The Competition

By J.D. Rogers

Lila Marie Haran, dubbed Destiny's Queen, rules a land that's at peace. Until the Voss arrive. They come from the other side of the planet, from a continent Lila and her people didn't even know existed. Their king is holding a competition, a competition to find a wife. He calls it the Competition of Queens and he wants every eligible queen in the world to take part. His men threaten war if Lila refuses to go with them.
Lila goes with the Voss and takes part in the competition. That's when she discovers the Voss have a rival, a woman that can't die. A woman known as the Witch Queen. Before long, Lila finds herself squaring off against the Witch Queen in the ultimate competition. A competition for the control of the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.D. Rogers
• Release date: Feb 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370426515

J.D. Rogers

J.D. was born and raised in Montana. He studied history at Montana State University, before attending Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. He returned to Montana where he set up his own practice. He started writing fiction to improve his writing skills as a lawyer, discovered he enjoyed it, and has never stopped writing. J.D. still makes his home in Montana.

Book preview

Chapter 1

They came from a land we didn't know existed. A land somewhere on the other side of the Western Sea. They arrived on longboats. The prows of their boats were carved to look like women, women with large breasts that defied gravity. The sails on their boats were blood red.

The men were short and stocky with shoulder length hair and thick beards. Their vests were made out of animal fur. Their breeches were leather. Fur leggings covered their legs from their knees to their red leather shoes. Their swords were short and thick, much like the men that carried them. Each man had two swords and wore them on his back, the hilts of each blade sticking up over his shoulders. They called themselves the Voss.

They arrived in Dunre's capital city of Glover just a few days after I did. It was during the fifth year of my reign as First Consummate of Landish, Queen of Adah, Queen of Vassa, and Queen of Dunre. I was twenty-five years old and my world was at peace.

Both of my big sisters were in Glover when I arrived. Salisha, who served as Regent of Dunre, and Iderra, who lived up river and served as Regent of Vassa. It was a good thing Iderra was there because the Voss didn't speak the Common Tongue, not to mention any of the other four languages that I spoke. Iderra was the smartest person I knew. It took her less than two days to learn the Voss language.

So what do they want? I asked her.

We were in the dining room of my private suite, which was located on the third floor of my castle in Glover. A white stone castle that overlooked a horseshoe shaped bay on the Western Sea. A bay that was currently full of Voss longboats. Two dozen Voss longboats. I was there. Iderra was there. Salisha was there. My eighteen year old aunt, Martika, was there. Originally, she died before I was born, but a trip back in time changed that. Briel, another girl from the past, was also there.

They want you, Iderra said.

Why?

Their king has decided it's time to take a wife. He ordered his men to scour the four corners of the world and bring back any and all queens that they can find so they can compete for the honor of marrying the King of the Voss.

You're joking? Martika said.

The Voss don't impress me as the kind of people that joke, Briel said.

Me either, Salisha said.

I looked at Iderra. Did you inform them I'm not interested in getting married?

Iderra nodded. I informed them that the women of our family take consorts not husbands.

And? Salisha said.

They said if you don't go with them willingly, they will take you by force.

Twenty-four longboats. One hundred men per boat. That's twenty-four hundred men, Briel said. Almost as big as Dunre's entire army.

The Army of Dunre consisted of three thousand men. Unfortunately, those three thousand men were scattered around the country. There were less then one thousand in and around the city of Glover.

We could fight them, Salisha said. But a lot of people will die.

And they could end up taking you anyway, Iderra said.

What you could do, Martika said. Is go with them then throw the competition. Let another queen win it.

What if they can't find any other queens? Briel said. What if Lila is the only queen that shows up? She could get stuck there.

Plus, we don't know what kind of competition it is, Iderra said. Nor do we know what happens to the losers.

I'd prefer to avoid war, but I need more details on this competition. I looked at Iderra. Tell them that I can't go with them until I've learned their language. Then inform them that it'll take a couple of weeks for you to teach it to me. If nothing else that will buy us some time.

Iderra nodded. While you're studying their language, I'll try to get a few more details on this competition.

I'll call in our troops from the outlying districts, Salisha said. In case we have to fight.

Briel looked at me. You might want to use your powers to contact our troops in Landish and Vassa. Maybe send some of them down river, just in case.

The armies of Landish and Vassa are pretty small. Around five hundred each. And most of those are tied up patrolling the cities and roads. I'd rather not involve them.

We've got plenty of troops in Adah, Martika said. Maybe we should bring some over.

It takes a month to circumnavigate the continent, Salisha said. They'd arrive too late.

