“There are hundreds of trials which could have been chosen, but no, it had to be the stupid mecca game!” she said, her advisor right behind her. Her hawk familiar, Kanu, sat upon her shoulder, and even he seemed to have his head hung low.
The “stupid” mecca game was the most important war strategy tool we had. My opinion of her had just lowered; her statement did nothing but show her immaturity.
“I’m sorry, Breanna,” I offered diplomatically.
Selene wrinkled her face, bestowing Breanna with a look like she was a piece of dirt that was ruining her favorite shirt. “Better start making babies. That’s all you’re good for now.”
Breanna’s hand snaked out with the speed and force of a bullet and popped Selene in her perfect nose. Selene managed to jerk her head back in the last second, but there was still a distinct crunch of cartilage.
“No one likes you,” Breanna spat out, and she stalked off, her advisor at her heels.
I didn’t say anything, forcing my expression to remain in a neutral pose, but I was enjoying the sight of the blood trickling from Selene’s upper lip and nose, not to mention her two black eyes. Of course, my enjoyment was short lived, because within moments the black faded and the swelling around her nose disappeared. Shifter healing in an heir was twice as fast as a non-heir.
Everyone knew physical combat between heirs was forbidden, Breanna had just broken a major rule, but somehow I didn’t think she cared. From the little I knew of her life, it had been common knowledge that she had been best friends with Devina. The heir’s death would be hitting her hard, causing reckless behavior.
As different as they were, they had happily co-ruled the Queens borough together. Devina, I had never had any real quarrel with, except for the fact that she was reckless, and at times an idiot. She had been the most beautiful of us, with long golden curls and huge blue eyes, and she’d often used her body to gain whatever favor she could. I’d almost never seen any male – or female for that matter – turn her down. Just recently there had been a scandal with her and a bear shifter. We did not cross the line with bears, it was forbidden, and Devina didn’t just hook up with any bear, she’d had sex with an advisor to the bear king. She could have leaked important information about our people – not to mention that having sex with a bear shifter as an heir could potentially produce a hybrid. A hybrid heir was a definite no. I knew of no living hybrids, or if they were even possible. We kept the races separate for good reason, but Devina had been careless and promiscuous. If she wasn’t an heir, she would have been beheaded.
There was no way she should have been queen, but that didn’t mean she deserved to die as she had.
Selene wiped away the last of the blood, and with a scowl was turning to follow Breanna when the council called us back in. She froze for a second, seemingly undecided whether she wanted to go after Breanna or heed the council’s call. With a final hiss from Larak, the snake curled back around his heir and the pair followed me inside the great hall.
I was the first through the door, Selene close behind, and Breanna slipped in at the last minute from the side entrance. Selene’s eyes tracked her like a lion stalking its prey. The council had changed into more formal robes now, and Torine was still holding the scroll.
“The first task is now complete. We have assigned points based on speed, accuracy, cunning, skill, and success in the war games. Arianna showed remarkable leadership skills. She set the board up to keep her territory safe, and when needed sent her queen into the battle. All great leaders are on the front line. They do not hide in the shadows. It shows a love of her people, a strength and bravery which will be an asset for our future leaders. She has earned the top fifty points.”
I gave a small smile, trying to hide my exhilaration.
He continued, and the shouts that had risen up died off just as quickly. “Selene relied heavily on brute force and speed, taking out the largest group and scattering the enemy’s forces. She did not kill the bear king, but did keep her queen safe. She was in second place and will receive twenty points. Breanna lost her queen. She over-capitalized in her initial force, and did not watch for the lone soldiers sneaking in the darkness. She receives no points.”
I could see the yellow-shirted wolf hang her head, and judging by the disgruntled noises in the crowd she wasn’t the only one disappointed in her skills today.
I honestly couldn’t believe Breanna could be so stupid as to let a group of lone bears sneak up on her queen. In a one-on-one situation on the mecca board, if it’s not the queen’s turn and you managed to make it into her quarters, and she has no guards, then she’s dead. They count it as an assassination in the night. Breanna should know better than to remove all guards, unless there was no other option. Hadn’t her mentors taught her anything? I knew she was good in physical battle. Maybe they had spent all their time with the swords and no time in the books. Breanna was more of a warrior than a strategist or leader.
Torine continued. “Tomorrow we reconvene here for trial two. Tonight you will be graded on the second part of the first trial. You all will practice diplomacy and entertain a guest for dinner. It’s your job to be as political as possible so as not to anger, offend, or incite a war.”
I felt a chill down my spine.
“Who is the guest?” Selene asked before I could.
“A councilman of the bear king,” was his reply.
Both of our jaws dropped in unison.
The bear king could have been responsible for murdering our queen for all we knew. Now his councilman was allowed at our dinner table? This was one of the few things I absolutely hated about politics, and possibly being queen. Still, I had to accept it as part of my role. Unfortunately.