Kenai was breathing hard. There was tightness in his facial expression as he watched the crowd cheering his defeat. He glared at Adrianna as she walked towards him with a reddening face. A vein engorged in his forehead and he suppressed an urge to snap at the wizards and witches who continued to clap at Haldir's win. His mother, Yanga, looked back at him with a pained stare as skin bunched around her eyes. She had clutched her gown and her shoulders had curled over her chest in anguish. She wanted him to become victorious in this contest but he was further shamed. How could Adrianna do this? Her eyes fixated on Kenai who had lost in less than five minutes. She had no face left to even look at people around. She heard someone remark, "Kenai doesn't have two brain cells to even rub them together." Others laughed at the joke.

Lenny didn't know what to do. She stood transfixed in her place. Her brother had made such a fool of himself. Inside she smirked at him for leading the cult, which was formed to resurrect Vikra. Her brother was such an ardent follower of Vikra and he forced her too into joining the cult. However, she very well knew about his intelligence. He was more temperamental than being intelligent. He was, in one word, ambitious.Sometimes she wondered if he would be able to carry out his task well.

​​

Yanga lowered her head and followed Adrianna to the place where Kenai and Haldir were standing.

Haldir bowed to the Queen and moved aside. With a wave of his hand the electric leash that was around Kenai disappeared.

"You cheated," he whispered as soon as Adrianna was within hearing distance.

Adrianna returned the favor of glaring him back. She clenched her teeth. "Kneel," she seethed at him.

"What?" Kenai spat but to his surprise his body did just as he was asked to do. Every muscle was out of his control. It looked as if his body was under a spell too strong for him to handle. He knelt reluctantly, he was on his knees without wanting to be there. She was insulting him further.

When he had knelt on the ground in front of everyone, Adrianna said, "Do you want to know who will be my Military General?"

Kenai fell silent.

Adrianna turned her head around and announced to the audience, "My Military General is the person who has fought wars with me. He had stood by me every time. He never left my side and even came after me when he didn't know where I was in the Northern Mountains." She held Haldir's hand and picked it up in the air. "Haldir will be the new Military General of the Wizard Kingdom."

Haldir's eyes were wide with surprise, a shock registered on his face before he could even hide it. A smile wormed on his lips. This wasn't what Adrianna had told him. Yesterday night when she had summoned him, all she said was that he had to fight Kenai in the ring. When Shang Kui heard about the plan, he wanted to be a part of it but Adrianna denied him the opportunity. So when she created the tropical island for the fight, he sneaked in the waters.

Haldir had no idea about Adrianna's intentions. He looked at the hushed crowd and then his eyes went to Adrianna who was watching everyone with hawk eyes. It looked as if they all challenged her decision.

Isidorus stood in the front row right next to Dmitri with folded hands and actually chuckled. "I have to say that Adrianna did some good thinking over there. Not only did she communicate to the ministers that they cannot influence her, she had thrown Haldir in the ring to take down Kenai on purpose. Now all of them know how powerful Haldir is."

Dmitri stared at Isidorus. The old man sounded so honest.

"Although I have to admit that this display was nowhere near to the power Haldir is really capable of," Isidorus let out a throaty laughter, which others listened to.

Adrianna continued, "Haldir will be the new Military General." She left his hand and beckoned Isidorus. "Get the armor of the General," she ordered when Isidorus went to her.

Isidorus snapped his fingers and a servant appeared with the General's armor—a black shiny plate armor, which looked robust. It was so smooth after being polished it shone. Made from special leather that was merged with steel on the outer side, it was extremely light. The servant made Haldir wear the armor amidst all the surprise that everyone was rife with.

Haldir licked his lips after he wore it. He looked like the perfect knight with white long hair that reached his back, strong muscular body and features to die for. He wanted to ask Adrianna about all this but refrained. Instead he bowed and was on his knees before her. "Thank you, my Queen. It's an honor."

Adrianna smiled and he rose.

Kenai, on the other hand, looked like an ass. His drive to kill her only increased. He wanted to hurry up the process of sacrifices. But how? His only chance to prove himself was gone. His mind raced on what to do next.

There was a murmur in the crowd. Everyone questioned the Queen's decision to make an elf the Military General of the Wizard Kingdom. Talk about being a half-blood or pureblood, he was entirely different—a man who had come to the kingdom after abandoning his own. And the way he rose to be the General, to be so close to the Queen was something that was pricking them. However, no one had the courage to question her.

Yanga was all in tears. She suppressed them and in a choked voice said, "I am sorry my Queen. I had no idea that Kenai would be facing Haldir in the test. Haldir is the strongest man in the kingdom. He is an elf. There is no way that any wizard or witch can defeat him. Even you."

"Yes, and that is why he deserves to fill this position. Because his life is sworn to his Queen," Adrianna replied with a voice as cold as ice. None of them knew about the blood bond between Haldir and her and she didn't even want to expose it.

Lenny had come next to her mother by that time. She interjected, "I am sorry Adrianna. Please don't be mad. I think it all went very well with the way you announced the Military General's position."

Adrianna warmed up at Lenny's intervention. She turned her face to Kenai and said, "You may leave." She had tried to delve into his cell but he had smartly blocked everyone out. She had to give him that. A quality she didn't appreciate.

All of a sudden, the pressure that Kenai was feeling on his body, lifted. He got up and stomped out from there with Yanga following his heels. Lenny stayed back. Nefasky had joined them by that time.

Haldir was at a loss of words. He had vowed to protect her, protect the child. This wasn't the reward he even sought. In fact on the inside, he became slightly nervous about her safety. And what about Inyanga? This position would tie him down.

While he was wondering about all that just happened, Adrianna approached Nefasky and said—