by E. A. James
Aerdan laughed. “It’s where we’re going.”
The sound of a lion roaring cut through the air and Angelica shivered.
“Don’t worry, lady,” Aerdan said. He led Angelica through a side entrance and the two walked down a long, shadowy corridor. The arena was made of stone and the walls emanated a chill that Angelica felt to her bones. It was the closest to cold that she’d felt since first waking up in the clearing.
When they stepped out into sunlight, Angelica gasped. They were standing in the middle of a huge arena. It was easily the size of an NFL stadium. Except instead of a grassy field covered with lines and markings, the bottom of the arena was filled with sand. Sure enough, a caged lion stood at one end of the field. Just looking at him made Angelica shudder, even though she was over a hundred feet away. The lion paced his cage, looking angry and mean as his dark mane ruffled in the breeze.
As Aerdan led Angelica through the rows of seating, she couldn’t help but notice that everyone was staring at her. The arena had been empty when she and Aerdan had first arrived, but it was filling rapidly.
“Is there going to be some kind of fight?” Angelica asked nervously.
“In a way, yes,” Aerdan replied. “And I thought this would be a good way for you to learn about Zheka.”
Angelica shivered nervously as Aedan led her inside a shaded box. The inside of the box was completely different from the rest of the arena. Rich wooden furniture filled the elegant room, and silk tapestries shimmered in the breeze. Angelica’s stomach twisted when she saw a small, elegant table inlaid with ivory and mother-of-pearl – on top, there was a bowl of what looked like grapes…and a human skull, glowing in the semi-dark of the private room.
“This is beautiful,” Angelica said, looking quickly away from the skull.
Aerdan nodded. “Yes,” he said. “It truly is.” Angelica watched as he settled down comfortably in one of the chairs, kicking his feet up on the ledge that overlooked the arena. After a few seconds, she settled down next to him.
Soon, the arena was filled with people. Most of them were clapping and jeering, but Angelica noticed some of them were booing, or lifting large flasks to their mouths. She swallowed nervously and looked around, gazing at the different costumes and outfits.
“This much be a rich land,” Angelica said softly. “Everyone is dressed so well.”
“Show days are what the Zhekan people live for,” Aerdan said proudly. “This is where we show off just how carefully we’ve honed our craft.”
“And what is your craft?”
“Look down there,” Aerdan said. He pointed towards a ring of men. They were the biggest, hunkiest men that Angelica had ever seen – they all looked like over muscled athletes. Their muscles were oiled and gleaming in the bright sun, and they wore tiny loincloths of leather. Their heads were shaved, and their bodies were covered in blue and black tattoos, just like Aerdan.
“What do the tattoos mean?”
Aerdan chuckled. “The blue bands indicate a triumph of strength,” he said. He leaned close to Angelica and flexed his bulging bicep. Sure enough, it was ringed by three blue bands. “Those were awarded to me on my fifteenth birthday,” he said. “I was able to lift a tree trunk into the air for thirty seconds. It weighed more than nine grown men.”
Angelica bit her lip and nodded. “And the black?”
Below in the arena, a man stepped into the center. Unlike the warriors, he was fully dressed and holding what appeared to be a bullhorn. He was on the smaller side, with close-cropped curly hair and tan skin.
“That’s Brantly,” Aerdan said. “My mother’s page.”
“Is she here?”
Aerdan laughed. “Queen Zornaya?” He rolled his eyes. “She wouldn’t dare to show up at an event like this. It’s considered undignified for royal women, aside from feast days.” He stretched and reached for the bowl of grapes. Angelica cringed when Aerdan’s fingers brushed against the skull. “Want some?”
Angelica shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Brantly held an arm up in the air and the arena fell silent – so silent that Angelica could have heard a pin drop into the sand.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Brantly called. “You are in for a treat today!”
“I don’t get it,” Angelica murmured. “What are we going to see?”
Aerdan smirked. “The triumph of the masculine will,” he said. “It’s crucial to Zheka.”
“How are they all so strong?”
Aerdan sighed. For the first time since they’d met, he looked frustrated.
“Men – even royal men, such as myself – are laborers in our world,” he said. “The women hold the positions of leadership. My mother is the most powerful person in the kingdom of Zheka.”
“You’re a prince!”
“A commander,” Aerdan corrected. “My father, Commander-in-Chief Thurban, won my mother’s heart by championing over six men in the arena.”
Angelica’s eyes went wide again. “Six men? At once?”
Aerdan nodded proudly. “When the time comes for me to marry, I will be expected to do the same,” he said.
Angelica noticed that he didn’t seem so thrilled about that.
“Where are the women? What do they do?”
“They practice their skills, just as men practice theirs,” Aerdan said. “The women of Zheka are magic wielders. Healers, spellcasters, witches. They are called many things.”
“Witches?” Angelica’s mouth went dry. “How?”
“We are born with inherent power,” Aerdan explained. “But men are forbidden to use this power. Men are encouraged to succeed physically and abstain from the use of magic.”
“That hardly seems fair,” Angelica said. She frowned. “How do you feel?”
Aerdan shrugged. “Does it matter? That’s the way things are.”
