My mother adjusted my neckline and ran her hands down my arms to smooth out any wrinkles. “That will do. Ready?”

I nodded.

“Today will be less eventful. We’ll sit around and watch the mortals hit each other.”

“Not bad entertainment,” I said with a smile.

“Exactly.” She took a deep breath. “Let’s be going.”

She looped arms with me, and we entered the hall.

“Did you talk to Father last night?”

“No. I’m not one to seek him out for the joy of his company.”

“Mother,” I breathed.

She pursed her lips. “I will keep my opinions of his brother to myself. I can be civil when needed.”

“That’s all I am suggesting.”

We stepped into the garden and joined the stream of people heading toward the stadium near the training grounds. I noticed some men practicing and found my eyes lingering. I was envious of their abilities. The added weight of the sword made it so I could never find my balance. I was constantly tripping over myself. 

A horse galloped from the barn with enough speed to startle me. I moved in front of my mother, who was clutching her chest.

“May the gods rebuke you,” she muttered. “No sense of decency for anyone but themselves.”

Prince Lenis turned the animal and headed in the other direction. He had on armor with his hair smooth away from his face. We made eye contact for a moment. He appeared amused while I simply glared.

“Let’s hurry, Ricky.” My mother tapped my arm. “The dust is building.”

We entered the stadium and went to our seats at the top. One corner held my family and the one eternal lord who came to the banquet. The four fae kings were spaced evenly beside us, with their lords seated among them. Across from us was filled with mortals. The three mortal kings sat in elaborate boxes with King Jaquon of Gildorn in the middle. Their lords filled the lower seating.

“This is so exciting,” whispered Cena to Annette. “Have you been before?”

“Yes, at other banquets, and sometimes we hold tournaments in Sullmane.”

“Do elves compete?” asked my sister.

She shook her head. “The mixed-bloods do. Hal has won multiple times.”

Cena sat up straight and wrung her hands in her lap.

“Is it just the two events?” I whispered to my mother.

She nodded. “The sword is first. Then they take turns charging each other on horseback with long sticks,” she said with a smirk.

I scoffed. “There's more to it than that.”

“Barely,” she replied, amused.

My father approached with my uncle and grandfather behind him. I rose from my seat. 

I bowed slightly. “Your majesty.”

My mother didn’t move. She didn’t even acknowledge my father when he sat beside her.

“We need to have a word later,” he whispered.

She sighed. “Say what you will. I promised Ricky not to fight with you.”

“Alric,” he corrected. 

He glanced at me before turning to speak with my grandfather. I wondered if the mortals and fae had this much animosity in their families. Servants started to fill in the empty seats at ground level. This was the first tourney I had ever attended. Most of the citizens of Thaloria were pure-blooded eternals, and this was more of a mortal sport.

My father motioned to a man holding a horn. He blew into it, and the arena grew still. Rising to his feet, my father scanned the stadium.

“Welcome to Thaloria's first tourney!”

The crowd cheered.

“And hopefully not our last.”

He received some chuckles.

“On behalf of the royal family and citizens of Thaloria, we welcome all participants and wish you luck in today’s events. May the best man”—he lifted a finger—“and horses prove themselves today. Let us begin!”

The crowd applauded. I clapped and watched the first pair enter the ring. 

“Do they use real swords?” said Cena. “Aren’t they afraid of being injured?’

“The fae will fix anything serious.” Annette pointed. “It usually only bruises. The goal is to disarm, not kill.”

I felt uneasy that these people found swinging sharp metal at each other enjoyable.

“Ready?” said the officiant to the participants. “Judges?” 

The line of five men nodded. 

“Begin!”

A large hourglass was flipped over.

I scooted to the edge of my seat and flinched when their swords hit. 

My mother touched my arm. “Don’t get any ideas.”

“I wasn’t,” I muttered.

She looked at me, amused. “Let’s keep it that way.”

