The Knight's Princess

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

The Medina Family will be in the Rose Thorn Kingdom for the next few days. The alliance agreement between King Hashu and King Remond was nearing completion. Queen Nova and Princess Naliyah were gathering roses for the kingdom. Their garden is made up of exotic plants and no roses. Since they are engaged to be married, Azaria was spending time with Prince Alonza, attempting to get to know him better.

“Your home is so beautiful”

“Thank you, but I do have to say the only beauty I see is you”

Azaria's cheeks flushed deep red as a result of the prince's flattery.

“Are you ok? You look a bit red in the face, do you need a nurse?”

“No no I’m fine it just got a little hot is all nothing to worry about”

Prince Alonza escorted Azaria to the nearest shade on the cliff side where they were taking their walk together.

“This view of the ocean is amazing”

“I know another view that’s even more amazing”

“Oh yeah, and what would that be”

Prince Alonza takes a step closer to Azaria. As he looks into her hazelnut-colored eyes, he pulls her closer to him. One of the servants interrupted him as he was about to kiss her with a message from her father.

“Your highness sorry to disturb you, however the King said to go get ready, you will be departing Demenia soon”

“Already, ugh ok I’m coming”

“How about I walk you back to your room so we can have a little more quality time together”

“I would like that”

When the Medina family was preparing to leave, Prince Alonza presented Azaria with a unique blue rose. A symbol of his dedication and future love.

After the Medina family returned to their homeland, there was excitement spreading around the castle. It was the Semi Annual Advancement Competition, one of the most thrilling events in the kingdom. Every six months the recruits get to battle against each other in two events of different types of combat. The two types of combat are, magical arts and hand-to-hand combat. Azaria was so excited about the advancement competition. She was good at both so she was confident she was going to past with high marks and flying colors.

While Azaria was deciding what to wear for the competition, her instructor Gail paid her a visit to remind her that she is still on probation and will be unable to compete in the Semi-Annual Advancement competition. Azaria was devastated because all she aspires to be is a great warrior like her father, the king. Gail was about to leave after breaking the news to her when she had one more piece of advice.

“Listen take this as a learning lesson, there are consequences for making the wrong decisions and putting people’s lives at stake. Cheer up just be ready for the next competition in six months.”

Gail's remark to Azaria enraged her. Azaria realized Gail was correct, and she can only blame herself for the white tiger incident. However, she was not going to let that get in the way of her plans. She only needed to devise a sound strategy.

Then she had a great idea, not her most favorite idea but an idea nonetheless. She can ask her sister Naliyah if she can take her place in the competition. It was a great plan in her opinion. Therefore, Azaria left to go see Naliyah in her room.

“What do you want Azaria?”

“I come to sadly ask you for a favor”

“This ought to be good, what is it that you want from me?”

“Your spot in the competition”

Naliyah paused then she remembered that Azaria was on probation and started laughing for a little while.

“Wait aren’t you on probation”

“Yes and that’s where you come in. I will go as you and you will watch from the crowd as me.”

“You’re serious aren’t you?” Azaria nodded her head yes.

“I’ll do it but not because I want to help you, it’s because I think this will be fun. I can’t wait to see how this will blow up in your face; now let’s get ready shall we.” Azaria just rolls her eyes at her sister’s comment.

Therefore, while everyone was settling in to watch the tournament, Naliyah and Azaria were assisting each other in disguising themselves as each other. Azaria made it to the waiting area where all the competitors were. Azaria was a little worried as the competition was about to begin. She was not worried about the competition; in fact, it was her safe haven. She was worried that her identity would be discovered.

The first event was the trial by magic. They had to shoot five still targets from a long distance and then shoot ten moving target however; they saw fit to get the job done.

Azaria breezed through the first event as if it were second nature to her. She cannot believe her disguise worked. Except Nkosi can tell that the Naliyah competing is not the same as the Naliyah he sees practicing during training. Her movements and approach to hitting the targets remind him of Azaria.

As a result, he kept an eye on her because he knows Azaria. He understands that if she is passionate about something, she will bend the rules to get it, even if it is for a good cause. So, after the magic event, all competitors returned to the waiting area to rest for a minute before the final event, the hand-to-hand combat.

Nkosi walks over to Naliyah who is really Azaria to confirm his suspicions.

“You were killing it out there”

“You don’t have to tell me what I already know”

“You know what never mind I’ll see you on the battle grounds”

Azaria rolled her eyes and turned away from Nkosi. As he was walking away, she turned back around to look at him for she felt bad of how she had spoken to him for this was not her personality. Nevertheless, she had to stay focused on the mission at hand which is to advance and not get caught doing it.

Meanwhile, many competitors were being eliminated. Now is the time for Azaria and Nkosi to fight. They come the center of the ring, and bow their heads and took their fighting stances. Nkosi made the first move by firing foot and fist into Azaria repeatedly. Blocking every other kick and punch that Nkosi was throwing at her she said to herself “he has gotten stronger since the last time we fought but so have I”. Azaria responds with a cross then a roundhouse kick, two hooks, and a nice jab to the face knocking him almost to his knees. After that punch to the face, he knew that was not Naliyah he was fighting it was Azaria. She turns around to do her famous back kick when Nkosi blocked it and flipped her but with her great balance she ended up landing on her feet instead of her back. Nkosi uses his speed and grabbed Azaria having her in a choke hold and whispered their secret language to her

“Umoja ni nguvu utengano ni udhaifu” which means ‘Unity is strength, division is weakness’.

Azaria froze for a split second then threw Nkosi over her shoulders so hard it made a dent in the ground knocking the wind out of him. She stood over him and said. “I can’t afford to lose my mission will come first even if that means I have to defeat you my dear friend.”

Nkosi was shocked at what just came out her mouth he did not understand but what he did not realize she only said that to make him angry enough to finish the fight at 100% and not hold back because they are friends. If that were to happen her, cover would be blown. Angered by those words he charged at her with full speed but Azaria jumped over Nkosi then countered with a roundhouse kick to the temple knocking him out cold. Which made her the winner of the Semi Annual Advancement Competition. The crowd cheered so loud the Gods could probably hear it.

“Winner Princess Naliyah!”

Azaria bowed her head as a signal to Naliyah that it is time to switch back. Then exited the arena to meet up with Naliyah so they can switch back. As they were switching out their clothes with each other, the assistant instructor walked in on them and reported it to Gail.

“What the hell you two? Did you think this was a game or something? Princess you are on probation for a reason you almost cost your team their lives because you wanted to play strong leader.”

“I am strong you saw me out there if given another chance instead of being put on probation and denied this opportunity I wouldn’t have to go this far to prove myself”

“One more word and it will be 60 days of probation and cleaning instead of 30”

Then king and queen over heard the conversation when they were coming to congratulate their daughter for winning when they hear the whole story.

“Lady Gail what is this about tigers and Azaria on probation?”

Gail was taken aback when she saw the king and queen and was at a loss for words. But, once she had calmed down, she told the king what happened that day. The king decided that Azaria would be released from probation and allowed to keep her competition victory, but she would have to clean the training grounds for 60 days instead of 30 days and assist with all the animals as a result of the tiger incident and the competition stunt. While Naliyah was preparing to laugh, the king announced that she would have 15 days to help out in the royal library by reorganizing every single book. Naliyah stormed out of the office, and Azaria followed her.

Meanwhile Nkosi waited for Azaria outside the office.

“Did you mean what you said to me on the battle grounds?”

“No I didn’t I just didn’t want you to hold back and blow my cover, you are my best friend I could never do that to you”

Nkosi hesitated but he smiled and gave her a hug.

“Can you forgive me?”

“I already have big head”