Lifting her hand up to her face, Isabella attempted to brush the sleep out of her weary eyes. She was not accustomed to the Dulra hours of sleeping all day and staying up all night. Most of her time today was spent catching up on sleep. Feeling fatigued, Isabella sat on her bed waiting for Nathanial to retrieve her for tonight’s finale. She had watched the sun descend with a crescent moon rising in the night sky. Outside her bedroom window, Isabella saw a crowd larger than yesterday assemble in the courtyard. She was more relaxed this evening as she had confidence Samuel was one of the strongest contenders in the group of Malagi.

She did not jump when she heard the raps on her door and rose to her feet. “Come in.” Isabella stated and turned to see Nathanial standing in her doorframe. His outfit was comparable to the previous night with the only difference being this shade of blue was a tad darker. The dark color highlighted his sleek platinum blonde hair and pale complexion. A handmaiden holding a dress appeared from behind her husband and approached Isabella. “Change of plans my dear. Anna has a new dress for you and will do your hair and a bit of makeup for this evening.” Nathanial explained to her as she gazed at the new gown.

“But won’t I miss the following matches?” She asked as she scrutinized the revealing dress. Her husband answered her. “We are starting with four matches, down to two and then the final competition. You should be ready for the final match.” Isabella felt a sting of disappointment at not attending the entire competition, but she sighed as it was pointless to argue with Nathanial. She nodded and stated. “As you wish Sir.” Nathanial pleased with her answer, turned and exited her room leaving Isabella alone with Anna. “Well, Anna, let’s get ready.” Her handmaiden laid the gown she held onto the bed assisting Isabella with removing her current dress.

Once she had disrobed with her arm strategically placed over her chest, Anna picked up the new gown off the bed and aided Isabella in sliding into the outfit. The dress was mainly compromised of sheer black fabric with patches of dark blue woven in to cover sensitive areas. Isabella gazed at her reflection at the spectacular glitzy dress which revealed more of her figure. Not a dress she would have chosen, she began to understand Nathanial saw her more of an accessory than a counterpart. It did not match her definition of being a Queen. Anna began fiddling with Isabella’s hair tying certain sections into braids. The young handmaiden pulled powders and brushes from a table in Isabella’s room that she had never touched before.

Isabella kept still as her younger counterpart layered colored powder over her face, and she was thankful when Anna stated she was done. She worried she would miss the entire round of competition from her appearance being primped and prodded. Isabella stood up to slip on her shoes and glanced at herself in the mirror. She almost did not recognize her own reflection. Loud cheers from outside her window snapped her back to reality and Isabella rushed out of her room. She hurried through the empty corridors until she reached the castle foyer. At the main doors, a large group formed that paid her no attention but focused on the motion in the courtyard.

Isabella tapped a palace guard on the shoulder and asked him. “Should I just go out to the stage?” The middle-aged man answered. “No, Ma’am, I need to let King Nathanial know you are here to introduce you. Wait here.” The palace guard rushed away leaving Isabella standing behind the group of women and men. She could not see over their heads to see what was going on; therefore, she turned and began to pace in the empty foyer. Isabella heard a female voice. “Excuse me Ma’am.” She turned to see a blonde woman, the same woman she had seen several times during her escape attempt and during the incident on the patio. Isabella’s mouth opened as she was shocked to finally meet the woman, and she looked down to see her beaded bag. Without a word, the blonde woman came closer to her, smiled as she slipped a flower above Isabella’s ear. As she tried to form her words into all the questions she had for the young woman, Nathanial appeared in the foyer and grabbed Isabella by the arm.

“Wait.” She said to her husband as Isabella turned wanting a chance to speak with the blonde she had seen several times before. “Wait.” She said again and noticed the two of them were alone in the foyer. “Isabella, what is wrong with you?” Nathanial snapped at her. She stood speechless that the pretty young blonde with the eccentric bag was gone. “That is enough from you. People are waiting for your arrival.” Nathanial snapped at her while his expression bordered on hateful. Isabella calmed herself down quickly. “I am sorry Sir. I am ready.” Holding onto her husband’s arm, Nathanial with his head up high began to lead Isabella through the crowd, up the stairs and onto the stage. He brought her up to the front of the stage where she could look down at the four men standing tall, which included Samuel.

Samuel covered in sweat in his mail armour smiled kindly up at Isabella. Beside him was the heavy muscular man, again without a shirt, as he grimaced up at her. The next man in line was the Warlock with the neck tattoo and she gulped when she observed the big smile on his face. The last man in line was the Warlock who was courageous enough to challenge Nathanial. He did not wear a smile, if Isabella had to assume, he gave her a pitying glance which shook her. Nathanial now having shown off Isabella to the remaining competitors led her to her throne chair in the middle of the stage. Her husband motioned her for her to sit as he did as well.

Isabella touched the flower above her ear and thought about her missed opportunity to speak with the young woman. She was trying to process what occurred when two of the Warlocks entered the fighting enclosure. In this match was the Warlock with black hair who did not smile up at her against the Warlock with the huge neck tattoo who sported a menacing ball and chain flail. The overly muscular man held a long stick with chains attached to two spiky metal balls. Isabella feared this match would be uneven as the opposing Warlock only held a sword as his choice of weapon.

