The Last Realm: The Blood of Clans

9: Trouble at the Tournament

“I'm up. I'm up.” I grumbled to the pounding back on the other side of the door.

“Ha, yeah right. I really believe that one.” Vahn called back. “We've been trying to wake you for a good half an hour.”

After a yawn and splashing some water on my face to completely wake up, I went out to greet the day. Vahn and Chang were both back in their more casual attire, which was boots, pants and jacket. Vahn was wearing a purple and white mix, while Chang had a more simple black set. Vahn let me wear a white jacket to go along with my jeans, saying it would be more formal that way. We quickly headed back down the halls to the throne room, where apparently the general had came by to wake them up and inform them as such.

“So do you oversleep much?” Chang asked as we neared the throne door.

“Not really, maybe its got something to do with all this traveling.” I smirked back in my reply.

“You're not exactly a queen yet.” Vahn cut in as he opened the door, pausing a moment before he finished his thought. “Keep it up though, you might be there soon enough.”

We all laughed as I gave him a shove through the doorway and then followed inside. The throne room was becoming all too familiar, but I was once again impressed to find that all but two of the banners had been taken down. The Tasard and Kyzekia banners still hung along the back wall behind the thrones, which were fully occupied today.

Vahn cleared his throat and made a slight motion with his hand to go right. Kelicia was standing there and glaring, none too happily. We sheepishly made it over to her, noticing the room packed with a quite a few people.

“You dolts. What's taken you so long?” Kelicia scolded us as we shuffled in beside her.

“The princess takes a while to wake up.” Vahn cracked in a jesting tone.

“Yes, I see that. So long as he was only sleeping in, and not entertaining any wild ideas.” Kelicia growled lightly in a hushed voice.

I looked perplexed at the princess, wondering what that was meant to imply. She had her jaw set and rolled her eyes before fixing her attention back into the small crowd of royals and assorted people alike.

“She means about you and the Southwell princess sneaking off somewhere.” Chang whispered an explanation.

“That's absurd, where would I even sneak too? It's not like I've had a tour or anything.” I grumbled loud enough for her to hear, earning a slight smirk.

“Shut up you, everyone is almost here.” Kelicia fired back, smiling.

I closed my mouth and looked around the room. It had already piled up with quite a few of the young royalty from the evening ball and there were a few guards and attendants filing in as well. A lot of unfamiliar faces flooded in from the courtyard and formal entrance, but I eventually spotted those I knew. Jace, Troy and the remains of our group spilled into the room, as well as Wesley and a host of more I hadn't seen. I found it unusual that all of us already staying within the western city, were situated near the thrones, while the flock of newcomers were on the audience side of the room.

“What's with the division?” I asked quietly.

“There is still quite a lot of trouble lingering about, so they still plan on controlling the environment as much possible.” Vahn whispered back.

“That's a little bit frustrating.” I sighed lightly, catching a glare from Kelicia again.

“Its the host duty to protect and ensure the safety of foreign dignitaries.” She snapped softly.

“Dignitaries. That's a dressed up way of saying royalty right?” I asked in the hushed tones we’d been employing.

“It means anyone who visits, that is of any worth.” Vahn answered while Kelicia was busy rolling her eyes again.

“Now shut up. We're about to start.” She seethed back at us, glaring at all of us as the room seemed to quiet all around as well.

Start it did. The throne room finished piling in its guests, with a collection of female soldiers lining the front entrance wall. The two additional side thrones were filled this time, having all five seats occupied. I noticed Cristof Greeley on the far side from us, next to General Isidro. The closest small throne though, had a redheaded man seated in it. He was seated next to lord Andres and was wearing long white robes. I learned his name was Renato Filby and that he was more reasonable than his older, grumpier counterpart.

A collection of mismatched individuals stood in the main group before the thrones. I could only assume that they were the attendants for the sixteen of us for the ball. This would be their formal introduction in front of the court and then things might settle down a bit. That would be another wrong assessment on my part.

Queen Chiara stood up to address the assembled crowd, a silencing hush swept through the room quickly. “As most of you are already aware, we are holding an honorary tournament today for the heir of Kyzekia. We will hold to formal rules with eight participants, who will be called out and draw lots, and prepare themselves for some friendly dueling.”