A large desert divided our continent in half, which prevented our troops back in Adah from traveling here on horseback. If we went to war, it would be with the troops we had here in Dunre. If I wanted to avoid war, I would have to go with the Voss.

***

By dinner time, Iderra had more information on this competition. Once again, the five of us were sitting at the dining table in my private suite.

You have exactly two weeks to learn their tongue, Iderra said. No more.

Two weeks is plenty, I said. Did you get more details on this competition?

Their king gave them no details on the competition.

How many queens do they expect to compete? Briel asked.

And what happens to the losers? Martika said.

They said every queen in the world will be there. At least those that do not have husbands.

How many is that? I asked.

They didn't give me a specific number but they did name half a dozen countries. I've never heard of any of those countries, so they could be lying.

Sounds like they come from a continent and not just an island, Briel said. A continent as big as ours.

How long did it take them to reach us? Salisha said. How long were they at sea?

Six months.

Their continent must be on the other side of the planet, I said.

You still haven't answered my question, Martika said to Iderra. What happens to the women that lose this competition?

Nothing.

I looked at Iderra. Is that the word they used?

Their exact words were, 'the losers will return to their kingdoms bereft, knowing that they will never get to share their life with the world's most perfect man.'

Every woman at the table laughed, including myself.

You have so got to go, Martika said. Even if it's just to put this clown in his place.

Six months to their homeland, six months back, Briel said. She'd be gone for over a year.

If I sailed on one of their longboats, I'd be gone for over a year. If I take one of Idy's corsairs, I can cut my travel time in half.

Salisha looked at me. It sounds like you're thinking of going.

It's the best way to avoid war, I said. It's the only way to avoid war.

Now that we know these people exist, Iderra said. That this continent exists, someone needs to explore it. With all of her powers, Lila is best equipped to do that.

By powers, she was referring to the fact that I was both a seer and a time walker. I also possessed the ability to move small objects with my mind. By small, I mean anything that I could physically lift.

Iderra's right, I said. Now that we know this continent exists, we need to explore it. And my powers do give me advantages normal people don't have.

I guess that means you're going to go with them, Salisha said.

I'm taking my own ship, but yes. I'm going with them.

Can I come? Martika asked.

No.

Why not?

Because I don't know how dangerous this trip is going to be. The fewer people I have to look after the easier it will be.

You got to take one of us with you, Martika said. We might come in handy. Remember when you lost your memory back in Gibney. If Briel and I hadn't been there you might have never gotten it back.

I wasn't sure I'd go that far, but she was right. It might not hurt to take one of them with me.

Point taken, I said. I'll take one of you with me. But just one.

So which one of us is going with you? Briel asked.

I haven't decided.

You'll keep in touch with the rest us? Iderra said.

As far as my powers will allow.

My seer powers gave me visions. When someone wanted to harm or kill me I would have a vision warning me. They also allowed me to create and project images. I could also contact anyone I wanted, as long as I knew what they looked like and could picture them in my mind.

Whether I could contact someone when I was on the other side of the planet remained to be seen. Most seers were limited in how far they could project images. Those limits ran anywhere from a couple of miles to an entire continent, which was my current limit.

I used my seer powers frequently. Just like I practiced moving small objects with my mind. My ability to walk through time I had used just once. When Briel, Martika, and I got stranded two thousand years in the future. Time walking was a dangerous power. Unforeseen consequences could occur when you played around with the future or the past. Especially the past.

I had an aunt that was a time walker. When she was young, she got mad at one of her sisters and used her power to travel back in time and eliminate that sister from existence. She had spent the rest of her life regretting that rash action, an action she had never been able to undo.

Here's a thought, Briel said. What happens if you fall in love with the King of the Voss?

Salisha, Iderra, Martika, and I looked at each other and laughed.

What's so funny? Briel said.

We're Harans, Martika said. We don't fall in love with men.

They fall in love with us, Salisha added.

You're more likely to fall in love with a man than we are, Iderra said.

Since Briel preferred women to men, that meant it just wasn't going to happen. Of course that didn't stop us from having sex with men. I had taken my first consort at eighteen and had taken several more since then. I had even been married briefly. If you wanted to call being the thirteenth woman tossed into the high sage's harem a marriage. Since it allowed me to ascend to the Landish throne, I counted it as a marriage.

I'm not going to fall in love with the King of the Voss, I said. I may decide to ride him, or let him ride me, but I'm not going to fall in love with him.

Point taken, Briel said. But what if he falls in love with you?

Sounds to me like he's already in love, Iderra said.

