The Courtesan

Chapter 98

ELAYNE

The competition began with much fanfare. Every citizen from far and wide had come to witness an event sponsored by the coffers of the royal court and the church. Many had signed up too, trickling through the separate entrance made for them.

I, Lion and Tyler stood outside, making sure everything ran smoothly. I spotted a few of the men I saw during the last church’s announcement and nodded at them. They gave a nod back and entered the arena.

“My Lady, how do you know them?” Lion asked and I glanced at him for a brief moment.

“We’re merely acquainted from afar. There’s no need to worry, Lion.”

“Very well. Let us go in then.”

We went in through the separate entrance and went straight to the fighter’s lounge. Tyler was in charge of settling them in and Lion was in charge of making sure they didn’t cause trouble. There were many others more qualified for the job but they were too overprotective. They didn’t even allow me leave their backs.

Susanne came in to address the fighters before they went out into the arena. She gave a grand blood boiling speech that I wasn’t expecting. Even I felt riled up. Her eyes met mine during that speech and she looked away just as quickly. I hadn’t heard so much as a peep of an apology from her since that day.

The first round was a battle royale to weed out the strong contestants. The competition was to take place all week but there were about nine hundred fighters. There were nine blocks, each containing one hundred fighters. We stayed in block one and watched Susanne go over to repeat her speech in the next block. It strangely felt like karma.

The first event on the agenda was the king’s speech. For that, we all had to go out in the arena to listen. There was pin drop silence and on each distance, an echoer stood to repeat his words to the crowd.

“My dearest citizens, it is I, your king. I want to first apologize for being a bad ruler. Underneath my nose, my kingdom was changing and I wasn’t aware of it until I almost destroyed it with my own hands. If it wasn’t for the crown prince who pulled me back to my sanity, we would still be moving through the murky darkness. I hope I would be forgiven and promise this would never happen again.”

He paused to let the echoers repeat his words. During his pause, there were a few whispers. The echoers were done and there was silence once again.

“To make up for my mistakes and the mistakes of the church, we have decided to give back to the kingdom by organiing this competition and celebration. From this day forward, we wouldn’t have any more lynchings or vain deaths and accusations in this kingdom! With that being said, LET THE COMPETITION BEGIN!!”

His roar was met with a thunderous applause from the audience and shouts of excitement. He stepped back and Kalvin stepped forward. I don’t know why but I felt flustered. His eyes roamed the arena and passed me a few times. He was too far away to see me and that made me feel a type of way.

Stop it Ariana. He’s an unstable man. You cannot fall in love with him.

“THE COURT CONSPIRED AGAINST THE CHURCH! YOU ARE ALL HERETICS, LISTENING TO THIS MAD KING. THE COURT WISHES TO e*****e US UNDER AN HERETICAL RULE ONCE AGAIN!” A Loud shout erupts from the audience. A man stood tall, sprinking sanctified water from the church, spiting and shouting madly.

Kalvin was at the very edge of his patience. I could see it from the way he shifted on his feet, like he was ready to sprint all the way there and deliver a blow to that man. If he wasn’t trying to garner the approval of the people, he would’ve.

“On a great day of celebration like this, why have you chosen to spew lies and disrupt the lives of other people? Zerus preaches love and tolerance so perhaps you must be the heretic for not letting people live in peace.”

“YOU SPEAK LIES! LIES!”

“Let’s ask the crowd then. What are the rules of the church of light? Everyone?”

“Love Zerus, live in peace, love and tolerance,” the crowd chorused.

“So, it is you who is lying. Disrupting this great occasion is as terrible a sin as any so you’ll be escorted by the guards and be tried accordingly,” he said and I couldn't stop the corner of my mouth from quirking up.

It was always so mindboggling to see Kalvin display his intelligence. He stalled the man long enough to let the guards surround him. He was taken away silently and Kalvin carried on like nothing happened.

“The first event is a battle royale in each block. Judges placed in charge of each block would watch the fight and decide from the last ones standing who the people that would advance are. The rules are simple; no killing and no fatal injuries. We have doctors to attend to you and guards on standby so don’t think critical injuries are allowed. Alright then. Without further ado, let the competition begin!”

Under the thunderous applause, we all erased for a fight. From the other side of the portcullis, Tyler and Lion mouthed their “Good luck” and “don’t die”.

I chuckled, rolling my eyes. My hands holding my weapon shook. It was my first time facing such a crowd from which I greatly stood out. I was skinny and short compared to the others. Many had their eyes set in me as easy prey.

Kalvin was trying to stimulate the feeling of a battle. Being faced with such a situation, it was obvious I wasn’t ready for war at all!