The crown with sapphires sparkled in the sun, perfectly attached to the prince's short but still beautiful hair, the young Xavier once again pouting at the whole world, because his idea to replace the guns with something safer shallower at once. And even for the day ahead, the participants did not agree to move the test forward, although Prince Charles saw the northerner's neck hurt again, and King Stephen almost fell off his feet at the end of the day. And the conditions...
After all, the winner remained on the tiltyard - and out of the bag pulled the coin of the next participant, which he had to fight. If he also won here, he was waiting for the third fight - and so on until the winner is someone else. In this test, the outcome was decided not only by strength and skill but also by endurance. And, of course, the fate that went hand in hand with Fortune, capable of smiling at anyone.
Prince Charles did not like all these rules categorically - and he has already figured out how to express his protest, and at the same time to act against the whole tournament at once, no matter how it affects his future course. The heir to the Central Lands not only got tired of feeling the things that everyone wanted to possess, he was seriously afraid that someone might get hurt, in addition, some participants clearly had misconceptions about the nature of the young Xavier ... Some of them dared to think, that Charles is a pet that is easy to lure into his arms, the prince physically felt these looks, so the best time to spoil the mood a little bit for the particularly audacious challenges just can't be found.
And he smiled a little bit with the corners of his lips when all seven participants lined up again in front of the royal lying on the sand of the tiltyard. The prince took a pouch of coins, shaken it slightly in his hands and got up off his throne as he approached the barrier separating the box from the arena.
- We're starting our second test, - this time Xavier's voice sounded much more confident. - I wish you good luck and a fair fight. Be careful. Please.
He couldn't help but ask for it, and seven looks suddenly got warmer, everyone in the audience was pleased to feel the anxiety and care of the young prince, everyone wanted to prove to him that he was worthy to be with the heir to the Central Lands. Prince Charles took a deep breath and put his fingers in a bag, pulling out two coins at once.
- King Anthony and King James will fight in the first fight, - he proclaimed, putting the coins on the barrier and returning to his throne.
Five participants left the arena, sitting on chairs at her side, not climbing up to the stands, while two of them went to the stand with weapons. King Anthony quietly took his sword, pulling out a special handkerchief from behind her belt and guiding them all the way.
King James took his knife and only wiped it twice over his thigh like he was wiping it after the hunt, but he was actually just getting ready to start. He was blowing up his nostrils in a beastly way, hypnotizing his rival, who was in no hurry to take his place on the tiltyard.
Finally, a signal was given to begin with, and Prince Charles even jerked his hands a little in an attempt to cover his face with fear, because the opponents began to descend so rapidly as if it were a battle in war. Houlette rushed at the western king as if he were a wild beast more often, and Stark barely had time to dodge this lightning stroke, clearly not expecting such a zeal from the southerner, who seemed to be very "heavy" in his leather clothes, but this impression was damn deceptive. King Anthony barely had time to repel a few more blows, and it seemed that he had even sword-shoved on King James's shoulder, but was quickly without it - and froze because the throat itself felt cold metal.
Prince Charles stood still watching this picture, the events on the tiltyard unfolded with incredible speed, it seems that it shocked everyone without exception. The heir to the Central Lands even held his breath when the southerner's hunting knife was in dangerous proximity to his rival's neck, but he couldn't help noticing how beautiful Houlette was at that moment.
The king of the South Lands was in the heat of a clash, but he was calm and confident in what he was doing. He looked both like a predator and a hunter, which he was; his face - with a little roughness - looked perfect now because Houlette was in his place and doing what he could best - fighting. He was definitely a beast in the human body, but it was when Prince Charles thought of it, that King James took a sharp step back, removing the knife, without threatening his opponent for longer than necessary.
- For Your Highness, - the king of the Southern lands stuck a knife in the ground and bowed a little bit in bowing, turning in the king's box.