The Warrior Princess

Chapter 2

Ava was about to reach for the dagger but was knocked down by the tiger. The crowd gasped.

“It looks like she will be dead before her fingers can touch the dagger,” King Andrew said, shaking his head in pity, imagining the third prince surrendering his legendary troops to the Advisor.

Ava rolled to the side, avoiding the tiger's follow-up attacks. She stood up and threw some sand toward the tiger's eyes. The tiger got irritated and roared in anger. Ava immediately took this opportunity and grabbed the flashing dagger.

Ava and the tiger circled each other for a moment, waiting for the right time to strike. Suddenly, the tiger crouched, ready to leap.

It leaped toward Ava, aiming for her neck, but she quickly rolled beneath the animal, feeling the rush of air as it soared overhead.

Ava sprang to her feet and quickly turned to face the tiger, her heart racing as she tightened her grip on the dagger.

The tiger landed gracefully on the soft sand, its muscles coiled as it prepared to strike again. They both circled each other for some time, waiting for the right moment to strike.

The tiger launched forward again. Ava rolled to the side and gave it a deep cut on its flanks. The tiger let out a painful roar.

Ava immediately hopped on its back as her hands found their way to its neck. But the tiger, with the strength of its powerful muscles, threw her off its back with a fierce shake, though Ava left a deep cut on its back.

“No matter how she tries, she won't escape death today,” the royal Advisor said with a cruel smile. The tiger let out another painful roar, and fueled by anger, it started to attack recklessly.

Ava dodged skillfully, avoiding the tiger’s deadly claws, each one stronger than the last. Ava knew that she couldn't keep up for much longer. The tiger was too fast and too ferocious.

She needed to end this fight quickly. Ava looked around and noticed a long stick lying on the sand, half-buried. With a burst of adrenaline, Ava dashed toward the stick, her heart racing as the tiger followed her.

She barely sidestepped its massive paw, feeling the rush of air as it missed her by inches. Ava quickly grabbed the stick and assessed its length; it was just what she needed.

As the tiger recovered from the missed attack, Ava steadied herself, gripping the stick tightly as she could see the fury in its eyes. It crouched low, ready to pounce again.

But this time, Ava was prepared. With a swift motion, she thrust the stick forward, aiming for the tiger's throat. The stick struck true, causing the beast to stumble back, surprised and enraged.

Ava seized this opportunity to pivot and swing the stick again, aiming for its legs. The tiger roared in frustration. But Ava was determined; each strike weakened its resolve, and she could see the beast faltering. It was time to end this fight.

She took the dagger and sharpened the stick in six strikes. She took a deep breath and leaped forward, aiming for the soft underbelly.

Just as she lunged, the tiger swiped at her with its claws. But she rolled to the side, dodging the attack. With a surge of determination, she thrust forward again, piercing the tiger's underbelly and killing it.

As the tiger lay still in the sand, the crowd was surprised, stunned into silence, their eyes wide with disbelief. “Indeed, the third prince had good foresight,” King Andrew remarked, his voice filled with astonishment.

The third prince only smiled in response. Meanwhile, Ava was still high above the tiger's corpse, but the toll of the intense battle weighed heavily on her.

She staggered backward, feeling the world around her spin. She fell to her knees, and slowly her world was enveloped in darkness; all she could feel was the cool sand beneath her as she blacked out.

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Ava's eyelids fluttered open, the dim light of the room filtering through heavy drapes. Confusion clouded her mind as she took in her surroundings—a lavish chamber adorned with rich tapestries and ornate furnishings.

The scent of incense lingered in the air, grounding her back to reality. She shifted slightly, feeling the softness of the bed beneath her, and winced as a sharp pain shot through her side.

Instinctively, she placed a hand over the wound, recalling the brutal fight with the tiger. Panic surged through her, but she quickly reminded herself that she was alive.

“Easy now,” a gentle voice said from nearby. Ava turned to see the third prince sitting beside her, his face void of emotions. His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, and his eyes were deep, calming blue. “You are safe,” he assured her. “Indeed, warriors from Castonia are really strong,” he said.

Ava's heart raced as the painful memories of how her kingdom was destroyed and how his father was murdered by the first prince of Verrel, the elder brother of this very prince before her, flooded back. “Why did you save me?” Ava asked, her eyes blazing with the flame of revenge.

“I saved you because you showed incredible strength and resilience today. It would be a pity if a powerful warrior like you died,” he said, his voice steady, his face revealing no emotions. “I admired your strength.”

“You monster! Your family was responsible for the destruction of my kingdom,” Ava spat out, hatred burning within her.

“I know, your father died due to his arrogance and pride; he thought he could defeat Verrel despite the warnings of his allies and neighboring kings.” Aidrain said.

Ava's heart raced, a mix of anger and pain coursing through her vain. “Your words mean nothing to me!”

Ava shot back, her voice laced with venom. “You speak of arrogance and pride as if your family is innocent. Your father’s ambition led to the slaughter of my people! You don’t get to sit there and pretend to understand my pain.”

Aidrain held her hand up revealing the slave mark on the back of her hand. This slave mark was imprint on her skin with a red hot iron Ava could clearly remember the pain she felt that day.

“Have you forgotten that you are no longer the Princess of Castonia but a mere slave” he said with a cold expression, “And as a slave you must everything I say.”