“But you’re an explorer,” Angelica said. “So that means your mother must be pretty lenient with you, right?”
Aerdan didn’t answer. Below, in the arena, a loud trumpet sounded. Despite feeling like she should look away, Angelica couldn’t help but lean over the ledge and watch the proceedings below. She clenched her hands into tight, nervous fists and balled them at her sides.
Two men strode into the arena, each bearing large swords. The blades gleamed in the sunlight and Angelica could see the sweat dripping from each man’s forehead. She gasped as one of the men gripped his sword with both hands and swung it powerfully around his head.
The crowd went wild.
This is bad, Angelica realized nervously. What kind of a place is this, and why the hell did I have to end up here?
“Are they going to kill each other?” Angelica asked nervously.
“That is the goal, yes,” Aerdan said. She glanced over her shoulder and was stunned to see him lazily picking at his cuticles. He wasn’t even watching the fight.
“This must be a really violent place,” Angelica said softly. She bit her lip. “Is that true?”
Aerdan shook his head, sending his long dark hair flying. “Not exactly,” he said. He sighed. “I understand why one would be under that impression, but no, Angelica. Zheka is a peaceful place.”
“Then why the hell are those guys trying to hack each other apart?” Angelica gasped in fear as the fight began in earnest. The two men had thrown down their swords and they were wrestling in the sand, throwing hard punches and kicks. When one man wrapped his hands around the other’s throat and began to squeeze, the crowd jeered loudly.
“It’s too fast,” Aerdan explained. “They want a long fight.”
“But how can people be so thirsty for blood if this isn’t a violent place?”
“Because this is the only time where such violence is seen,” Aerdan said. “We never fight. There are no wars – Zheka is one of the most peaceful kingdoms in the land. Mother – that is, the queen – says that women can lead with little violence, but the same cannot be said for men.”
“And she allows this?” Ang
elica braved one more glance into the arena. When she saw that one of the men was now limping and bleeding profusely from an eye socket, she shuddered.
“Mother knows that sanctioned violence keeps the people happy,” Aerdan said. He shrugged. “She hates it, of course – she says it’s nothing but childish. But people would revolt if we did not have the tournaments.”
Angelica’s stomach turned and she felt hot bile rushing up her throat. Bending over, she vomited quietly between her feet. From the arena, loud cheers and cries filled her ears.
“I can’t watch this,” Angelica moaned. “It’s too awful!”
Aerdan was silent. He got to his feet and offered Angelica his elbow. “Come with me,” he said. “This might all be a little much, I’ll take you to the castle and introduce you to the Queen.”
Angelica leapt to her feet. Anything has to be better than this, she thought, trying to block the sounds of screams and cheers from her ears. I just want to go home!
CHAPTER FOUR
Aerdan
As Aerdan led Angelica into the castle, he couldn’t keep from sneaking glances at his female companion. It wasn’t just that Angelica was a new face – she was easily one of the most beautiful women Aerdan had ever seen. She didn’t have the ample curves and large breasts of many Zhekan woman – instead, she was slim and slender, with pale skin, long dark hair, and dark eyes that flashed whenever she seemed to grow particularly passionate about something.
It’s just because she is a stranger, Aerdan thought as he led Angelica through the main entrance. Still, he had to admit it was fun just to watch her – she could barely walk through a room without craning her neck and gazing up at the ceiling. He could tell that she was completely overwhelmed by the land of Zheka. I should feel guilty, Aerdan thought as Angelica followed him up a long spiral staircase. But she’s going to be such a distraction. Mother and Father will forget all about forcing me to wed once they see her!
“What’s going to happen when I meet your family?”
Aerdan shrugged. “Lady, I am sure everything will go smoothly,” he said. “Please, this way.”
Aerdan dipped his head to a roomful of servants as he led Angelica through the halls and towards his mother’s chamber. Queen Zornaya spent most of her days responding to letters and mail delivered by the strong falcons kept in her menagerie. Aerdan knew that Zheka was facing more desperate circumstances than it had in a long while – his entire life, in fact. The neighboring land of Glasule was desperate for a royal alliance, but Aerdan knew he couldn’t marry Muertha. Princess Muertha had never been a particularly attractive option – she was plain, and notoriously prudish.
Especially compared with the lady Angelica, Aerdan thought as he snuck a peek at Angelica’s backside. She was clothed in a strange pair of blue, stiff pants and a loose black shirt that didn’t quite conceal her small breasts. Aerdan felt a stirring in his loins as he watched Angelica’s slim frame parade in front of him.
Angelica whirled around and crossed her arms. “You were staring,” she said. She cocked her head to the side.
“I wasn’t,” Aerdan lied. He cleared his throat. “This way,” he added. “Not much longer.”
The halls and rooms grew more lavish as Aerdan approached his parents’ living quarters. In addition to Aerdan, Zornaya, and Thurban, the castle was home to many servants, slaves, and royal cousins. There were also several unoccupied royal apartments. Aerdan had always known that Zornaya had wished for more children – families in Zheka tended to be quite large – but the gods had not blessed her.
