Mary and Isabel stared at me in stunned silence, their expressions shifting between shock and outright panic.
“You what?” Isabel finally blurted, her voice hushed yet sharp.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I accepted her challenge.”
Mary paled, gripping my hands tightly. “No, no, no… You can’t fight her! Lady Amber—she’s—” She shook her head, words failing her.
“She’s cruel,” Isabel finished darkly. “She doesn’t fight for sport or honor. She fights to kill.”
Mary gasped at that, her grip tightening. “You shouldn’t have accepted.”
I swallowed hard. I already knew that.
“You don’t understand,” Isabel pressed. “Amber won’t just try to defeat you, she will make an example out of you. And the duel won’t end until someone is dead.”
A chill crept down my spine.
