Page 80 of Rise of a Fallen Man

“But Her Majesty insists, Your Highness.”

That was Mother’s way to let me know that her request was actually an order. The matter must be important.

“All right. I’ll be right there.”

As I approached the drawing room where Mother was taking her tea that afternoon, the guards at the door bowed to me.

“Lady Etah and Lady Gem are with the queen already, Your Highness,” one of them informed me. “Madam Trela and the games master have been sent for too.”

It looked like Mother was holding an informal meeting disguised as a tea party.

The three women stood by one of the tall open windows into the gardens as I entered. A low table in the sitting area was set with tea, but no one seemed to have any.

“We can put strings with paper lanterns over the pond.” Gem gestured across the window at the lily pond out in thegardens. “This way, we’ll have plenty of light before and after the fireworks.”

Mother nodded.

“Oh, that will look so lovely, Gem.” She turned to me with a bright smile. “Ari, dearest, thank you so much for joining us.”

“What are you discussing?” I asked, after greeting the ladies.

“The event tomorrow,” mother replied. She was giving a ball in honor of the delegation from the Olakrez, whose visit to Rorrim was coming to an end. “I decided to expand the ball. We’ll have a garden party and a ceremony before dinner—”

“What kind of ceremony?” I glanced at Gem.

Mother answered for her, “You see, darling, there has been so much...um, upsetting events lately. But the king is doing well. You survived that horrible ordeal in the gladiators’ arena. The safety regulations of the games are being overhauled with the help of the council appointed committee.” She gestured at Lady Etah, the Head of the Council, who nodded in confirmation. “Now, I decided it was time to bring some positivity into our lives.”

“By having a party?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “Instead of dwelling on the bad, I wish to highlight the good that has happened by honoring the heroes who keep us safe. Madam Trela and her guards will be invited as the guests of honor, as well as the gladiators.”

“The gladiators? All of them?”

My heart beat faster at the mere possibility of catching a glance of Salas tomorrow. Guilt came rushing in right after. Salas was not the man I should be thinking about when I had a husband who had been sulking at me over the lack of attention he was getting from me.

“Madam Trela reported last week,” Mother continued, “that one of my gladiators helped capture the murderer who was executed this morning. I thought it’d be appropriate to celebratethe man who helped us keep this city safe. And since one of the gladiators also assisted you to get to safety in the arena—”

“Assistedme? Mother, he literally saved my life,” I corrected her weak choice of words. “If it wasn’t for him, I’d be dead.”

Gem rubbed her chin in thought. “Has he ever explained how he ended up defeating the dragon? They say he created a fire?”

Gem left the arena shortly after the dragon had gotten loose and way before Salas used his fantastic abilities to save us.

“That’s what I’ve heard too,” Lady Etah said. “Witnesses claim he created fire, which is incredible if it’s true. Is he a warlock, by any chance?”

“Why not?” Gem snorted. “He’s been many things. It wouldn’t surprise me if he also practiced some forbidden magic on the side.” She then turned to the window, mattering under her breath, “Is there a line that man wouldn’t cross?”

“He’s not a warlock,” I said firmly.

“How do you know?” Mother tilted her head.

“I just do. But feel free to ask the games master when she gets here.”

“All right,” Mother conceded. “The point is, two of my gladiators have distinguished themselves in the past few weeks. One helped to apprehend the murderer, and the other one rescued you in the arena. King Trebor suggested a ceremony to bestow the queen’s medal on one of them, and I agreed. It will be good for the healing of our people to honor a deserving man after the execution of a terrible one.”

“We’ll just have to decide which of the two gladiators is more deserving of such an honor,” Lady Etah added.

Mother sighed. “It will be a tough choice to make. Saving the city from terror or rescuing the crown princes from the clutches of a dragon? How does one weigh these two great deeds against each other?”

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