***

I was gripped onto the edge of my seat as the finalists were in the last minutes of their battle. I had seen my fair share of blood, and some bouts lasted only seconds while others went to the judges. The men broke apart and paced around each other. It was making my chest flutter from the anticipation. I couldn’t tell who was going to win. In other fights, I had a good idea of who was winning, but this one was too close. The knight was yellow on his helmet and had always finished his fights before the time ran out. The knight with purple had knocked his last opponent out, and a fae had to heal him. They were well-matched opponents.

The men engaged again.

“Go!” I yelled. “Go!”

The yellow man lost his footing, and the other took advantage. He swung his sword with enough force to get his opponent to the ground. The yellow knight rolled away and was ready to attack again when the horn blew.

The bout was over. I settled into my seat when I noticed laughter. I turned to find my mother and father both smiling. Did something happen that I missed?

“You were getting into it toward the end?” said my mother. 

“Oh, yes.” I swallowed hard and faced forward. “It was close.”

The judges were huddled together as the two men waited. 

“Do we get to find out who they are?” asked Cena. “Do they ever take their helmet off?”

“At the end,” said Annette. “Hal told me it’s to make sure no one is scored unfairly. Though, I’m sure the mortals know who is who.”

The middle judge stood and lifted his hand into the air. He moved it straight down toward the knight with purple on his helmet. The crowd applauded. I clapped with them and felt disappointed. If the yellow knight hadn’t slipped right at the end, I was sure he would have won.

My father stood and waited for the applause to die down. “Our champion!”

The stands roared again. The knight walked in a circle with his arms in the air. 

“You may both remove your helmets so we may all know who is our champion.”

The man stabbed his sword into the ground. My expression soured as Lord Langston appeared from beneath it. I would have preferred they left it on. I watched the other knight take off his helmet and sighed. Prince Lenis waved to the crowd. The two people I didn’t want to win did. I let myself get carried away to find out I was cheering for them. It was unfortunate that there wasn’t more blood involved.

“Bring out their prizes!” called my father.

Servants entered the arena. 

“Your grace,” said Lord Langston. “In the mortal realms, we have a custom that a member of the royal family presents the winnings. I would be honored to have the most beautiful eternal in all of Thaloria present me with my prize.”

I looked toward Cena but noticed no one else was looking at her—their eyes were on me. Lord Langston was staring directly at me. This had to be a joke. My head snapped to my mother, and I looked at her in disbelief mixed with disgust. 

“He can’t be serious,” I whispered. “Have Cena do it?”

“Alric.” My father waved for me. 

I didn’t move. 

“Mother,” I stated. “He purposely trying to—”

She shook her head and lifted my arm so I would stand. She rose to her feet and pretended to fix my appearance.

“Mother,” I whispered. “This is embarrassing. He’s mocking me.”

“I know,” she replied. “He will regret suggesting it, but for now…”

“Alric,” said my father firmly.

“Fine.” I breathed out through my nose and went to stand by him. 

My father pressed his hand into my back. “My son would be honored. It’s the Lumeria beauty,” he said with a laugh. “He is his mother’s son.”

The crowd joined in, and I could feel my temper rising.

He pulled me to him. “Don’t make a scene. Got it.”

I nodded and headed toward the floor of the arena. I stepped down from the bleacher and led the way out toward the two finalists. The two servants pressed together behind me. I took the medal from the tray and looped it over the winner’s head.

“Are you going to at least smile, your grace?” he whispered.

My expression remained blank as I grabbed the small golden shield that had been made to commemorate Thalora’s first time holding the Annual Banquet. I offered it to him.

“You’re still pretty when you frown.” He clasped my hand and wouldn’t let me move away.

“And you are the most unkempt mortal I have ever met,” I replied, forcing a smile. “Happy?”

“There are ways I could be happier.” His hand moved further up.

“Let’s hurry this up.” Prince Lenis pulled the lord back. “It’s well past noon, and the people are hungry.”

The audience chuckled. 

Lenis stepped in front of him. I placed the metal around his neck and handed him the other shield that was made from silver and gold. Once my job was finished, I retreated to the edge of the arena as the two walked around to the sound of cheers. Black smudges had been left on my hand, and I wanted nothing more than to wash it in boiling water. If I ever learned to wield a sword properly, I’d aim to kill rather than disarm if it meant ridding this world of Lord Langston.