Fifteen

I landed in the fighting pit face first, my mouth flooded with mud. Bruised, I stood on my palms and knees, spitting out the red-hot clay.

My stomach churned as I struggled to my feet, wiping my chin with the back of one arm. My clothes were ruined now...

This was not how I had planned to spend my Friday night. Above, my opponent was there, illuminated by artificial lights. Bleachers filled with people surrounded the fighting stage.

The ringmaster, a red-eyed, brown-haired demoness with a pale complexion, dressed in a crimson jacket and a grey-checkered kilt, leaned over the edge of the stage, at least fifteen feet high. To look down on me.

A tattoo with the number 110 on her neck, she must have been part of the criminal group I'd heard about earlier.

"You thought you could rob us?" she hissed.

You must not understand anything, let's go back a few months before this fight.

It had been a week since the incident during our so-called training. I had tried to approach Ayumi, but she was as distant as before.

I had to find another way and killing the king would only bring me trouble because they would want to kill me too.

I had just come out of my training with Theyla and today was like any other day, she hardly spoke. But it looked like she wanted to ask me something.

She looked strange during the whole session, she kept looking at me from all sides. Whatever she wanted to tell me must be very important for her to be so stressed.

"You want to ask me something ?" I say as I put my things back in my bag.

"Well, I have to introduce you to someone, I offered her your services," she murmured.

I didn't think she would tell anyone about me and then what kind of service it could be. When I asked her she didn't answer me, she just waved me to follow her.

We walked along the road, and then we arrived in front of the castle. The castle is placed on an elevation, offering excellent views. The castle now has more than 840 years of history, impressing with current comfort without losing its historical charm. Completely renovated this year with charm and authenticity and that make it a rare piece.

I look at Theyla, I don't understand what we are doing here. She tells me that someone would need my services, don't tell me it's the king.

"Come here." She takes my hand and leads me to another place than the main entrance.

We walk through what I would call a secret passage, and then I feel like I'm walking through a labyrinth, until we got to a room Theyla knock twice loudly and then three times softly a scream is heard and the door opens.

We both enter the room then Theyla closed the door. A girl who is about the same age as me is there. She has beautiful light green hair. Her skin is really a mix between light and dark.

If my memory serves me right, it is Lydia. She could be considered the future queen, but only if the king decided.

Her father had died before he could reign, and they had decided to proclaim her uncle as king. But she was destined to be queen, but her hopes were dashed after the decision of the present king.

And her eyes are as blue as the sky, I could get lost in her gaze, but I quickly come back to reality when Theyla start to talk.

"Your Majesty," she said through gritted teeth.

"I present to you Miss Ava, daughter of the very famous number three and four strongest mages in the capital. "

"If this is a joke," the princess told her, "She lacks taste."

My legs tensed, even though running away was useless. The princess knew my name now.

"I'm aware this isn't the meeting you wanted, but here we are," Theyla added.

"Not really. " The princess dropped the pieces of biscuit onto the plate.

"Is this your choice for my spy?" she asked Theyla. "A woman driven by revenge who goes where she wants? "

My stomach flipped. So Theyla had told her that I wanted revenge on Ayumi.

The princess rushed forward and put her hands on my wrists. Her grip was surprisingly strong. It didn't matter that I knew Theyla, that we both thought the king was very bad, or that Theyla had hidden her connection to the princess from me. If I didn't do what the princess wanted, there would be no mercy for me.

"Will you be my spy?" she asked.

If I were in her place, wielding her power, I would do the same. I sat down, her hands still on my wrists. I can't be your spy. She watched me calmly.

"But," the princess said, "With the royal power behind you..."

"You already have contacts in trade through your family's business. I will give you the funds and contacts to gather informants. " She added.

"And if I refuse your offer?" I asked.

"Well, the king wouldn't be happy to hear that someone wants to hurt his daughter."

"Is this blackmail, then? I become your spy, and you forget that I want revenge?" Or even kill the king.

The princess smiled. Warmth came out of her stern expression. I swallowed.

"No," she said. "No blackmail. I am not my uncle. There is no trust in blackmail." There was no trust between us anyway.

"You have a choice, even if it is a limited one. Theyla thinks you're cut out to be a spy, and I trust her opinion. And," she added, "No one else could offer you such a chance for revenge."

"It's in our interest to work together," she said.

The princess and her uncle had a different understanding of duty and responsibility, and she had avoided the king during her last visits to the court. Rumor had it that she didn't like his influence on her mom.

"May I consider your offer?" I asked.

She was right: no one else, not even Theyla, could give me this opportunity. But I wouldn't become a spy on a whim.

Theyla wanted her to be a certain kind of queen. But I doubted that someone who rejected blackmail could win against the king. It was risk after risk after risk, and if I wasn't careful, it could extend to my family.

"Of course. "After a moment, she said, painfully and softly, "My father died of poisoning too. I'll never know if it was the king's doing."

Maybe this was my chance to get some answers I could never get my own.

Sorry for the spelling mistakes.