I had half a mind to not respond but Father's eyes shifted over to me.

Ugh. Fine.

I turned to my third cousin with a gentle smile determined to be amiable.

"Reginald! I did not see you there. I thank you for your attendance and best wishes that you are no doubt going to bestow. Save your breathe. I, in exchange, offer my humblest regards, wishing you good health and prosperity."

Saying all that was appropriate, I faced back forward not bothering to hear his response to my curt acknowledgement. I heard a collective sigh from those around us.

"Aw, Princess Sienna. Like your sisters, age has blossomed you into a fine woman. Why! I hardly recognized you. You look like a girl worthy of the title princess."

"I always look like a princess; after all, I was born a princess... in the direct line of descendants of the First King," I added with a smirk to which he responded with an indignant frown.

Reginald was a portly fellow with a stocky build and a full brown beard. His eyes were dark. The corners of his mouth were turned up naturally, probably from all the brown nosing he does. He was the son of the son of my father's cousin. Ever since he became the last male heir to the throne, he has been sniffing around Court. There was serious talk of his impending engagement to Ruby to settle tensions between Father's council members on matters of succession.

It was an old tradition that only the male heir would inherit the crown... but it is also foretold that only the blood of the First King shall rule, or else calamity would befall our people. Father is a part of a long line of sons so the issue of only having daughters was unprecedented.

Reginald has a bit of First King blood in him, a claim he clings to like ivy to a tree. But more than half of the councilors argue his blood is too diluted. While some of those councilors are supporters of Ruby claiming the throne as she has proven to be capable of sound decisions; others are still holding onto hope that a male heir would be conceived.

Ruby has been quiet on the subject. I do not know one way or another how she feels. I was beginning to think with how much time she has been spending in Father's company of late, the talk of engagement would fall through the cracks and she'd claim the throne on her own. But Reginald's presence here made me second guess that notion.

Before Reginald could respond, the trumpets blew their jolly fanfare to announce the four knights entering the ring atop their steeds. They trotted around waving as the crowd cheered. Well, three of them waved. The dark armored knight mounted upon a midnight black stallion did not. He carried a black shield with a red wolf on it. It was the emblem of the kingdom Calistro.

The second knight was one of ours. He rode a mottled colored horse and sported our purple banner with a gold dragon. His name was Sir Trist. He was a rookie, an underdog. I was surprised he made it to the semifinals.

The third knight was another one of our own. Sir Jaucy was not a rookie. He was not as good of a jouster as Sir Arthur. He excelled in hand-to-hand combat, particularly melee weaponry. He urged the crowd to their feet and put a hand to his ear to get them to cheer louder. I laughed.

The last knight, though he sported a foreign banner, he was well known. Prince Jareth shined bright in his golden armor atop his pure white stallion. Unlike the other competitors, he also had a cape attached to his back that matched his kingdom's banner: a gold phoenix with a red backdrop.

Truthfully, I was still undecided who to give my favor to. I wanted the person I chose to win or at least make it to the championships. For this reason, I eliminated Sir Trist from my possible list. I should go with Sir Jaucy as the only remaining option from our kingdom... but I was fairly sure Prince Dean could best him.

"Who is fighting who today?" I asked Father.

"They just announced it, Sienna." He smiled and shook his head. "Your thoughts are being too loud again?"

"Maybe." I smiled; happy he was in a good mood.

He picked up my hand and kissed it. "Happy birthday, my little Enna. First joust will be between Sir Wilhelm and Sir Trist."

"Wilhelm?" I looked again at the knight clad in darkness. "He is of Calistro?"

"Yes. That is his homeland, Carmine's future kingdom."

I remembered how Wilhelm had helped me during the "dragon attack". He has been nothing but kind to me. And he has been a big pain in the neck to Carmine.

That last thought made my decision.

When the announcer introduced the King and proclaimed it was time for the bestowing of favors, my father who still held my hand rose and I along with him. I felt a stir of butterflies in my stomach. We took a few steps forward to the railing. Suddenly the nervous feeling fled as everyone bowed. The knights had dismounted before us and knelt the ground as well. It felt wonderful! Like I was breathing on the very peak of the world.

