ROYALTY

Chapter 36

The crowd were screaming at the top of their voices from the various places they sat from. Betting tables were erected here and there for sport and gambling. Venders were shouting at the top of their voices trying to beat the others over the roaring crowd of excited Nolanians, obviously selling over priced goods. A vender had pushed an over perfumed handkerchief in my view selling it for more than its worth. The glare (compliments from the princess) that I gave him shut him up and he walked over to the next unsuspecting victim.

Little children were running around the open arena one had even gone so far as to ran half naked around the place. That did not end well for the little girl as the mother scolded her while dragging her to their seat, no one seemed to mind the hot sun and its rays even though it was killing.

A man of well-built stature and size stood on a manmade platform and blew on a gigantic horn sending the roaring crowd to a halt. He flexed his hands and shoulders making all the girls swoon, even Valentia had her eyes glued on him. He was a warrior of some sport, apparently a champion, that was given the opportunity of welcoming the king and queen. "Lords and ladies, the beautiful Nolanians join me and let us welcome our lovey king and queen, king Trenton Edgar Grayson and queen Matilda Madeleine Grayson." Everyone paid their respects by bowing and curtsying. He cleared his throat again catching everyones attention.

"Please join me in welcoming our very own Princess Madelyn Antonella Grayson and her brother prince Trenton Zachery Grayson." No one seemed to notice the slip the man had made, introducing the princess before the future king, either they did but chose to ignore it.

The princess walked out first from under the darkness of the shadowed building into the open arena and blinding lights. She held in her hands the royal flag and the royal staff, not that I was minding but curiosity got the better of me. She was not dressed in her usual ball or day gowns but in some leather breeches that hugged her perfectly lower body so well and a leather shirt that was fitted to her like a second skin. Her hair was braided in a long braid that went as far as her waist. She had that expressionless expression on her face, scanning the crowd, she bowed before her parents. The king gave a flick of his hand and she moved to the centre.

Next came Trenton wearing leather breeches and a white shirt, his white shirt hugged his body showcasing his muscled arms and broad shoulders. I sucked in a breath as I remembered our little happenings from last night. His eyes met mine and I felt a blush creep to my cheeks. He to, did the bowing and the king waved him of, it was a polite gesture though.

"The duke lord Donovan Douglas," The announcer was saying, and the crowd went wild, especially the ladies, he had on the same breaches the prince had on, but his shirt was loose and fine curly hairs were in the view, even I could not help myself from looking. It took every ounce of dignity in me not to stare. He was handsome as hell. He paid his respect to the king and moved to stand next to the prince.

"As we all know," the warrior continued, "in some days time, we will have a new king and queen, this sport," he gestured towards the wide arena. "Is to taste the royals strength but of course there will also be a sport to taste the princes choices." At once the crowd turned to look at the twenty-five ladies that sat at a quiet corner far away from the roaring crowd.

"With me here," he gestured to a bowl in front of him. "Has three stones, they represent the royals. The first two stones that I will pick out will start the fight and so on till the three royals have fought against each other. Now this is a bloody fight, but not one to kill or injure. Sure some damages may happen such as a loss of the eye or nose."  Wild gasps ran around the area and the warrior laughed. "Of course that would not happen." The crowd sucked in a breath, "But if it did?"

The whole atmosphere tensed and he gave a charming smile that made the whole mass break into laughter even the king laughed. He was talking about loss of some essential body parts, how was that funny?

He turned to the king and bowed, the king rose and with all command said. "To the best man that wins." The warrior put his hand into the bowl and pulled out a first stone that had red paint on it, the princess moved forward, he pushed his hand in and pulled out a second stone, a black coloured was in his palm, the duke stepped forward.

Once they were in the middle of the field the warrior spoke again. "Each royal has a choice to use a weapon or not, they are to choose based on their desires and ability to control the weapon. A timer will count down the number of minuets till the bell is rang, the person that is still standing by the end of the timer wins." Another group of warriors brought froth an arsenal of weapons and laid them down. The princess did not move to pick a weapon, the duke did. He picked up a long spear that had a long blade at the end and extra pointy thingies by the side, under the hot sun it looked like the death plague. The princess picked up two short daggers and placed them underneath her boots. My heart dropped to my stomach, even the king had a panicked expression, he could not advise his daughter to change her weapon, it was against the rules.

*-*