The oaths were as deadly as they were dangerous. I'd been warned before that an oath before a golden guard was binding before. We were both sworn that we would honor the outcome of the fight and that if my mother won, I would give her the information she desired.

That part didn't bother me so much. She was going to ask about my brother. There was no information to give her. He didn't exist. I just had to hope that she wouldn't kill me in the fight.

Then the golden armored giants made everyone left gather in a circle to form a fighting ring. I looked at my mother and back at where Moreno stood in the ring. He nodded and looked at my feet. Then he spread his legs into the fighting stance he'd taught me.

I moved my feet like his into position, but I kept one looser so it could move quickly. It was a modification of his idea but I felt almost certain that it could work. In this fight, I had my brain, my legs, and my fists. As long as I didn't lose the first, the rest would carry me through.

Ellenora wasn't weak. Her muscles were well defined and since she'd issued this challenge, I guessed they weren't for show. She was from a house of warriors, after all. Had she trained as a child to be in the golden guard? I didn't know, but I was wishing I did.

Pure muscle wasn't everything. According to Moreno, Alana was one of the better hand to hand fighters around the halfants and she was lean and thin. I made a note that when I had a chance, it was time to get some fighting lessons from her too.

"I'm ready, Vasil," Ellenora said to the golden armored giant who'd been refereeing so far. "What about you, daughter?"

I nodded. "Let's go."

"Ready and begin." Vasil clanged his sword and shield together in a sound that was similar to a starting gong.

Ellenora threw a punch almost immediately, going straight for a K.O. shot at my jaw. Instinct took over, and I sidestepped. Then I shifted my weight to avoid her right leg sweeping towards me. They were simple maneuvers, but ones a beginner might fall for.

I watched Ellenora carefully. She moved around me, trying to catch me off balance. I caught her arm and redirected the force to stop another blow coming for my face. Then she sidestepped and moved behind me.

A cold voice slithered into my head, warning me that this was bad form and that I was foolish. It didn't feel like a Nikone. More like a memory being jogged loose from repression.

"You'll never win if you're this sloppy, boy," the voice goaded. "Never let someone pull one on you from behind. Remember why we do this? I train you to survive. You'll never make it on your own unless you remember everything I tell you, and put it into practice until it becomes habit."

Ellenora's arm rushed for my head to draw me into a lock to pull the air out of my lungs. I pulled her arm up and rotated my body to avoid the suffocating choke. Her body was heavy, but the move felt natural even though I knew I'd never done anything like this before. I twisted away and locked her arm down, forcing it far from my neck.

"You're better than I thought," Ellenora smirked. "You know, my father's strongest officers trained me as a child. Who gave you instruction? That little boy over there?"

She threw another punch, and I realized I couldn't play defense forever. She was stronger than me and I needed to end this before she tired me out. Protecting my face and vital organs was only going to get me so far.

Ellenora spat blood when I connected a hammer fist like Moreno had shown me in an opening to her face. It didn't knock her out, but she seemed to see red the moment I hit her. I understood her rage. She was twice my age and far more skilled. She wouldn't lose to a child.

"Use your opponents' anger," the cold voice goaded. "You know you can never make me angry, but others? Well, halfants are rubbish when you hurt their feelings. Strike while the iron is hot. You should never lose a fight, boy, because you are their superior. Their god and king."

I didn't know where this voice was coming from, but I didn't like it. I could almost see an angry face in my mind—lips twisting and spitting this hatred manifesto at me. Shaking my head, I tried to think of anything but his rage and hatred towards me and everyone else.

That's when I made my first mistake. The blow knocked the wind out of me. I coughed and tried to block the second blow at my stomach, but my reaction was too slow. My stance slipped, and the force threw me backward with my feet skidding on the sandy ground.

"You idiot," the cold voice bellowed more insults and foul names in all languages. "Are my lessons not good enough for you? If you can't win, how will you eat? Maybe another night without food will help you learn a lesson? Never! Ever! Pull! Your! Punches!"

The old man's vitriol pierced my body like more jolts. I could barely focus on what was here and now in the present moment and whatever was in this strange vision. My head was screaming and splitting, but the old man's shouts mixed with Ellenora's, making me feel small and insignificant. I tried to block with my elbows but the pain was too much.

