The tension in the room was palpable as the king's gaze fell upon each of them in turn. He was clearly weighing the pros and cons of joining their cause, but it was hard to tell what he was thinking. Miss Fee shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny, while Talia stood her ground, determined to make her case. Only Robin seemed unfazed, her expression calm and focused.After what felt like an eternity, the king finally spoke. "What makes you think I can be of any help?" he asked, his tone skeptical. "I'm a man of peace, not war."Talia took a stand. "In order for there to be peace, there must first be war. We are simply preparing for it.""It's not that simple," the king replied, a hint of frustration in his voice. "You're asking me to throw my people into the fire, with no guarantee of success. And even if we win, what then? Will we have truly achieved peace, or will we simply have set the stage for the next war? There must be another way."The room was silent as everyone considered th
Elliott and Robin leave the room.She steamed. "I'm still not talking to you."Elliott was used to harsh treatment. "You just did, princess."Robin frowned when she heard Elliott use the term princess in an affectionate way and not in a more factual way.As the pair continued down the hall, the tension between them only grew thicker."I'm not your princess," Robin said, her voice low and even. "You're nothing but a rude, annoying, pig-headed knight."Elliott chuckled. "Ouch, that's quite the insult. But I must say, you're quite good at it.""Why, thank you," Robin said, the sarcasm dripping from her voice. "It's a talent of mine.""You're welcome princess.""Stop calling me that," Robin snapped, her voice sharp as a dagger. "I'm not some simpering damsel in distress. I'm a warrior, a fighter. I don't need you to protect me."Elliott raised an eyebrow. "I never said you did. But that doesn't change the fact that you're a princess, and a beautiful one at that.""You're impossible!" Robi
"Close your eyes," Elliott said softly.Robin hesitated for a moment, but then slowly shut her eyes. She stood there, uncertain of what to expect. Her heart was pounding in her chest.Robin trembled 'oh no' what if he took advantage of her? She was an Amazon, what if he asked for a kiss or anything that might foil her plot.Elliott came closer. "Close your eyes."Her lips parted, her hands clenched, her breathing quickened, she could feel his hands around her neck then something cold against her skin.She shuddered in irritation and looked down at the butterfly necklace.Elliott smiled. "I hope you wear this to remember me by."Robin's gaze was fixed on the butterfly necklace, her thoughts racing. She couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment - had he only been trying to win her over with a gift? Or was there something more to it? She struggled to keep her composure, unsure of what to say. Finally, she managed to speak, her voice tinged with sarcasm. "Ah yes, I'll never forget
"I am," Melchior replied, his voice firm and resolute. "I believe in this cause, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to see it through."It was clear that Elliott's words had struck a chord with Robin, and Miss Fee was not happy about it. She had been working tirelessly to win Melchior's favor, and here was this interloper, stealing her thunder. Talia, meanwhile, seemed unaffected by the whole exchange, her gaze still fixed on Melchior, as if she was trying to read his mind. The tension in the room was palpable, and it was clear that something had to give.So Miss Fee seethed with envy, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Talia. "How dare you try to steal my Amazon! You think you're so clever, but you're nothing but a snake in the grass. I won't let you win this competition, no matter what it takes."Talia merely smiled in response, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to Miss Fee's stormy rage. "I'm not trying to steal anything, Phoebe," she said, her voice soft and soothing. "I'
"What are you doing?""Trying to teach these men a lesson.""You're going to cause more trouble.""Who cares? I am Phoebe Tempest, queen of the Amazons."The men laughed at her words, clearly not believing her."You're no queen, girl," one of them said, leering at her. "Why don't you come and join us, have some fun?"Miss Fee glared at him, her eyes flashing. "I'll show you what an Amazon queen is capable of," she said, unsheathing her sword. The men stared at her in shock, clearly not expecting her to be so fierce. Melchior stood by her side, ready to back her up if necessary.The men stood their ground, still not convinced she was anything more.Miss Fee lunged at the nearest man, her sword flashing in the sunlight. He barely had time to raise his own weapon before she struck, slicing through the air with deadly precision. The man cried out in pain as her sword found its mark, and he dropped to the ground, clutching his arm. The other men hesitated for a moment, not sure what to do.
Oh, my dear, you wound me," said Travis, feigning hurt. "I only want to offer you the hospitality you deserve.""You want to take over my island and turn it into your personal playground," said Miss Fee, not falling for his act. "You must be new to this whole 'deception' thing," he said, his tone laced with sarcasm. "You don't come to the god of deception to ask for help. You come to him to get what you want - and be prepared to pay the price."Miss Fee glared at him, her fists clenched at her sides. "We're not here to play games," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "We need your help, and we'll do whatever it takes to get it."Travis sat back in his chair, his expression smug. "Oh, now this is getting interesting," he said, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Tell me more about what you want. And then, maybe, we can talk about what it might cost you.""Defeat Draven?!" Travis sounded incredulous, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Are you out of your minds? No one can defeat
As Melchior sat astride the dragon, he couldn't help but notice how close Miss Fee and Travis were. The way they sat together, with Miss Fee in front and Travis behind her, was almost intimate. He felt a pang of jealousy, mixed with a surge of protectiveness. He didn't want to see Miss Fee hurt, and he knew that if anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself. And if anyone was responsible for that hurt, he would make them pay.These thoughts filled his mind as they soared through the sky, and he tried to push them away. But they kept coming back.Miss Fee approached New Arcadia, and she couldn't help but notice Travis standing by, his hand raised in a wave. She knew that accepting a hand up from him was against her independent spirit, but after a long day of riding, it was a welcome gesture. And if she was honest with herself, she had to admit that she was curious about this enigmatic trickster. She may not trust him, but she couldn't deny that he intrigued her. "What ar
Elliott turned to Spike, who was looking at him with a knowing smile. "What have I done?" he asked, his voice full of despair.Spike placed a hand on his shoulder. "Give her some time," he said, his voice reassuring. "She's just feeling a little overwhelmed. She'll come around."Elliott stood there, his feet rooted to the ground, unable to move or speak. The sight of Robin in tears had struck a chord deep within him, leaving him feeling powerless and overwhelmed. He knew that she had given up so much to be with him, and now he had seemingly rejected her. He couldn't bear the thought of causing her such pain, but he didn't know how to make things right. It was as if he had been struck dumb, unable to form a single word or even a coherent thought.Elliott tentatively approached Robin, who was seated by the riverbank, her eyes fixed on the water as it gently rippled past. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the scene, and a gentle breeze rustled through the nearby trees. Ellio