My father's voice bellowed out welcoming everyone to the tournament. He asked everyone to stand as he delivered the rest of his speech. My eyes began scanning the crowd looking for Tallis. He did not hide in his workshop after we separated, did he?

My father's hand suddenly squeezed mine gently and I reigned my focus in. "Now my daughter, Princess Sienna of Alderias, shall be the first to bestow her favor upon a knight."

Oh Divinities, please don't let my voice squeak.

"Sir Wilhelm of Calistro. Please step forward." Yes! I sounded so grown up.

There was a lull of voices and murmurs as the dark knight rose his head. He mounted his horse and rode up to the side where he could be level with me. He held out his arm and I dutifully untied the ribbon on my wrist transferring it to his.

"You better win this," I whispered, my cheeks felt warm with all the eyes on me.

"No pressure," he remarked, his voice muffled by the helmet. But his blue eyes twinkled with a dry humor.

The knights took their places. Their squires handed them their blunt tipped lances. I listened as Jade was explaining to Indigo the rules of jousting.

"The goal is to knock your opponent off their horse by hitting them in the chest or shield. Headshots or injuries to the horse are considered dishonorable. That knight would be disqualified." Jade was already standing to get a better look. Her eyes lit up as she explained.

"Wow! That must hurt!" Indigo exclaimed.

"Yeah, it does," Jade said then immediately added when we all turned to look at her. "I imagine."

I recalled the times in the past couple of years I went in to hug Jade and she would yelp in pain. I always thought the soreness she had had to do with the little games she would play in the village. Now I wondered if she was secretly doing more intense games, more suited to armored men.

Sir Arthur who stood in the stands beside us went down on a knee beside Indigo's chair. "Did I ever tell you the time my horse was taken out from under me during a jousting tournament?"

"No," she said, her eyes going round.

"Aye, I remember it well. It was--"

He was interrupted as the gong was banged and the two knights charged at one another. The closer they got to the other, the more my stomach reeled. You want to close your eyes when you hear that splintering sound. You must keep them open, or you'll miss it.

The cringing sound split through the air as did Sir Trist's painful groan as he was thrown from his horse, Wilhelm's lance shattering against the young knight's chest. It was an amazing blow!

The crowd roared and we all clapped.

"Knew it was over for Trist as soon as he started charging," Jade grinned.

"No, you did not!" I threw back at her.

"Yes, I did. I saw his lance trembling while Sir Willhelm's remained completely still."

"Easy to say who won after the victory is already said and done," Carmine pointed out.

"Okay, I'll show you in the next round," Jade huffed.

After Sir Wilhelm did his victory lap, he nodded at me and I grinned. Finally, I caught sight of Tallis. He stood by Aggs. I should have looked for Aggs earlier! I should have known he would watch the event with him. And Aggs was quite easy to spot in a crowd. I gave a discreet wave to Tallis when he was looking in my direction. He returned the small wave then tucked his head and turned his back to me to talk to others.

"Tell us about the time you were thrown from your horse, Sir Arthur," Indigo begged.

"Of course, little princess. Aye, I remember it well. It was during a winter in my time as a little upstart of a knight. Barely out of my squire shorts, I was. I was stationed near the border between Calistro and Valence on training grounds. The sky was clear, so we decided to take advantage of the Divinities' mercy and hold a joust. Some Calistro trainees nearby joined in. Now you must understand something. Calistro knights are not like the knights here or in Valence or even Eldair. They do not have to have noble lineage; therefore, not expected to behave with chivalry. In fact, many of their recruits are ex criminals and bastards. They're trained to kill--"

Queen Amelia cleared her throat meaningfully.

"Sorry, Your Highness. Anyways, a Calistro man approached as my competitor. I was scrawny lad back then. The difference between our weight classes in a more regulated event would never match us against one another. But this was just a friendly tussle. I ended up with my horse on top of me fighting to breathe and wondering if my career as a knight ended here... wondering if I would ever feel my legs again as snowflakes started falling around me."

