Into the Gloom — J.M. MacLeod

Jeda is rejected by her family and sent to the evil Emperor's palace to be a bond-servant. There she makes a friend who is in league with underground kingsmen who can help her. But Hod-ya, wicked mistress of the emperor's holdings in Cosmopolis has other plans for her. Jeda is sent to Pitland to train for the infamous Scrarth and Avangar contest that pits two beautiful women against each other for the tile of undisputed Avangar of the Reallm. but Jeda had secretly became a kingswoman, dedicated to serving the King and rescuing lives, not tyrannically ruling over others. Along the way Hod-ya's coach is waylaid by kingsmen and Jeda is taken into the depth of Ra-Amawl, a sinister forest filled with dangerous beasts and desperadoes. On a food-gathering expedition Jeda and two friends get lost. She, along with her two friends are recaptured by Hod-ya and spirited off to Pitland. Jeda succumbs to the training, against her wishes, and is prepared to battle her nemesis. Meanwhile, a brash young man she met while in the company of the kingsmen in Ra-Amawl sets out to rescue his beloved from the nefarious Hod-ya.