- All right, don't worry, - the king laughed and got back his good spirits. - Well, let's consider that it added intrigue to the tournament. Well, - he looked at his advisor thoughtfully, - are you ready, Sebastian?
- Tomorrow is a day of rest, - Shaw bowed his head in agreement. - And then we will start at sunset.
Charles accompanied his father and Sebastian with a thoughtful glance, immediately feeling a glass of water on the window sill. Hank was watching with anxiety and attention.
- What? What?
- You're very pale, - McCoy even frowned. - Maybe ask Sebastian to come back?
- No, let him prepare his test, - the prince shook his head, going back to reading and smiling a little. - I wonder who will outsmart him...
* * *
The big throne room just reminded me of a boardroom. In the center, on a small hill, there was a large cup, it sparkled with rubies - the stones of the elder Xavier, which shone in the rays of the setting sun, penetrating through the high windows. Charles always loved the sunsets, neither of which was similar to the other, despite the fact that most of them were observed by the prince from their windows.
The day of rest passed in silence and tranquility. The participants of the tournament healed their wounds, fortunately, there were plenty of court healers, and some of them had their own, brought from their native lands, so we didn't talk about any points. The prince also did not hurry to leave his quarters, although Frasier and Lenscherre were wandering in the corridors leading to Charles' rooms, and by miracle, they did not collide there. Otherwise, it seems that the second test could well continue.
But no, and it was hot day and night, and the sun remembered that it was omnipotent, and no one was ordering it so that it succeeded in giving away its warmth - and everything around it, the city, and the palace was filled with lazy exhaustion. The air was heavy, hot, stretching into the lungs as if it was filled with sun dust that burned the throat, the collars of the camisole became tight, the clothes - shy, but the three participants of the Tournament felt great: the kings of the Eastern, Southern and Fiery lands suffered the heat as usual and calmly as opposed to the same princes, one of whom was accustomed to the snow, and the other - to the fresh mountain air.
It seems that this weather had been established for a long time, and the throne room was also unbearably stuffy so that the doors to it were opened wide open, as well as the moving parts of the high windows. And the better were the circumstances for the third Test, which was accepted, to begin with the sunset.
It was traditionally prepared by the king's advisor, a man who had always been at court at all times, knew all the secrets and, of course, was considered the wisest of the monarch's entourage. Sebastian often gave practical advice, but in essence he was cunning and secretive, and the passion for the young prince, black and maddening, and woke up in him the worst qualities, multiplying all the worst that was in the nearest assistant to the king. But so far Shaw has been successful in hiding his intentions, because he cherished his position and head. Now he had to do a test - and Sebastian really wanted to make sure that none of the participants could cope with it.
The first two trials tested the physical skills of the Prize applicants, while the third one was to test their minds. Three riddles for each participant - three difficult questions, the answers to which are not found in everyday life and even in the best books of royal libraries. It was necessary to guess the riddles, it could only be helped by an inquisitive mind.
And around the cup were placed seven chairs, face in, there were supposed to sit the participants of the tournament, seeing everyone and being in full view. From time to time the test was held in its own way, it was entirely created by an advisor, once the riddles were voiced in the high tower, once - on the cliff over the abyss, and once the participants had to cope with the test in the basement, full of snakes and spiders.
Today the hall was full of people, guests, and courtiers of the Central Lands, who gathered to see how the participants would cope with the mysteries of the cunning Show, known for its inquisitive mind and mystery. Such a number of spectators was another trick by Sebastian: he knew that none of the guessers would want to seem stupid, so the presence of spectators was an additional distraction.
The counselor had fourteen simple riddles, two for each participant, and seven special ones, which were really difficult. The show had to ask the contestants one riddle at a time, then the second and then the third one - the most important one, and if the contestant couldn't cope with it, the riddle went on to the next one until it was solved. So, by the end of the trial, there were "spare" tasks in case one of the participants had solved the same number of riddles.