by Rachel Angel
“As many of you have noticed, you will have quite a large opponent today.”
Everyone looked at the large bear. The knights struggled to keep the bear in place. Its snout in the air, the bear sought a meal.
A rope was tied to the collar at its neck. At the other end of the rope that was slung over the pit, another knight held the rope in place, waiting for the first challenger.
“Beyond the bear is a large pit,” Honeywell explained. “Your task; to pull the bear to the pit before it pulls you in.”
“A tug of war with a bear?” Prince Merck said in disbelief.
“What if the bear isn’t inclined to pull?” Lach said. “Do we win?”
“Oh,” Honeywell said. “He’ll be inclined to pull.” He nodded to a nearby villager.
An old man with a scruffy beard and hair as white as snow, brought forth a bucket filled with ice. From under the ice, he pulled out a large sea bass. “Caught it meself this mornin’,” he said.
The bear stood on its hindquarters, clearly aroused by the scent of food. As the knights held the bear tight, the fisherman hooked the fish to the center of the rope that ran over the pit.
Honeywell hushed the murmurs that came from the contestants. “This will be a contest of strength and stamina. The winner shall be either the contestant capable of bringing the bear into the pit the fastest, or the one capable of keeping from falling into the pit the longest.”
Aside from Lach and Merck who seemed uncertain about the competition, the princes and I smiled at the chance to go up against a bear.
“I will call you out at random,” Honeywell announced. “Prince Gerr. Please step up.”
Throwing a glance back at the other princes, Prince Gerr approached the knight who held the loose end of the rope. Pulling it taunt, the fish floated in the air over the deep pit.
“One three, we will release our hold of the bear,” Honeywell called out. “One. Two. Three.”
The knights let go and the bear quickly tugged on the rope, quickly dragging Gerr into the pit.
Lach was next and faired worse than Gerr. Then came Flamish and Merck. They didn’t stand a chance. The bear, now completely in tune to the game, dragged each of them into the pit, except Merck, who simply let go of the rope before falling in.
Next was Reggie. He put up a good fight, pulling and tugging and digging in his heals. But after five seconds, he, too, found himself on the edge of the pit and let go.
Barnaby met the same fate after only five seconds.
Avery, his muscles tense and taut, pulled and pulled, and for a moment it seemed he would win over the bear. But then, one sharp tug on the rope and it was over. Seven seconds.
Axel tied his brother with his own seven second fight against the bear.
Next came Ollie. He wrapped the rope around his wrist several times, dug his heals in deep and was nearly parallel to the ground beneath him as he put his entire body into the task of dragging the bear to the pit. Two seconds; the bear took a step forward. Four seconds; they both held on. Six seconds; another step forward for the bear. Eight seconds; Ollie’s strength was beginning to wane. Ten seconds and the bear dragged Ollie to the pit.
“What an impressive attempt,” Honeywell exclaimed. “Ten seconds. Looks like we have a winner.”
The crowd cheered and applauded.
“I think we can all return to the castle for a well-deserved meal and rest.”
“Pardon me, Sir Honeywell,” I called out. “What about me?”
“What about you, dear?”
“Do I not get an opportunity to war with the bear?”
“Violet,” Lach said. “Did you not see what the bear did with all the big, strong men around you? You have no chance. Not only are you not heavy enough, but you are definitely not strong enough.”
“Says who?” I argued. “I want my chance against the bear. Are you afraid I’ll win?”
He laughed.
“All right,” Honeywell said with a clap of his hands. “All right, then everyone. Please hold off going to the castle. It appears we are to have one last, insistent contestant.”
The crowd mumbled among themselves, their brows furrowed with questions.
“Violet Kingsbury,” Honeywell announced. “Please come forward.”
The crowd gasped and whispered their misgivings.
As I stepped forward, Avery caught my arm. “You don’t have to do this, Violet,” he said in a hushed tone. “If that bear pulls hard enough, you could be hurt.”
“I do have to do this, Avery,” I said. “Don’t worry. I won’t get hurt. You should be worried about that bear.”
I made my way to the waiting knight who handed me the rope. His eyes said it all. I must be mad.
“Good luck,” he said. I heard the sincerity and concern in his voice.
I slipped the end of the rope into my belt and knotted it, then took a firm hold of the rope. Twisting my heels into the earth, I dug in, firm and solid. I leaned back until the rope was taut.
Closing my eyes, I became one with the earth. My legs were like the strongest of the ancient trees, my roots driving deep into the ground, never to be uprooted. I tightened my hold of the rope. My fists were stronger than ever.
I felt a tug on the rope, but it only helped to stabilize me. I maintained my connection with the ground, grew deeper and deeper roots. Nothing could move me.
Through my concentration, I heard mutterings from the crowd.
“Hang in there,” Avery said under his breath. “You’ve got this.”
“Go, Violet,” Ollie said.
“Oh, my God,” a young woman called out. “She’s going to do it. She’s going to beat them.”
“Nine,” Honeywell called out. “Ten!”
“Keep going, Violet,” Reggie shouted.
“Eleven,” Sir Richard went on. “Twelve.”