I let out a guttural scream. Ellenora laughed and thrust herself at me again. I tried to strike upwards to catch her blow, but she ducked below my arm and thrust it up. A piercing pain shot through my head as she lifted me from the ground and twisted me into the air.

My body slammed to the ground with the force of gravity, and I knew it was over. Ellenora had her knee on my neck and she looked down at me with a blood-smeared smile. My mother then patted me on the cheek and leaned down.

"You were never cut out for this life," she whispered into my ringing ears. "Let's hope your brother isn't such a massive failure, too."

The golden armored giants pulled Ellenora off my body and held me back. The princess dusted herself off and smiled at her golden-armored friends. Then she looked me in the eye and I knew that this was not going to end well, even if I told the truth.

"Tell me where my son is and I'll let you live," she said. "You swore an oath to tell the truth. If you lie, you'll die for your treachery."

"I don't have a brother," I said. "Doctiana Sims delivered my father Chuck Oakeley, his biological daughter, me, and no one else. It isn't some grand conspiracy where you're the victim, mother. My brother simply does not exist."

"She lies!" my mother screamed. "She's lying. That stupid family turned you against me."

I wasn't sure if she was talking about the Oakeleys or the Nikones. It didn't matter. Ellenora had sunk to the ground and was having a full-on temper tantrum. She pounded her fists against the soil and wailed at the top of her lungs as crocodile tears fell down her face.

"Your claim will be investigated," Vasil said. "If you are found lying, princess, your mother will have her blood."

The golden armored giants released me. I backed away from my mother and tried to look as inconspicuous as possible, which was difficult with the amount of blood dripping down my face. I didn't think my nose was broken, but I certainly didn't look pretty.

Luckily, everyone's attention turned away from me almost immediately as shadows blocked the remaining sun as it faded. There were there a dozen dragons that landed around us. Giants started shouting. Chaos broke out in all directions, and I bolted for my mother. I wouldn't let her escape this time.

Ellenora pulled herself off the ground in time for me to push her back down. She screamed and tried to punch me again, but I grabbed her arms and pinned them to the ground above her head. Moreno saw me and we both pulled her to her feet and began escorting my mother towards one of the prison wagons that the dragons carried.

I spotted Wolfe Phillipus directing some of the halfants to put some of the paralyzed prisoners in the back of his carriage. I hadn't seen him since I visited Victor, but he looked equally annoyed and angry as he had that afternoon. Beside him was Duke Japrhos, who looked even more intimidating. He spotted us with my mother and his duo-colored eyes narrowed.

"Princess Ellenora Nikone," he said. "Your father called for your arrest long ago."

My mother gave him a sickening, flirtatious smile. "Then take me in, Uncle Japh."

"We're far from such pleasantries, little girl," Japrhos said. "Lord Ethesis, make sure she's locked in the primary position in my carriage. Tytan wants her dragged to the castle for her punishment."

"You won't take me to Gorgon's Keep?" Ellenora pouted. "Did Daddy see my plan to break out? Pity."

"You have my permission to gag her," Japhros said, and he dismissed us.

Moreno and I dragged her kicking and screaming to Japrhos's prison carriage. Then Moreno opened a side door on the carriage, which released a small confined space that was isolated from the rest of the carriage. My boyfriend fit my mother with manacles and took a strap of leather from a compartment to gag her.

"You want to do the honors?" He asked me.

"I'm not crazy," my mother looked at me with big pleading eyes. "Tytan is the villain of our stories, Terri. He must have separated you and your brother. You have to find your twin. Please. Find your brother for me."

That was the last straw. Today I'd been berated, beaten, and laughed at by this woman who'd birthed me and then sent an army to attack me. She wasn't my mother. Some people just shouldn't be parents.

I took the strip of leather from Moreno's outstretched hand. I won't lie. I took great pleasure shutting up the crazy princess once and for all and securing her gag that would only be removed when she saw the king.

Hey everyone!! This was one of the most challenging chapters I've written in a long time. I ended up doing a lot more research than normal, and I think it came out well in the end. As always, let me know what you think. More is coming soon. Let me know all your theories. Until next time!!