CHAPTER TEN: INJUSTICE

My knees felt weak and my tongue felt sour.

"The…the king…" I stammered.

"He can't be dead," I added, refusing to believe that the tragic fight between the three brothers was near.

"Let's leave at once your grace," Caspian retorted promptly.

"No!" Kethan shunned.

"We will remain in this kingdom," Kethan added, fearless.

"No, Kethan, I can't risk it. This is too dangerous," I yelled out, but my efforts to make him change his mind were toothless.

"Agatha, you said it yourself, I am powerful. They can't defeat me," Kethan blunted out, assured.

"I know Kethan, but…" I started to worry.

"There's no but, trust me," Kethan responded, cupping my face in his large arms to reassure me.

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"The fight shall begin immediately, the three sons of King Malik, ruler of Everglade kingdom shall begin the tournament for the crown" the hand of the king declared.

"Why now, the king has just died," I thought to myself confused.

"This is absurd, the king has just passed. Shouldn't we mourn the king before any other tragic experience?" Lady Lunaria yelled out in tears.

I stared at her; her voice trembled in pain. Her husband has just died, and her only son is preparing to fight a battle.

"Such a pitiful situation," I thought to myself.

"I'm sorry, your grace, but the kingdom needs a new king, so we will treat this as urgent," the hand of the king announced, cruelty written on his face.

"How dare you," Lady Lunaria screamed, rushing over the hand of the king, royal guards held her down, preventing her from injuring the hand of the king.

"Gather the people of this kingdom, the first fight between the first and second son of the king shall take place tonight and so is the second fight between the loser of the first fight and the third son. The last fight shall be tomorrow dawn," The hand of the king announced, ignoring other opinions.

Drystan looked in my direction and smirked. Irritated, I ignored him.

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It was time for the first fight, crowds gathered in the distance as the first and second sons were summoned into the battleground for a fight.

Echos, screams, and support from the people of the kingdom puffed around.

My mother-in-law, Lunaria, held my hand to calm me down, and I sent her a sad smile.

After what felt like ages, the first fight came to an end, Drystan had mercilessly beaten up his younger brother Donovan, making him the winner of the first round.

Soon, Kethan was summoned into the battleground, he was to fight against the loser of the second fight, Donovan.

My heart skipped a beat, my body felt hot and my hands trembled anxiously.

The first few punches landed on Kethan's face, and I couldn't help but scream his name like it was going to boost his strength.

Donovan was determined to win this time, it was a matter of life and death, and no one wants to be slaughtered for losing a fight, so he heartlessly launched at Kethan but with one spicy punch from Kethan, he fell to the ground toothless but he didn't give up.

Kethan stood there, waiting for Donovas to launch his attacks but after hours of his fruitless attacks and Kethan's fruitful punches, Donovas collapsed to the ground breathless, and right before the eyes of the people of that kingdom, he was brutally beheaded, with his colorful healthy blood spilling everywhere.

I slammed my eyes shut in terror; shock passed through my whole body.

As I crawled out of the crowd into my royal bedchamber and there Kethan was, staring at me.

I froze in place, unbelievably staring at Kethan.

"Agatha," he called out, walking towards me.

"What happens tomorrow," I blurted out in panic.

"The final fight," he announced, smiling.

"One of you will be beheaded tomorrow?" I requested eagerly.

"Yes, but it wouldn't be me," he calmly responded.

"And how can you be so sure about that?" I yelled out in panic.

"Maybe because I have powers," Kethan replied with a giggle, pulling me in for a hug.

"This is not a joke Kethan, Donovas was beheaded before my eyes…I…I can't," I stammered in between my gentle sobs.

"Shh…He can't win a fight with me while I'm in my right senses," Kethan replied.

"That's true, why am I worried…I have seen him fight," I thought, relaxing and then dragging Kethan towards the bed.

"You need a lot of rest before dawn," I announced.

Obediently, Kethan collapsed on the bed, smiling.

"Come here," he whispered.

Slowly, I sank into the bed, dragging myself closer to Kethan.

"You saw me fight again today, aren't you scared as usual?" Kethan's curiosity made him ask.

"Rest, I believe you have more complicated things to worry about," I declared, ignoring his questions.

"Okay wife," he muttered, dragging me closer for a cuddle.

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Throughout the entire night, my eyes were wide open until it was dawn.

I stared at Kethan sleeping soundly beside me.

He was sleeping as though there was nothing to be worried about.

A knock sounded on the door and it prompted my heartbeat.

"Is it time yet?" I thought in fright.

"Who's there?" I whispered.

"I brought breakfast for your grace, he needs to retain enough energy before the fight," the royal maid responded.

Relieved, I promptly matched towards the door to let her in.

"Thank you," I muttered. Nodding, she left.

I walked closer to Kethan, hesitating.

"Get up for breakfast," I whispered, forcefully pulling him up when he pulled back and I landed on his chest.

"Just give me a few more minutes," he murmured.

"The fight will start in a few minutes," I protested. Groaning in disappointment, he got up.

"I won't be watching the fight," I declared.

"Why?" Kethan asked, chewing on his meal.

"I…I can't watch that Kethan," I muttered nervously

"It's okay Agatha, I will be back," he responded, smiling.

There was a knock on the door, after a few seconds, Caspian walked in.

"Your grace, the people of the kingdom are gathered, it's time for the fight," Caspian announced.

"Okay, keep an eye on Agatha until I return," Kethan responded, walking out of the chamber.

"I will be outside the chamber your grace," Caspian announced, trailing behind Kethan.

I jumped to my feet, pacing around the room restlessly when a royal maid rushed into my chamber, with Caspian following behind.

"I'm sorry lady Agatha, I tried to stop her," Caspian pleaded.

"It's all right, you may leave," I replied, smiling and he immediately left the chamber.

"Your grace, you need to check on your husband," she blurted out, breathing heavily.

"Why?" I asked, curious.

"The…the breakfast that was brought to your grace this morning was sent by Drystan's mother. A dangerous herb was added to it, once it starts taking effects sir Kethan would start getting paralyzed and after a short period he would collapse. The herb would help lord Drystan win this fight and lord Kethan would be slaughtered."