Martika laughed. Yeah. With himself.

***

The next day, I met the Voss commander in my throne room. I was sitting on my throne wearing black leather riding boots, black leather knee breeches, and a long sleeved purple silk shirt with pearl buttons. The crown of Dunre, a gold headband with a setting sun rested on my head. In the middle of the setting sun was a large purple gem. My black hair, which reached to the middle of my back was tied in a ponytail. A cutlass in a silver scabbard rested on my left hip.

The Voss commander dressed just like his men, a gray fur vest that left his arms bare, dirty brown leather knee breeches, gray fur leggings that covered his calves and shins, and bright red shoes. The handles of the two short swords he carried stuck up over his shoulders. His brown hair was shoulder length and looked like it had never been brushed or combed. His thick brown beard didn't look any better.

I'll accompany you to the land of the Voss, I said, speaking his language. People said I had a good ear for languages, but I didn't believe it. After all, it had taken me two weeks to learn what Iderra had mastered in two days. But I don't wish to be at sea for six months.

It is a six month journey, the commander said.

It's a six month journey on a Voss longboat. I can make the journey much quicker if I take one of my own ships.

The Voss commander smiled. Voss longboats are the fastest ships afloat. No one can row faster or longer than a Voss sailor.

We had longboats in this part of the world, albeit smaller than the Voss longboats. They were faster than our triremes, mostly because they were smaller than the triremes, having just one deck of oars instead of three. They were slower than the caravels, which relied solely on wind power, and way slower than the corsairs invented by Iderra.

Above the water, Iderra's corsairs looked very much like the caravels, three decks, three masts, nine square rigged sails. Below the waterline they were very different. A caravel had a U-shaped bottom while Iderra's corsairs were V-shaped, plus, they contained a winged keel the pushed water away from the hull, creating less friction and allowing the ship to cut through the water like a fish. I don't care how strong the Voss were. There was no way their longboats could keep up with one of Idy's corsairs.

I'd like one of your sailors to accompany me on my ship, not just to keep us from getting lost, but to give me someone to converse with. The Voss language is new to me and I should like to practice it during my journey.

The commander bowed. I will accompany you myself.

You are an experienced sailor?

I am.

Then your presence will be most welcome.

The commander smiled.

Did something I say amuse you, Commander?

The thought that one of your ships could out run a Voss longboat, Your Majesty.

Perhaps we should make a small wager.

How much, Your Majesty?

How much can you afford to lose?

One hundred gold pieces?

I smiled. One hundred gold pieces it is.

It wasn't really a fair wager. The Voss commander knew nothing about my sister or how smart she was, let alone the scientific principles she used to design her ship. Even if his men were three times as strong as the men on this continent, which I doubted, they were still no match for Iderra's brain. That was when I decided who would accompany me on this journey. Who better to explore an uncharted world than Iderra. She would noticed things I didn't, mostly because her brain worked different from mine, or anyone else's for that matter.

***

Why Idy? Martika asked when I told everyone who would accompany me on this journey. She slumped back in her chair, folded her arms across her chest, and thrust her lower lip out in pout, making no attempt to hide her disappointment.

Iderra thinks differently from you or I, she'll notice things about this world, these people, that I'll miss.

Who's going to serve as Regent of Vassa? Briel asked.

I looked at Martika. Marty's eighteen now. I think it's time she got a shot at running a country.

Martika sat up straight. I'm going to get my own country?

I think it's time.

Just to be safe, I would send Briel with her, to serve as chancellor. They had spent the last two years here in Dunre, helping Salisha. But Salisha no longer needed their help. She was over the depression she had been in when I found her locked in a dungeon. She had also learned to accept the fact that she was still beautiful, despite the two wicked scars on her face. Not only did she look like our mother, she was beginning to act like her, which was a good thing. In our homeland of Adah, our mother had served as queen for thirty years, earning the nickname Bella the Beloved.

Martika jumped up on the table and began to dance, working her hips, shaking her long black hair, while singing off key. I got my own country. I got my own country.

The rest of us sat back and laughed. Enjoying these last few hours together. Tomorrow, Iderra and I would set sail. To the other side of the world.

Chapter 2

The next morning, Iderra and I set sail on the Edgerton Hooks, a ship named after the man that brought me to this side of the continent. The sailors that manned the Edgerton Hooks were all from Vassa. The ship's captain was Commodore Elrod Hubbard, an old friend and faithful companion.

