Chapter 228
Because the beast’s voice could be heard by all in the field, and maybe even outside of the field, I used magic to amplify my voice, so that everyone could hear me speak too.
So, when the crowd erupted in mild shouts and mutterings at the previous words of the Queen, they echoed affirmations after mine; affirmations mixed with amusement at the nonchalancy in my voice and then anger at the Queen for breaking the laws that had been in place for many years.
The beast obeyed.
He turned his mighty head and stared at the Queen, whose hands were shaking. Out of nerves or shock or anger, I wasn’t sure. But her cool composure was gone.
“Well, to be fair to the Queen, she didn’t call you out Official source is
The beast grunted, in confusion I was sure, if the thinning of his eyes were anything to go by.
“Who called me then? Only she has the power to call us out p>
“Well I smirked, and pointed at a Rachel who was shaking with fear beside her mother. Oh well, she was scared of what she had conjured? Interesting. Didn’t her mother tell her the consequences of doing what she did?
Rachel tried to burrow into her mother’s embrace, but the Queen pushed her away from her, at the same time that the beast roared in anger.
’Well, he has an ego. He is not pleased that he’s been used for sport. Get ready, we might need to subdue him if he goes on a rampage p>
We? Girl, I know nothing about subduing a beast!
I immediately said a prayer to the goddess to keep the beast on a hold.
“A little girl conjured me p>
The beast looked at the Queen with what could only be likened to distaste. The Queen cringed underneath it.
“Go back to where you came from.” She ordered, her voice shaking as she did so. But the Beast ignored her, and turned to me, the anger in his eyes disintegrating to curiosity.
“My brothers told me about you… the one who is to come p>
I wished he had bothered to cloak his voice, when I heard murmurs erupt in the crowd again. I knew their ears were yearning for more of this information. I was yearning too, but from the other beasts. I knew he wouldn’t be speaking about it. Whatever it was, I would have to find it out myself.
“Tell me why I was conjured p>
I shrugged my shoulders. “I defeated her in combat, and she threw a tantrum, never mind that I had forgiven her when she had used magic during the fight. It happened that your Queen had taught her daughter how to use the subtle magic. Luckily, I was able to see it, thanks be to the gods p>
And Mr. Lethon for the warning.
Another round of gasps exploded in the crowd. The guards had to form a circle around their Queen and her family to keep the angry citizens from touching her. And when a daring citizen threw a cup of coffee at the Queen, it didn’t get to two feet near the Queen, and it dropped to the ground. She had thrown up a barricade obviously.
The Queen’s face contorted now, likened to the demon of fury, and with a magic laced voice, she shouted at the beast. “Get into your place p>
The beast hesitated, but I saw that he had no choice; it was still bound to the Queen.
“I can’t wait to see you again.” It said, before bowing to me, to my utter amazement, and sauntering back into the cave-like opening. However, before he entered, he turned aside and glared at the Queen.
Oh, he won’t be forgiving her anytime soon. I was sure he would be telling the others about this event. Ha! What a backfire! I thought, folding my arms across my chest, meeting the furious gaze of the Queen. She must be angry that I had defeated death.
I smiled widely at her, and gave her a wink, laughing when she fisted her hands. Again, she had managed to destroy her credibility among her people. I looked away from her to professor Zokel.
“So who is the winner, professor?” I asked, my voice echoing around the stadium. This time, the professor didn’t bother checking in with the Queen, he just climbed to the podium, looked at the crowd, and with a smile announced me as the winner of the games.
“Let’s give it up for Dora Akwoods, winner of the games this year p>
Cheers broke out in the crowd. Peter allowed Diana then to flee from his arms, watching her as she hurried toward me.
The people, knowing our relations, smiled and parted the way for her to run through. She jumped the bleachers,
empowered with magic, and hurried toward me in the field.
As she neared me, I noticed that tears were streaming down her eyes.
My dear sister.
I bent on my knees, and opened my hands wide, to welcome her into my arms. When she flung her arms around me, I felt peace.
’I like her p>
I smiled. I liked my sister too.
“I will kill her for putting you in this situation p>
I didn’t bother to ask not to. I was thinking of killing Rachel too. My eyes caught Raul’s eyes then. His eyes were wet. When he realized that I was looking, he turned away, pushed past the guards, and walked out of the field. No one stopped him. I didn’t even know if it was magic, or if it was because the people could see that the male was ashamed of his family.
Laura, Peter and Levina joined us in the hug thereafter, just before people came up to congratulate me on my victory well earned. As they did, I could see the questions in their eyes.
Who exactly was I, and why hadn’t the beast killed me? What did the beast mean when it talked about me as the one to come? Why did the beast bow to me? Why had the beast neglected a command from the Queen?
Luckily, I had no answers for them. I wanted to go home.