The crowd joined him in counting. “Thirteen! Fourteen! Fifteen!”
I no longer felt the pull of the bear. Cracking my eyes opened, I looked into the forest before me. Beyond the bear, something in the forest called to me, beckoned me.
The trees were strangely ethereal, almost glowing. Among the trees, men and women stood, watching me. Their skin was flawless, glassy. There was a translucence to their skin and a sheen to their fair hair in tones of light green, blue, violet and orange.
Even from a distance, I could see their lavender eyes, so much like mine.
Who were they? I wondered. I sensed a vague familiarity, but no true sense of knowing them.
Their eyes were all focused on the bear, staring into the large beast’s eyes. Were they responsible for its docile way with me? Had he not pulled as he had with the other contestants?
One of the beautifully translucent women diverted her gaze from the bear and looked directly at me. Startled, I gasped as did the bear who seemed to suddenly wake up from a trance.
The bear, his curiosity aroused by the crowd of translucent people, walked toward them, but after only a few steps, the people all disappeared. Undeterred, the bear continued to pull and I suddenly lurched forward and fell into the pit.
While I had seen a few participants come out of the pit damp, I hadn’t realized just how much water there was. I plunged into the water and after a startled moment, I came up, gasping for breath.
The wild cheers and applause were almost deafening as I shook the water out of my hair and stepped out of the pit.
“A new record,” Sir Richard exclaimed. “Twenty-five seconds.”
Beaming, he looked at me with pride and a touch of astonishment.
“We have a clear and incontestable winner,” he went on. “Miss Violet Kingsbury of Arcadia is the winner of the Strong as a Bear Challenge.”
Pushing my damp hair off my face, I looked at all the people who continued to applaud my performance.
I was proud. I’d worked so hard to build up my strength. But I was also in awe of what had just transpired. I’d planned on my strength and charms. I knew I ha
d good speed, but this… This was beyond anything I could have anticipated.
This was magical. I couldn’t understand it, and I couldn’t explain it, but something magical and mystical had just occurred.
Those people. Those strangely mystical and translucent people.
Fae?
No. I didn’t believe fae existed. They were a part of folklore. They were a part of fables and fairytales.
But… then what had just happened?
I had no answer.
Chapter 18
Violet
As the crowd dispersed, Prince Reggie came up to me.
“That was quite impressive,” he said, looking at me with admiration.
“Thank you,” I said.
“You know that these contests are only going to get harder and harder.”
“Yes. I expected as much.”
“Seeing how strong you can be, I doubt many men will give you a chance to win.” He looked pointedly at me. “There is to be a combat challenge. They are not going to go lightly on you because you are a woman.”
I glanced up at him as I walked away. “I wouldn’t want them to.”
Ollie came up beside me as I headed back to the castle. “That was amazing, Violet,” he said. “Not only are you smart and beautiful, but surprisingly strong.”
“I’ve been working on building my strength.”
“I thought you should know,” Ollie said. “Many of the men in these competitions are determined more than ever to demolish you.”
“Men do have their pride, don’t they?” I said, unperturbed by his warning.
“Violet,” he said, stopping me. “Are you really going to go to combat with these men?”
“If that’s the challenge Sir Richard Honeywell has devised, then that is what I will do.”
We entered the castle, and as Ollie headed off to the dining hall, I headed up to my room to freshen up. As I made my way through the hall, I heard footsteps running to catch up to me and turned to see Avery.
“Are you chasing me?” I said with a playful smile.
“I didn’t get a chance to congratulate you on your win,” he said. “It seems everyone wanted to get close to you.”
“I guess I am now somewhat of an oddity. It would appear that it is not every day that a woman can compete in a show of strength against a man.”
“Even less frequent is actually beating him. I mean, you beat everyone.”
I stopped when I reached my door. “I wanted to freshen up before having dinner.”
“Mind if I come in for just a moment?”
Opening the door, I let him in and followed behind him.
His eyes so solemn and serious, he turned and looked at me after I’d closed my bedroom door.
“Avery,” I said, suddenly concerned. “What’s wrong?”
“I want you to bow out of the competition,” he said.
I laughed. “You’re being ridiculous. I can’t back out now. I’m winning every competition.”
“Violet,” he said softly. “Some of the men have admitted to going easy on you. You’re a woman, and they wished to humor you. But they’ve also allowed themselves to be distracted by you; your beauty, your sensuality. They vow to change that. In the next competition, they are going to give it one hundred percent.”
“I know that, Avery,” I said. “Don’t worry. I intend to give it one hundred percent as well.”
“Your hundred percent is not the same as mine.”
I gazed at him with a sly grin. “Yes. I know.”
“You’re underestimating the power of these men.”
“Avery,” I said. “You’re in this competition against me. Are you trying to get me out of your way?”
“No, of course not.”
“I’m beginning to think that I should perhaps reconsider my romantic relationship with you.”
He stepped closer to me and took my hands in his. “I wish I could get out of the competition. I have no true desire to compete against you, Violet.”
“Then why are you?” I said with a slight biting tone. “Why don’t you back out?”
