В«IВ heard about it when IВ was aВ child from my nanny, who was aВ witch doctor.В»
В«They hired aВ nurse who was aВ witch doctor?В» Marianne was indignant. В«Witches are not welcome inВ feudal castles.В»
В«Except those who heal and drive away evil spirits from the cradle,В» she said.
В«But no one chased the elves away from me, and now IВ feel as if IВ am inВ captivity.В»
В«Such are love spells!В» determined an observant Hilaria.
Was it charms? No, it isn’t! Marianne sensed that her love was genuine. And the contest was gathering momentum. Magic had not yet gone against swords, but elves were still stronger than humans.
Yet the rules were not broken. There was nothing toВ be faulted. The mortal knights had volunteered toВ wrestle with the elves. Yes, this is tantamount toВ suicide. But aВ valiant knight has the right toВ go out toВ fight even against aВ giant. Stopping him without cause was not an option.
Marianne was troubled byВ one thought. She was like aВ bird inВ aВ cage, beating inВ her head. Hilaria had aВ point, even if she did not make it explicit. The tournament must be ended before the first kill. After all, there is some ancient law about which the old soothsayers, familiar with the elves, have so much toВ say. Something ruling out happiness if one kills the fiancГ© ofВ the one the elf has glimpsed.
Lurel and Cassian faced each other inВ aВ duel. The mortal prince fought against the immortal elf prince. The audience screamed with delight. And the red and white roses on the armrest ofВ the throne were dripping with dew as if they were tears.
Just then Conrad returned, pale as aВ dead man. He sat silently on the pedestal beside Marianne, as if the throne were no longer for him. What was the matter with him? She would have roused him with questions, but other things were more importantВ now.
В«Stop them!В»
В«Why is it?В» Conrad looked up at her with aВ face the color ofВ white chalk. Marianne shuddered. It felt like some evil fairy drank all the life out ofВ her brother with her kiss.
В«Fighting with elves is pure suicide! You are the king! It is your duty toВ prevent senseless bloodshed.В»
В«Forgive me, Marianne, but inВ aВ tournament everyone chooses who they fight. Even aВ king has no right toВ interfere. The knights must be brave, or if war breaks out with the elves, all the warriors will be hiding inВ the bushes.В»
В«Why do you speak ofВ war with the elves?В» Marianne became agitated. For sure her brother was hiding something from her. She was well aware ofВ his habits. Now he was acting as if he had aВ guilty conscience.
В«IВ am not saying that!В» Conrad brushed herВ off.
AВ black mist, like aВ teain ofВ darkness, stretched across the stands behind the king who had come toВ the tournament. The elves had cast magic against the humans. It was unintentional. InВ the heat ofВ battle, no one thinks ofВ methods. Everyone wants toВ win at all costs. Some wizards tried toВ stop Lurel and Cassian. Vines grew on their crossed swords, which intertwined between their blades and prevented them from fighting. Lurel whispered some magic word, and the vines burned.
Before Marianne could see, the duel came toВ an end. Cassian was dead. His auburn locks were strewn across the bloodstained place. The helmet flew off. Lurel was not triumphant, but victory was important toВ him.
«He didn’t notice the wedding ring on your hand,» whispered a voice coming from the roses.
«The elves broke the law of hospitality by killing the knights,» Conrad muttered. Menuel’s dagger decided to back him up on that and released from its sheath. It soared like a bird of steel and launched itself at everyone. Hilaria cried out in fright, but Marianne was more concerned with Lurel’s victory. Now she was free. She could remove her earthly diamond engagement ring from her finger, and the elf prince would give her a magic ring in return.
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