It’s all up to me, Aerdan thought. It was something he remembered quite often…usually whenever his mother was around, chiding and scolding him for not living up to her standards. Aerdan hoped that Angelica would captivate and charm his parents. Anything to keep their attention away from me and Muertha, or any other woman in the kingdom, he thought as he led the way to a small, ornate chamber.
“This is beautiful,” Angelica said softly. Aerdan nodded.
“Yes,” he said. “The Queen has exquisite taste.”
Angelica’s eyes were wide as Aerdan led her through the chamber. He took a deep breath, then knocked on a concealed door.
“I wouldn’t have ever seen that,” Angelica said.
Aerdan nodded. “It’s a security measure,” he replied. “I’m sure raiders wouldn’t see it either.”
Angelica raised a brow. “Raiders?”
“Forget it,” Aerdan replied. “This way.”
Aerdan led the way into a large chamber, with windows that stretched from floor to ceiling. He felt a twinge of anxiety as he moved through the room, trying to summon every ounce of his strength. He could feel from the chill atmosphere of his mother’s room that she was still angry with him.
“Mother?” Aerdan called. “Are you here?”
Queen Zornaya stepped into the room, her chin at a haughty angle. In robes of pure white and gold, she looked magnificent. Her dark hair was coiled and looped on top of her head and her blue eyes flashed at the sight of her son.
“Aerdan,” Zornaya said, managing to make her son’s name sound like a powerful command. “What have you brought me?”
Aerdan stepped forward, dipping into a brief bow. “Mother, this is lady Angelica,” he said. “She is from a distant land – the kingdom of York.”
Aerdan gestured for Angelica to step forward. When she did, she stared at Zornaya with her eyes wide. Then, seeing Aerdan’s posture, she slunk into a sloppy curtsey.
“Angelica,” Zornaya repeated. “From the land of York?” She narrowed her eyes. “I do not believe I have heard of that land.”
“Actually, it’s New York,” Angelica said. “I mean, ma’am.”
Zornaya’s nostrils flared.
“Your majesty,” Aerdan hissed under her breath.
“Your majesty,” Angelica repeated, dipping her head.
Zornaya nodded serenely. She walked closer to Angelica and Aerdan, her eyes traveling over every inch of her slender body.
“And how did you come to the Kingdom of Zheka, lady Angelica?”
“Really, your majesty, just ‘Angelica’ is fine,” Angelica said softly. “And…I don’t know,” she added, her voice faltering slightly. “I passed out and when I woke up, I was here.”
Zornaya frowned. “Aerdan, I sense the veil is not too thin,” she said. “What can be the meaning of this?”
Aerdan shrugged helplessly. I should’ve known Mother would interrogate me about this, he thought in annoyance. It’s not as though I’m responsible for the girl!
“I was walking home from work when I met Brynx – Aerdan’s cat,” Angelica said quickly. “Of course, he didn’t talk.”
“Why not?” Zornaya asked haughtily. “He is well-spoken. I conjured the spell myself!”
Angelica flushed hotly and Aerdan felt a stirring in his loins as her pale cheeks grew pink. She would be a delicious roll in the hay, he thought, staring at her small-yet-perky breasts. As he imagined his hands running over her body, he caught glimpse of his mother’s stern eye.
“I mean, with all due respect, Majesty, cats don’t speak where I come from,” Angelica said meekly. “Animals don’t talk at all.”
“Neither did Brynx until I enchanted him,” Zornaya replied. She tossed her head and fixed her gaze squarely on Aerdan. “Son, fetch the Commander-in-Chief,” she said. “I want him to meet this girl.”
Aerdan stared. “Are you sure, Mother?”
Zornaya rolled her eyes. “Yes,” she said. “And be quick about it!” She clapped her hands.
Aerdan threw one last glance at Angelica before leaving the room. Judging from the desperate look in her eyes, she wasn’t any happier about being left along with the Queen than Aerdan was about leaving her.
Aerdan darted down the hall and took a left, into a narrow corridor decorated with arms, shields, and full-sized suits of armor. He entered a large, sparse room.
Thurban, Commander-in-Chief of Zheka, was seated i
n a large chair. Half-naked Zhekan women fanned him with palm fronds and offered him grapes. Looks like a nice life, Aerdan thought, rolling his eyes. His father was a beast of a man – huge and lumbering. As Aerdan had bragged to Angelica, he’d defeated six men during a show shortly before his marriage to Zornaya.
“Father,” Aerdan said, bowing low. “Mother has called for you. She wishes for you to come with me.”
Thurban eyed his son and snorted. “Like I have any reason to move,” he said. “Girls, bring more wine!”
One of the Zhekan women took a jug of mead from the table and poured Thurban a full cup. Thurban closed his eyes and tilted his head back, drinking greedily until the mead spilled from the sides of his mouth and dribbled all over his chin and bare chest. In his youth, Thurban had been an intimidating man. But now, he was over fifty years of age. His sinewy muscular bulk had melted into fat, and he was starting to lose his facial hair. His cheeks were ruddy from the drink, and Aerdan noticed the girls serving him couldn’t quite conceal their disdain.
