King Anthony's spear slid over the lord's shield and hit somewhere in the neck area, which was fortunately protected by a part of the helmet, but... But King Stephen slipped off the horse with a rag doll, falling on the separating barrier and hitting it as well. The man was lying on the sand - and he didn't move.
It took Prince Charles a fraction of a second to figure out what was wrong. To be more precise, everything was completely wrong, and he fled to the king of the Riverlands, literally two steps ahead of the doctor. Xavier froze, watching King Stephen's helmet removed as the doctor looked at him fluently, and...
- He's breathing, just unconscious, - the court healer said, checking his pulse. - There is no visible damage, but it is better to examine it anyway.
Immediately the helpers with stretchers arrived and the king of the river, who was still immovable, was carefully shifted to the stretcher, and Charles felt his heart set in motion. Strangely, Strange's beautiful face was now completely serene, the gray in his temples slightly shimmering in the sun, as if two silver rivers were lost in the king's dark hair, and the young Xavier was afraid to think that everything would be a little different - and he could see this face in the coffin. The prince waved without even noticing that he was being held tightly by the shoulders, apparently soothing, and only turned around when King Stephen was taken away and met with the adviser gently stroking his fingertips on the camisole.
- You need to get back to your place, Your Highness, - Shaw gently pointed him to the thrones, taking him away from the tiltyard. - King Stephen will be all right, I'll check it.
- Thank you, Sebastian... - Charles muttered, watching his feet.
It was a great disappointment to him, you might even say, that he was out of line, and the young prince didn't know how to look at the test, because there were at least three more battles ahead of him. Nathan sank to the throne, continuing to look down somewhere, and his father, having thrown a worried look at him, rose himself, taking a few remaining coins and sending them back into the bag: the third, fifth, sixth and seventh.
Xavier Sr. was also worried about his friend but knew that the tournament should continue, especially since Shaw said that he would look after everything, it means that soon Stephen would stand firmly on his feet again. In the meantime... And now we need to decide who will meet with whom of the winners.
- Pull out one pair, Charles, - the King of the Central Lands stretched an open bag to his son, and he dived his fingers into the velvet fabric, pulling out two coins at random, not even realizing what he was doing.
Xavier took them out of Prince Charles' hand and looked carefully to raise them high in a second, showing them to the audience.
- King Wade, who has joined the three winners, will meet Prince Jamie! - he announced. - That means Prince Eric will fight King Anthony!
Applause was heard, the assistants began preparing the horses for the second round of the test, and the King of the Central Lands took his throne, leaning toward his son.
- Charles, pull yourself together, - he grabbed the prince's fingers and looked at him carefully. - King Stephen will be fine, and we need you here. You have to do the test, the most important part will begin now.
- Why all this? - The young Xavier looked up at his father with his blue eyes, looking directly and carefully. - Why are these people risking their lives? This is a barbaric tournament, and...
- And he's been helping to keep the peace for a thousand years, - the King of the Central Lands shook his head. - You don't want anyone to fight with anyone, do you?
He understood. He understood that his son was hated by violence of any kind, Charles was like that from his childhood, yes, the king could say that he was brought up as a kind and sympathetic young man, but the compassion of the prince reached a new level compared to all who knew the eldest Xavier. He was amazed at his own son because he had never met such a love for people, although he had seen a lot in his lifetime. And now the prince waved his head, breathing deeply and slowly out, throwing his chin - and the king realized that he had been heard. He squeezed his son's fingers a little more and straightened out on his throne.
The Prince of the Mountainous Lands was watching his opponent's preparation hard, knowing that even though he had not been knocked out of the saddle once, the king of the Fiery Lands had the advantage of resting. And it meant that he would be fresh and full of strength, and Frasier himself already felt the heat - the sun entered the zenith and mercilessly gave warmth to all who wanted it and did not want it.