Commodore Hubbard was tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He wore his shoulder length white hair in a ponytail, had a square jaw, and a chin that jutted out. His uniform consisted of black shoes, red knee socks, white cotton knee breeches, a long sleeved white shirt with pearl buttons, and a red cotton jacket with four gold stripes on the cuffs and a gold braid on the left shoulder. Like me, he wore a cutlass on his left hip.

The ship had a crew of twenty-five men, counting Commodore Hubbard. In addition, there were eighteen guards, six from Vassa, six from Dunre, and six from Adah. Bokham Mora, Captain of the Queen's Guard was there. My other captain, Vomeir Nardis, wasn't. Vomeir resigned his commission in the Adan Army and moved to Sorea where he lived with my cousin, Calista, who looked and sounded just like me. They met when she had been forced to pose as me, but that's another story.

Usually, when we left Glover, we turned south, and eventually east, skirting the continent's coastline. This time, we didn't turn south. This time, we headed west, into the open sea.

It was spring, so a brisk wind was blowing. Since the wind was out of the west, we had to set our sails to tack into the wind. That meant we weren't going at full speed. Even so, it wasn't long before we began to pull ahead of the two dozen Voss longboats that flanked us.

Iderra and I were standing on the rear deck, next to Commodore Hubbard, who was steering the ship. The Voss commander, who identified himself as Bog, was standing next to me, watching his longboats fall behind. First one length, then two, then three. And we were barely one hour into our journey.

I looked at Bog and switched to the tongue of the Voss. Your men row well, Commander. I didn't think they would keep up with us this long.

Your ship is fast, Bog said. As long as the wind blows.

The wind always blows, Iderra said. To a greater or lesser extent.

We will see how fast your ship moves when the wind blows to a lesser extent.

Fast enough to beat those fat boys rowing your ships, Iderra said.

Bog glared at Iderra, apparently he didn't like his men being referred to as fat boys. For her part, Iderra wasn't trying to be mean. The Voss men were short and stocky. Bog wasn't any taller than me and I wasn't a tall girl by any means. As smart as she was, Iderra just didn't understand social niceties. She always said what she thought, with no internal editing. Our mother tried to change that habit but failed. Iderra's mind just didn't work like other people's minds.

How long do you think it will take this ship to reach the Vossland? Bog said.

Three months, Iderra said. Give or take a week.

Assuming the winds remain fair.

If the winds remain fair we can probably do it in less than three months. If we don't get good wind, it may take four. But no longer.

You are confident in this ship's ability.

That's because I designed it.

Tell me about your king, I said.

What do you want to know?

How old is he?

He is of age.

I take that to mean he's young and recently ascended to the throne.

If he were old, he would not be in search of a queen. He would already have one.

How does one ascend to the throne of the Voss? Iderra asked.

One must be a son of the previous king. Then he must prove himself worthy of the throne.

I looked at Bog. How does he prove himself worthy?

The same way his queen proves herself worthy.

By winning a competition?

Yes.

Who does he compete against?

All the previous kings.

So he has to equal or better their records.

Exactly.

What if he fails?

He is Voss. He does not fail.

Ask a stupid question, Iderra said in the Common Tongue.

I smiled at Iderra and turned to Bog. Tell me about this competition I'm suppose to compete in.

What do you want to know?

How many people will be in the competition?

At least seven. Maybe more if the ships we sent to the north, south, and west find any queens in want of a husband.

How many countries does your continent have? Iderra asked.

Twelve.

Half of them are ruled by queens?

At the moment.

And they're all single.

At the moment.

I'm guessing your country is the biggest and strongest, I said.

Not the biggest, but certainly the strongest.

Which is why all the queens desire an alliance with the King of the Voss?

As do you, Bog said. Since you are making this journey.

I looked at Bog. I'm making this journey to avoid war, not because I desire an alliance with the Voss.

You are afraid of war? Bog asked.

People die in war. Innocent people. I see no reason to make innocent people suffer when it can be avoided.

Among the Voss, people that fear war are considered weak.

People that lust for war are fools.

Bog glared at me. You consider our king a fool?

If your king lusts for war, then yes, he is a fool. Bog opened his mouth to respond, but I held up a hand, silencing him. I had a sister who lusted for war. She's now dead. As are her dreams of conquest.

You consider your sister a fool?

Yes. She was a fool. Anyone that dreams of conquest is a fool.

With an attitude like that, you will never become Queen of the Voss.

I'm not making this trip to become Queen of the Voss, I'm making this trip to avoid war.

Those who are afraid of war invite war, Bog said.

I drew my cutlass and pressed the tip of the blade against Bog's chest. Do not confuse my desire to avoid war with an inability to fight.

