Chapter 92

The soldiers surrounded me, their eyes burning with contempt as if I were some kind of villain. They had all chosen to stand with Fenris without hesitation, without question. Only Icarus remained at my side, a steadfast shield against anyone who dared to lash out at me—physically or verbally. I was growing increasingly weary of the relentless disregard for my authority, the way they stripped away even the smallest shred of respect I deserved.

"Your sister brought this upon herself," I said, my voice unnervingly calm, even to my own ears. "She insulted me, deliberately served me spoiled food, and in the end, she tried to attack me. She alone is responsible for what happened to her. A mere maid should have known better than to challenge the King's concubine."

Icarus' jaw tightened, his eyes widening in disbelief. "She did what?" he demanded, his voice low and seething.

"She insulted me," I repeated, meeting the gazes of those who surrounded me. "And then she attacked me. Now her brother seeks to do the same."

Fenris took a menacing step forward, his teeth clenched in fury as his piercing eyes raked over me. "I don't care that you're a woman. I don't care that you're human. You condemned my sister, and it is my right to challenge you. I will kill you and restore her honor." His words dripped with venom, and with a sneer of disgust, he spat at my feet.

"You cannot be serious about invoking some ancient custom!" Icarus barked, his voice slicing through the tension. "The King would never allow it."

"The King is away and won't return until the end of the week," came a voice from across the hall, strong and authoritative. Gareth.

The crowd fell silent as he emerged from the shadows, his presence commanding. The soldiers parted for him as he approached, his gaze sweeping over me before settling on Fenris with an arched brow and a mocking smirk.

"So, you want to challenge this... pretty little lady to restore your arrogant sister's honor?" he scoffed.

"It is my right," Fenris growled.

Gareth sighed, shaking his head. "Very well. Since the King is away, the decision lies with Lady Thalassa." He gestured toward me with a flourish.

Relief washed over me. There was no way I would agree to face this towering brute. But before I could reject it outright, Gareth's smirk widened, and with a glint of mischief in his eyes, he spoke.

"I accept the challenge on her behalf."

"What?!" I shouted, my heart stuttering in sheer disbelief.

Gareth seized my hand in a firm grip and turned to Fenris. "As the King's right hand and counselor, I declare that Lady Thalassa will face you in a duel three days from now. The fight will take place after sundown so that every soldier can bear witness."

I felt the ground shift beneath me as murmurs filled the hall. Laughter and sneers rippled through the crowd, their confidence in my impending defeat unmistakable.

"Master Larkspur!" Icarus thundered. "You can't be serious!"

Gareth raised a hand to silence him. "If Fenris wins, his sister's honor will be restored. But if Lady Thalassa triumphs, you will all acknowledge her worthiness and grant her the respect she deserves." His words hung in the air, an unshakable challenge to the crowd.

Mocking whispers and stifled chuckles spread, but the soldiers nodded in agreement. They had already decided the outcome, and none of them believed it would end in my favor.

I wanted to scream, to reject this insanity outright, but Gareth's unwavering confidence unsettled me. He still held my hand, a silent warning not to back down. His expression held something more—was it belief? Did he truly think I could win?

I swallowed hard, the weight of my past battles creeping into my thoughts. I had faced danger before, but none with the singular intent of ending my life.

"I'm so screwed," I muttered, watching as Fenris laughed, his voice thick with cruel amusement.

"Enjoy your last three days, Lady Thalassa," he taunted before striding out of the hall.

I stood frozen, my mind reeling as the soldiers slowly dispersed. Gareth remained, and so did Icarus. When the hall emptied, Gareth turned to me, his grin infuriatingly smug.

"You'd better change into something more appropriate before we start your training," he said casually, heading for a side door and motioning for me to follow.

I stared at Icarus, my eyes pleading for an explanation. "Is he really going to train me for this?"

Icarus offered a nervous smile. "You should take his offer. It's your best shot at survival."

With trembling legs and a heart hammering in my chest, I followed Gareth into an empty gym. It was a stark, disciplined space designed for martial arts. Icarus shut the door behind us as Gareth rummaged through a locker, tossing me a black Gi uniform.

"Change," he ordered, pointing to the locker room.

I hesitated but obeyed, emerging moments later, my nerves frayed. "Now, are you going to tell me why you're trying to get me killed?"

Gareth chuckled. "I'm helping you. Trust me."

"How does fighting that beast help anything?!" I shot back.

He looked me over appraisingly. "I have an eye for fighters, Thalassa. You can win."

"And what makes you so sure?"

"I saw you fight for your life at the casino," he said, smirking.

"I barely survived!"

"True," he admitted, "but something's changed. I saw it today—how your eyes track movement. You're ready."

"Because my eyes move fast?" I scoffed.

Without warning, he lunged, a punch hurtling toward my face. Instinctively, I blocked it, gripping his fist before it connected. I gasped, stunned at my own reaction.

Gareth grinned. "See? I knew I was right. I'm going to put you through hell for the next three days, but you're going to win this fight. And when you do, the Royal Army will bow to you faster than they bow to the King."