She observed the smaller man kneel in the dirt to perform his ritual as the other Warlock with the neck tattoo did not perform a ritual for magic. This Warlock had on his side brute strength and a ferocious looking weapon. Once the Warlock completed his ritual, he stood up and a bell rang to indicate the start of the match. Both men slightly crouching began circling each other. The man with a neck tattoo began pacing forward against his challenger. He swung the flail as the other Warlock stepped back with a reduced area to pace. The man with the neck tattoo rushed forward and swung his weapon when a large boulder rose from the ground. The spiked balls hit the boulder becoming lodged into the stone. The dark-haired man came around the stone to hit the target when the man with the neck tattoo released his grip on his weapon and grabbed the Warlock’s hands. He dropped his sword as the brute of an opponent raised his fist and punched him in the gut again and again. Isabella gazed down at her feet afraid she was going to witness his death.

The ground opened and dropped the man with the neck tattoo down a foot releasing his opponent. The Warlock ran and slid down in the dirt to pick up his sword. The man with the neck tattoo wrenched his flail free of the rock and begun to race to his opponent. Once the warlock picked up his sword, he swung it in the air and slashed his opponent’s stomach. The Warlock with the tattoo stumbled backwards as Isabella saw his blood spilling on the dirt. Nathanial began shouting. “Finish him off!” And the Warlock with the sword did just that stabbing the man in the chest.

Isabella sighed and placed her hand up to her face as this was quite violent in her eyes. She was surprised at the victor as he did not prance up and down in the fighting enclosure. The Warlock did not seem pleased to kill as he even helped carry out the man’s body. But she was surprised at the outcome as she thought the more muscular man would have powered over him. Her nerves did begin to race as the next competitor was Samuel against another large brute of a man. Isabella fiddled with her fingers as both men knelt in the dirt to perform their magical rituals.

The bell rang and as per usual custom, the two men encircled each other until Samuel raised his hand and a small ring of fire surrounded his opponent. She hoped this meant the other Warlock would give up, but she was disappointed when Samuel’s opponent raised his hand and rain fell extinguished the flaming circle. His challenger had a long spear he began to jab towards Samuel which he dodged left and right to avoid. The bushy haired brunette raised his hand and a strong wind blew across the courtyard rushing dirt into his opponent’s eyes. Samuel dropped down to a knee and swung his battle axe and struck his opponent’s kneecap. His opponent dropped to the ground screaming in pain.

The sound of the man writhing in pain bothered Isabella, but the knowledge Samuel was safe comforted her. She watched as the palace guard assisted the injured man out of the enclosure. Nathanial leaned over and stated. “My dear, I told you not to worry as I would help Samuel. See you did not have to worry.” Isabella sighed as the competition that struck fear into her heart was almost over. And Nathanial stuck to his promise that he would stack the odds in favour of her palace guard. Tomorrow her and Samuel could continue their slow courtship and when the time was right, she could complete the decree set out by the Golden Oracle Council.

Isabella watched as Samuel carrying his battle axe entered the ring for the final match. Behind her palace guard strode his opponent, the dark-haired Warlock with his sword. Samuel had the element of fire which gave him an edge over his competitor who appeared to have the earth element. Compared to the other challengers who were overly muscular, Samuel and his rival were of similar height and build. She watched as they both knelt and completed their magical rituals. Isabella was fascinated Warlocks had to complete rituals in order to use their powers as magic came naturally to her.

Both men stood up and faced each other waiting for the bell to ring as members of the crowd cheered. Isabella could see the two men were talking to each other, but of course they were too far away for her to hear what was said. She watched as Samuel’s brows knit together as he shouted back at his opponent. The bell rang and neither one of the men moved very much. Samuel moved his hand and a rush of wind blew dirt into his rival’s face. With his opponent blinded, the palace guard rushed forward with his axe raised.

As Samuel lowered his battle axe downwards, the dark-haired Warlock blocked the blow holding his sword up with both hands. The two men locked together pushed each other until Samuel began sinking into an open hole the other Warlock created. Isabella held her breath as the palace guard instinctively jumped backwards out of the hole. Again, the two men exchanged angry conversation as Samuel held his hand out releasing a flow of flames toward the other Warlock. A tall boulder shot up from the ground protecting Samuel’s competition from a fiery death. The palace guard’s output of flames halted as his opponent moved from behind the boulder.

The dark-haired man ran towards Samuel as small rocks burst forth from the ground raising the man higher. At the final stone, the Warlock jumped at Samuel knocking them to the ground. They wrestled in the dirt with each one throwing punches at the other. Samuel pushed his rival off him as both men quickly scampered back on their feet. Isabella bit her nails as she watched the two men circling each other. The dark-haired Warlock rushed forward swinging his sword as Samuel protected himself with his axe from the incoming blows. As the palace guard stepped backwards, small boulders rose from the ground and tripped Samuel.

The palace guard fell on his back as his battle axe flung to the side. The dark-haired Warlock rose his sword preparing to stab Samuel as Isabella’s blood ran cold. She stood up screaming “NO” with her hand outstretched as several lightning bolts hit close to the enclosure. A strong hurricane wind blew from her body strong enough to knock the attacking Warlock from his feet. Tendrils of power escaped from her causing more streaks of lightning above their heads. She did not know how to disengage her powers until she heard Nathanial scream at her. “Isabella! STOP!”

Her vampire husband hand slapped her hard against her face as she crumpled to the floor. The dramatic effects of her magic ceased as Nathanial shouted to the crowd. “The winner of the competition is Ronan McDougall!” Isabella lay the rest of her body down on the stage in defeat.