King Wade looked immensely focused. Unlike everybody else, he hadn't felt the taste of battle yet, so he had to concentrate as much as possible and not let himself be knocked out of the saddle by the first movement, because then it would be harder. Because of the misfortune that happened to him as a child, a lot of things had to be learned almost anew, for a long time, the Lord of the Fiery Lands felt ugly, inferior, this feeling has visited him now, especially when he saw such a beautiful prince next to him.
Yes, King Wade barely looked at what was happening in the tiltyard, because all his attention was given to Prince Charles, who was sitting so close that he could be touched if the rules of decency allowed it. But not only did beauty captivate the king of fire, no, it was not only her, but how the heir to the Central Lands treated him - without pity and disdain, without disgust and disgust ... Yes, Wilson was convinced of it, sitting next to him for no more than half an hour, because during this time the prince turned to him more than once or twice - and each time his face was lit up with a sincere smile, so that King Wade suddenly realized that he had disappeared, and irrevocably.
Prince Charles literally made himself watch as riders converge, as a spear of the ruler of the Fiery Lands literally knocks down the mountaineer, hitting his shield - and the first time, and the second, and the third, and Prince Jamie after the final fall sits on the sand, pulling off his helmet, looking back so surprised, as if he had not understood what had happened.
And Frasier really did not understand, each new convergence, he was sure that now, now he will be the first, he will be stronger and more accurate - and flew out of the saddle. The mountaineer stood up, turning towards the king and prince of the Central Lands, and he threw some endlessly lost look at him on the throne, and Charles felt sorry for him, it seems that he couldn't lose and didn't know what was possible, because, leaving the tiltyard, he even threw his helmet aside.
Through his will, Prince Charles forced himself to stay where he was because he knew that the trial was still going on, and there were a couple of rivals ahead who were no less interested in him. Prince Eric was silent and stern when he climbed up his horse, he already had questions for King Anthony because the northerner was watching the fight with the river king - and it seemed to him that not everything there was transparent. His neck hurt mercilessly, but the servant had time to stretch his muscles a little bit, so Lenscherre was sure he could withstand a few more collisions, and even intended to win the test.
But Stark had his own plans in this regard, he remembered that he had missed the opportunity to dance with the Prize, and the pride of it suffered no less than the reputation, because he got sick, and it immediately affected the conversations - is the king of the Western lands so weak that he is unable to withstand even a simple ball and faints like a young lady? King Anthony just clenched his teeth, remembering a couple of whispers behind his back, and spoiled the horse, clenching his spear tighter with his fingers in a glove.
Prince Eric couldn't figure out what had happened, he felt the blow to the shield, and the next second he couldn't keep his eyes open, realizing that it was hard to breathe, that he couldn't turn his head, and that Prince Charles' face was right in front of him. Yes, for the second time in one day, the young Xavier ran across the sand, this time he picked up the helmet of the victim himself because he was not afraid to breathe: it was not obvious that the northerner was breathing.
- Your Highness is so worried, it's damn flattering, - the Prince of the North found the strength to smile, enjoying the blush on the cheeks of the Prix, and the anxiety in the blue eyes is replaced by indignation.
- No more than any other participant in the tournament, don't flatter yourself, - the young Xavier pressed his lips, rising from the sand and shaking off the knees he fell on, leaning over Prince Eric.
Finally, a healer appeared who had been missing until then, and his verdict was short and fast: the Prince of the North could not continue this test. Lenscherre tried to object and even get up, but the sharp pain pierced him, as soon as he tried to sit down, the doctor's assistants were already near him - again with the stretcher, but the northerner resisted stubbornly, claiming that he would continue the fight.
- Your Highness, - the young Xavier leaned over him again. - If you don't stop now, you can drop out of the Tournament at all, and it would be very sad, don't you think?