Bog smiled. You wish to test your skill against mine?

I wish to see if the Voss are more than just a big wind.

Bog drew both of his short swords and stepped back. He bowed. I bowed. Then he went on the offensive. Attacking me with both swords. Using two swords instead of one allowed him to be very aggressive, no surprise there. It was pretty clear the Voss were an aggressive people.

I remained on the defensive, countering Bog's aggressive attack. Fortunately, I spent my whole life training against opponents that were stronger and more aggressive than me. When I fought, my goal was always the same, let them go on the offensive, let them tire themselves out. When they tired, I would go on the offensive, I would take the fight to them. I would force them to maintain a pace they could no longer maintain.

I wasn't as strong as Bog, but I was just as quick, probably quicker. Bog was attacking me as fast as he could. I was moving just fast enough to counter his attack, which was about three quarter speed.

The sailors and soldiers on board were watching our fight. No surprise there. Like me, they wanted to see the Voss fighting style, wanted to see how good the Voss were with a sword. Bog was good, but he wasn't the best I'd ever faced. That belonged to my late sister, Bedonna, who was bigger, stronger, and faster than anyone I ever faced. If it hadn't been for my powers, I never would have defeated her when we fought for our mother's throne.

I didn't need to use my powers to defeat Bog. All I had to do was fend off his attack and wait for his arms to grow heavy. To make sure that didn't happen to me, I kept switching my cutlass from one hand to the other. I had another advantage. My cutlass was longer than Bog's short swords, which made it hard for him to get close enough to cut me.

The fight went on for quite awhile, long enough for me to work up a sweat. Long enough for Bog to start breathing through his mouth. Eventually, Bog paused and lowered his swords. He started to say something, but before he could get one word out of his mouth, I went on the offensive. Instead of moving at three-quarter speed, I went all out, attacking Bog as fast as I could, forcing him to retreat, forcing him to fight at a speed he wasn't used to.

Saw that coming, one of my guards chuckled in the Common Tongue.

I practiced with my guards almost every day, for five years, so they knew my fighting style. Bog didn't. I caught him off-guard when I went on the offensive, and when I picked up the pace of the fight.

You fight well, I said, as I pressed the attack. But like most men, you haven't learned how to pace yourself. It's your gender's biggest weakness. In bed and out.

I stepped back, lowered my cutlass, and bowed. Bog lowered his swords and returned my bow. Perhaps one of the other queens will give you a better fight.

Will the competition involve sword fighting?

It will involve fighting, was all Bog said.

***

We never saw the Voss fleet again. Exactly three months after we set sail, we encountered land.

A rocky coast with rolling green hills.

Is this the Vossland? I asked Bog.

We were standing on the ship's rear deck, next to Commodore Hubbard, who was manning the helm.

This is not the Vossland, Bog said. But it is my continent.

Where's the Vossland from here?

We must sail north.

What's this country called?

It is called Edgewater.

Is it a big country? Iderra asked. She was standing on Bog's right. I was standing on his left.

No.

Is it an important country? I asked.

Not really. It is an insignificant country. But it does have a young queen. She will be competing for the right to marry the King of the Voss. If she wins, her country will become more important.

I'd like to meet her, I said. Assuming she's not adverse to receiving visitors.

Her country is not known for its hostility, Bog said.

We could use a map of the continent, Commodore Hubbard said, speaking to me in the Common Tongue.

Good idea, I said in the Common Tongue. I looked at Bog and switched to the tongue of the Voss. Commodore Hubbard would like a map of your continent. So we can find our way around.

A couple hours north of here lies the city of Godel. I'm sure you can find a mapmaker there.

Godel is part of Edgewater?

It is Edgewater's capital.

Is the tongue of the Voss well known on this continent? Iderra asked.

You will have no trouble communicating if you use the tongue of the Voss.

Good to know, I said.

Commodore Hubbard turned the ship and we headed north, skirting the continent's rocky coast. Eventually, we came to a city. It sat on the end of a small peninsula. The buildings were made out of gray stone. They had flat roofs and square windows. There was no glass in the windows, just heavy wooden shutters that could be opened and closed. The largest building was three stories high. Obviously the queen's palace since the roof contained ramparts and guards with longbows. A high stone wall protected the city on four sides. The wall contained ramparts with more guards.

The city's gates were open. Dirt roads led from the city down to the water. There were no docks extending out into the water, but there were several longboats anchored to the rocky shore. They were similar to the Voss longboats except the prows were carved to look like gulls in flight rather than large breasted women.

I will take my leave of you here, Bog said.

"You're going to head