "She is acceptable. I am just not used to having servants. It is not something that I am accustomed to." The King looked at her for a long moment. Amaris noticed that the two guards who had moved were frozen midstep. "Very well. If you think that she will suit you." The King went back to sipping what looked like wine in his glass. Amaris returned to her seat and sat down. The girl came back over and offered her the tray agian. The girl whispered

Thank you." Very softly so no one else would hear. Amaris gave a small nod. Then whispered to the girl, "Which one of these is water? None of these are poisoned or drugged are they?" The girl took her hand and pointed to a brown mug. The girl's eyes darted around her to see who was in earshot. She gave a small nod of her head. Amaris nodded almost imperceptibly and took the brown mug that the girl had pointed to. She brought the mug up to her lips but did not really drink. The girl turned away, but with a much more worried look than before. The two servants went around to everyone else on the dais and made sure that they had a drink. After Jason took his, Amaris caught his eye and raised her glass and then gave him a small shake of her head. He caught on quickly as he turned to his mate and put his hand on her arm and leaned in and kissed her and then pretended to lean in and kiss her neck while he whispered something in her ear. Her eyes went wide, and she reached behind her and put her drink down on the male servant's tray as he walked past. Amaris was not sure why, but she knew that Jason had not betrayed them and was still an ally. The King finished his drink and rose. "Your ten minutes is up. I see each side has chosen your three champions. Excellent. Whom ever was chosen to go first for each team come forward, the other two outside the circle for now. The first challenge will now be brought in." He turned slightly and nodded to the guard that he had been speaking with earlier.