Chapter 12 The Match Conditions
Both Fernanda and Sebastian sat inside the royal carriage in awkward silence as they rode towards the wielding pits. None of them said a word to each other throughout the ride and it made Fernanda so uncomfortable.
The tall icy gates that lead to the wielding pits was automatically made open for their carriage and their arrival was immediately announced by the guards stationed at the gates.
Fernanda became nervous when she heard some cheers outside of the carriage, she shivered and tightly pulled the coat she was wearing together around her body. Sebastian glanced sideways at her, he saw her shivering and shook his head and took off his coat to drape it around her.
"I'm okay, I don't need it." She protested but he draped it over anyway. He stepped out of the carriage and extended his hand to help her out. "I refuse to believe this gentlemanly act of yours comes from a place of love." Fernanda said to him as he helped her out of the carriage.
The statement made both of them freeze a bit. Even Fernanda widened her eyes as if she didn't expect herself to say that. The surprise on Sebastian's face was also palpable. "You are free to believe anything you want." He simply responded after a moment, still holding her hand in his.
Fernanda didn't know what else to say, she was already deeply regretting saying that. "Your Majesty, Welcome..." A man's voice interrupted. Fernanda could tell from his appearance that he is a wielder. He was accompanied by few other men whom she was sure were also wielders.
All of them looked surprised to see her with him, Fernanda could see on their faces that they didn't agree with her presence but they held their tongues due to some reason unknown to her.
"Everyone awaits your presence Your Majesty," The man who spoke earlier said again. They were both escorted to the entrance leading to the pits. A tall brick wall with a large door built into it, slid opened revealing a space that wasn't too big nor too small. Fernanda was unsure what it was.
They all stepped into it and as soon as they got in, it started moving downwards. Fernanda was stunned, she wondered how far down the pits were. The temperature dropped lower the further down they went, she pulled the coat Sebastian had given her tightly against her body.
There was a slight tremor as soon as the elevators reached the ground. The doors got opened and Fernanda couldn't help but gasp. It indeed looked like a fighting ground constructed with just ice, only that it reeked with danger and brutality. A shiver ran through her body when she stepped in alongside Sebastian who wore a look of regret on his face. He definitely didn't want her to be there.
The pits didn't look anything like Fernanda had always imagined, although it was as beautiful and aesthetically pleasing but there was just so much darkness entwined with the coldness of the pits.
There wasn't only one fighting ground, about three were connected with the other which Fernanda knew It was due to the fighting style of the ice wielders, they needed much space as they could possibly get because it was so much dangerous fighting in a confined space.
Fernanda had so many questions, even Sebastian could sense them but she choose not to speak in the moment.
All the wielders who were initially warming up saw Sebastian entering and immediately went on one knee with their heads lowered in acknowledgement of his presence.
The tension in the pits became more thicker and palpable and Fernanda didn't needed to be told to know why. She knew it was because of her presence. Sebastian nodded once and everyone stood back up, Levi approached them wearing a confused look on his face.
"Your Majesty, I..." Levi started to say but Sebastian didn't let him finish Because he already knew what he wanted to say. "Make sure everyone fights easy today, my wife is watching." Sebastian told him and the commander gave a sharp nod in compliance.
He took Fernanda's hand, firmly holding it in his and walked them over to a private section in the spectator's box specifically reserved for the King or any member of the Royal family. He made sure she sat first and was comfortable before he left her hand.
The whole gesture made Fernanda overthink if he was actually genuine or rather just putting on a show because they were out together. The first wielding activities commenced in celebration of Clawshire's latest victory and Fernanda was stunned by the wielders movements.
Both water and ice danced and was shot in different directions as four wielders on the fighting ground displayed many wielding styles and flexed their abilities to impress the King. Fernanda took a sneak peek at him to see if he was actually impressed but only saw his unyielding grim expression.
"Is he ever impressed by anything?" She thought with a small scoff before returning her gaze over to the wielders whom she was very much impressed by. They rounded up their performance in a dramatic style and everyone present including Fernanda bursted out into loud cheers, applauding them for a job well done.
The cheers quietened down as everyone waited for the king's words. "My wife thoroughly enjoyed your performance and that's all that matters tonight." Sebastian said, giving them a nod of approval. Everyone cheered again but Fernanda didn't join them this time around. Her eyes, filled with surprise, were on Sebastian's face.
He slightly tilted his head in her direction and although he didn't say anything, Fernanda could feel her cheek burn. She still didn't wanted to believe everything he was doing truly came from his heart.
A tough looking young man whom Fernanda was sure had the ability to wield and shift, came to whisper something in Sebastian's ears. Sebastian gave his approval and his expression turned even darker.
"What is it?" Fernanda couldn't help but ask. Sebastian turned his head fully this time around to look at her, "I made a promise to my warriors about the conditions of the match tonight which cannot be changed." He started, Fernanda swallowed nervously wondering what the conditions were.
"Conditions? What conditions?"
"Ones I don't want you to witness." Sebastian replied, his tone just as hard as the expression on his face.