“I felt I had no choice when I learned that Axel had joined the competition. Then Prince Reginald and Prince Oliver put their names into the competition. All of them are serious about this. And they now believe that the combat to come is the perfect opportunity to put you out of the competition for good.”
“I’m sure they would very much enjoy doing that.”
“I’m here to protect you, Violet. I want to stay in the competition to keep you out of danger.”
“And how do you plan to do that?” I asked with a playful smile.
“By beating them out of the competition, especially the more dangerous contenders. They want you out, Violet. No matter what it takes, they want you out.”
My smile faded as I looked at him, seriously considering his warning for the first time. Would some of the princes truly consider murder in order to become the next Kingmaker?
“I’ll be sure to keep everything you’ve said in mind, Avery. Thank you.”
He left me to freshen up and I met up with him again in the dining hall. Dinner was a feast for any carnivore, and the men dug in, eating everything Rosie and her team brought out.
After dinner, I returned to my room, ready for a good night’s sleep before the big day. Just as began to doze off, I felt a weight on the bed beside me, then the warmth of heated skin.
“Shh, it’s just me,” Avery whispered as he pulled up my nightgown. “I want to show you just how much you mean to me.”
He climbed over me, the heat of his skin against mine. “I want you to know how I love you. That I’ve always loved you.”
Making love to me, he whispered sweet words in my ear and kissed the tender skin of my neck.
“Declaring your love during lovemaking is never very reliable.”
He stopped in mid-motion and pulled out. With his eyes steadily on mine, he slid over to my side. “I suppose you might be right,” he said softly. “That is why I’ve chosen to live here on the island of Arcadia… so that I may be close to you… as close to you as I can possibly be. That is how much I love you. I have forgone my family, my castle, my island so that I may be close to you.”
Smiling, I lovingly pushed him onto his back and straddled him, making sweet love to him.
Chapter 19
Violet
I roused early the next morning despite my time with Avery. My mind raced from his warnings, to Rosie and Lucinda’s faith in me.
Combat. Fueled by my victory against the big, furry bear, I’d felt confident as I’d dismissed everyone’s warnings about the day’s competition. Had I been over- confident? Was I in denial?
I got out of bed and prepared for the day. Once again, I dunned skintight pants that hugged my curves and gave me absolute freedom of movement. I paired that with a bright purple shirt with a laced collar and ample sleeves, topped with a tight black vest that was laced up to just under my breasts, pushing them up to enticing plumpness. Over that, a silver chainmail vest that shined brilliantly over the black vest.
Carrying my boots downstairs, I stopped in the informal dining room for a quick breakfast. I had no desire to eat with everyone else in the grand dining hall. I wanted time to think, to get in tune with myself.
Rosie was uncharacteristically quiet as she brought me eggs, sausage, sliced ham, cheese and thick, dense bread.
I ate slowly, careful to not eat too much, which would leave me feeling bloated.
Dabbing the corner of my mouth after the meal I stood to find Rosie in the doorway looking at me.
“I will not be able to be at the arena today to watch the competition. Sir Richard has asked that a grand feast be ready for the end of the day.”
“I understand,” I said.
“My thoughts are with you. My faith is with you. I have no doubt that you are capable of succeeding.”
I smiled, slipped into my boots and walked out.
A s
tream of spectators and competitors were already on their way to the arena. I held back, staying out of the crowd. I didn’t want to hear any warnings or threats.
We reached the arena that had been set up several years earlier. A portion of the forest had been cleared to make room for the field that would attract various sports, including combat.
Though relatively modest in size, the impressive arena nonetheless held several hundred spectators and had been fashioned to be as spectacular as any royal arena.
While the spectators took their seats, the competitors lined up in a cordoned off portion of the arena.
Sir Richard Honeywell made his way to a raised platform to address the crowd. Raising his hands in the air, he waited as the crowd settled down and quieted.
“Thank you all for coming,” he finally said. “Today should be quite a spectacle.”
The crowd murmured its anticipation.
“Here are the rules to today’s competition. We shall have one on one combat. However, there is to be no gouging, no slicing off of limbs and no stabbing. That being said, any style of fighting is permitted.”
The crowd roared their approval.
“Trying to wow us with your wiles again, Violet,” Barnaby snapped as he tried to look down my shirt.
“Nothing is keeping you from looking elsewhere,” I snapped back.
Avery and Axel both looked at me with appreciation, but also with clear concern with regards to the other princes and nobles.
While Gerr and Flamish looked at me with a blend of disgust and underlying lust, the others eyed me with open hunger.
Avery entered the field first followed by a noble competitor. The older man was no match for Avery, who quickly had him on the ground.
As Avery went to the sidelines to rest, I was called forward, along with Merck.
“Nice to see you again,” I said, bringing my voice down to a throaty and lust-filled tone.
“I thought that dress was something, but this. “Wow, Violet. I didn’t know a woman could…” He swallowed as his eyes danced over me, taking me in with open curiosity and a desire to see more. “I mean. Women… they… uh.” He shook his head as if trying to clear his thoughts. “Those curves,” he said with finality as he bit his bottom lip.