It was quiet as we all took in the gravity of his words.

"But you lived and became not just a great knight but the General of the Red Guard," Ruby said smiling at the aged knight. He smiled tenderly back.

"Aye, I did. I lived to serve Alderias and the royal family. An honor and privilege."

"I heard the Calistro training is quite barbaric," Reginald added his pompous voice to the discussion. "But I suppose such measure must be taken if you're going to allow brutes to wield your colors."

"Calistro is a valuable ally and one of their knights are represented here," Ruby warned in a low voice, still maintaining decorum.

I looked over to where Sir Wilhelm was just off the field, his squire doffing his armor. He was a knight from Calistro so does that mean he is a criminal? Surely Father would not allow his proximity to Carmine if that were the case.

"Next up is Sir Jauncy versus Prince Jareth. This is sure to be a match!" Jade was once again on her feet.

"Jade! Sit down," Queen Amelia admonished.

My father waved his hand towards his wife. "Leave her be. It is exciting. Who do you think will win, dear?"

Jade smiled and leaned forward placing herself between Father and Amelia. I wasn't paying attention to them. I looked at Amelia who frowned at Father's dismissal. She shifted Amber in her lap and looked to her other side at Nazam.

Nazam was quiet during these sporting events. To Amelia, he rolled his eyes and rested his chin in his hand looking like he wanted to be anywhere else right now.

I didn't know what to make of it.

Suddenly the prince and Sir Jauncy both rode out generating a wave of excitement in the audience. They met up in the middle shaking one another's hand and exchanging words we could not hear. The knight rode off first to his side of the field. Meanwhile, the prince rode his steed over in front of the royal stand and took off his helmet. He bowed his head in respect before he spoke.

"Your Highness, all of your Majesties. It is, as always, a pleasure to be welcomed here in Alderias. The beauty here holds no bounds. I am especially glad to be a part of the festivities surrounding Princess Sienna's birthday," he inclined his head to me now, "as I have known Sienna for all her life and many years of my own, I only have warmth in my heart for her and her sisters. Happy birthday, Enna. I believe I am not remiss in thinking I know Sienna well enough to know that she will not take offense for taking the spotlight away from her for just a moment?" His eyes lingered on me and I nodded, not sure what he meant. He smiled warmly then rode right up to where Cerise and Carmine were sitting on the other side of Ruby. He took Cerise's shaking hands in his and continued, "I would like to officially announce my intentions and make a grand gesture. Cerise, will you do me the honor of becoming my Queen?"

A smile split my face and I had to hide it in my hands to keep a squeal from escaping.

Wait... are they not already engaged? Oh, never mind! I am happy either way.

Wait, has she answered?

There seemed to be a deep silence as Cerise flushed. She seemed to be having a hard time with words. Jareth's smile began faltering.

She mumbled an 'okay' and everyone broke out in sound. The sisters hugged on Cerise. I held myself back, watching as Jareth nodded and rode away. He smiled at the crowd with ease, but I felt like that didn't exactly go the way he hoped. And I was beyond frustrated to know why Cerise acted like that around him. It was as if she did not want to marry him!

That idea was preposterous. He was handsome, kind, funny.... I was so happy he will be my brother.

Their joust began and the knight and prince rammed at each other. They both clipped the other's shoulder. Albeit unsteady, they remained on their horses. As they replaced their lances and closed the distance once again, Jade predicted Prince Jareth's lance would strike the knight's shield and Sir Jauncy would hit the prince in his lower abdomen, his hold on his lance becoming too lax.

It happened just as she said. I don't know how she did that! And I did not know how the two jousters were still on their horses after those blows!

They were both slouched over breathing hard. When it looked like they would go at it again, Sir Jauncy rejected his lance from his squire.

"I know when I am bested. I will not die on this horse today!" The knight laughed loudly.

We all clapped at the knight's foresight and chivalrous forfeit. It was not worth a severe injury to supplement one's ego. I am glad there were no horrible injuries or deaths.