As soon as Okab stepped out, the crowd cheered for him loudly. He raised his hands up to acknowledge them with a grin on his face. He took his sword out and raised it up and the audience went mad.
When Rigel walked outside to join him, the crowd cheered all along but there were few who jeered at him. They started passing demeaning remarks. Rigel knew that they were all strategically planted by Meissa and Okab. He ignored all of them and focused his energy on Okab. He came to stand next to him, a few feet apart and faced the podium where the king was sitting on a red cushioned high chair flanked by Meissa on the left and a vacant chair on the right. His mother chose not to come.New novel chapters are published on
Meissa was leaning forward as excitement surged in her eyes to see Okab. When her gaze locked with Rigel's, her orbs turned into cold ice.
The king stood up and let out a growl. The growl was so loud and dangerous that every man and woman present in the stadium became absolutely quiet.
The king started speaking, "Today we have assembled to witness a monumental fight. Princess Miessa has challenged Prince Rigel for the position of Crown Princess. Since she couldn't fight with him, she has appointed her fiancé, Prince Okab, of Aquila Kingdom to fight against him." He looked at both the men standing in the center of the stadium. A flicker of sadness passed through his eyes when his gaze landed on Rigel. He took a deep breath in and in a heavy voice said, "May the best win." As soon as he sat down, the crowd roared all over again.
Rigel rotated his shoulder as the pain shot through his arm once again. He closed his eyes and prayed to the Moon Goddess. After that he started walking towards the center of the stadium where Okab was already going with a grin plastered on his face.
They continued to fight for an hour. At every opportunity, Okab would slash his flesh. Rigel would do the same. Both of them were bleeding but none of them wanted to stop. Okab was beginning to get irritated. He needed to plunge his sword in Rigel's shoulder that was now bleeding badly. If he did that, he was sure that in a few minutes he would be able to overtake him.
Okab pushed him away and started circling again. He was looking for his weak point. Suddenly, he attacked Rigel and Rigel responded. But Okab cleverly dodged him. He spun and came behind Rigel. This was his opportunity. He lifted his sword to plunge it in Rigel's shoulder when an arrow came flying in the air and struck him in the back. He spun wildly to look from where the arrow came.
And he saw a chariot driven by a warrior whose face was covered in helmet and was pulled by two black stallions, nearing the center where they were standing. It was driven by a woman with dark hair and dark eyes, wearing the armor of a soldier. On the chariot, the flag of the Draka Kingdom fluttered. The woman's bow was taut strung, holding another arrow, her gaze locked on him.
The crowd audibly gasped when the chariot came near them and started circling them. Mintaka and Meissa were too shocked. They got up and held the ledge of the rail of the podium. "Who are you?" Mintaka roared from his place as everyone became quiet.
Rigel let out a gleeful laugh as a bewildered Okab stared at the occupants of the chariot, especially the woman. "You are late."
The charioteer pulled his helmet out revealing his face.
"Eltanin!" Okab rasped. But his gaze darted to the woman behind him. When she took her helmet out, a beautiful face was revealed. Her back hair fluttered in the wind around her face. She looked... feral.
She looked at Mintaka and said aloud, "I am Princess Lerna of the Draka Kingdom, sister of King Eltanin."