General Isidro stood up to begin announcing the names of the attendants who would be involved, and each came forward to accept their position and opponent. It was to be a simple tournament, with practice weapons and held out in the courtyard. The guard Zale was standing off to the side of the thrones, holding out a helmet with a jumbled set of numbers in it. He would also be serving as the official judge in the fights.

Jace was the first name called and given the honorary draw of one, since he was representing me. Wesley got called next and proceeded to smirk as he drew the eight, pairing him against Jace immediately for the first fight. The opening draw made me a little uncomfortable, especially since I was unsure how friendly Jace and Wesley actually were towards each other. It could very well be a disaster waiting to happen.

The next fighter announced was Makuda Fukuoka, a young man from the Cherden clan of the Yamamoto. Makuda wore a yellow Chinese looking tunic over blue pants, with black boots. He had his black hair pulled back tightly into a long, braided ponytail that hung the entire length of his back. Makuda clapped his hands together, giving them a quick rub before drawing the number six position.

I watched as the selection didn't slow down or miss a single beat. The next person called up was Andrew Biha from the desert of Casalino. He had unruly red hair and deep sun kissed skin, but wore a long robe like a prizefighter might. He looked as if he might crush through the fights with relative ease. Just peeking from under the long robe were his wrapped hands and feet. Andrew had no shoes or gloves and the idea of trying to meet him in combat made me squirm. He didn’t make a sound as he selected the number two position.

Halfway through the selections already and the next selected was another easterner, Chike Runihura of Dohania. I could vaguely place the last name from the lessons with Gareth at our short time at sea. Chike however, wasn't dressed for any tournaments. He had pale white hair, like fresh snow, and wore white pants with a long white coat. You barely see the black shirt trying to hide itself beneath his heavy white coat. The young Dohanian selected the number seven spot and raised a suspicious eyebrow towards Andrew before laughing in amusement.

The first of the last few was a samurai girl, Touko Shimoda, from the clan of the Anayama. She was far smaller in size than anybody else selected but looked all business with her white hakama pants and red kimono top. She let the bangs of her dark brown hair down while the rest was pulled back with a red ribbon into a long ponytail that went past her waist. A pair of black fingerless gloves stretched over her wrists. Overall she kept a calm and icy demeanor that matched her porcelain like skin, giving her a deadly allure. Touko glanced at disgust at her draw as she produced the four position.

That just left the final two and to my sheer surprise it turned out to be Troy, who earned himself the number five place. Wasting no time afterwards was the girl, Kokin, who didn't need to actually draw as the only place available was the three position. Queen Chiara began to explain the pairings and order of the matches, before everyone started to pile out into the courtyards. The whole courtyard was filled with silver and blue armored women and there was a large section in the middle that was sectioned off for the fights.

Aside from a sitting section for the queen and her court, we were given bench like seating as well, all on the far western side, nearest to the throne room. Most of the crowd consisted of groups like ours, traveling partners and escorts for the young royalty and their attendants. I would have estimated about sixty to seventy spectators in all, each standing around the western edges of the courtyard. It was then the bridge gates opened up and a flood of citizenry came pouring through the makeshift checkpoint, standing along the north and south sides. The guards and female knights stood on the eastern side of the courtyard.

“Here I thought this was going to be a small, private event.” I nervously laughed, scanning over the crowd of hundreds.

“This is a small event.” Kelicia replied back with a laugh.

Aside from the princess, I had somehow become wedged in a group of some of my friends. Chang sat off with the all of the other clan children and Gwen, plus their non combatant attendants and friends. I didn't mind my sitting group, though it was slightly awkward. Vahn, Aurelia, Kelicia, Kathryn, Kye and Adela, her attendant Teresa, Chey and her attendant Holly. It was quite a tension filled group, as Kye had wedged himself between Vahn and Aurelia. Kelicia and Chey sat on both sides of me, both seeming to have their own little duel as they each tugged over my attention.

Kye shot me a glance and mouthed a “way to go” at me, which just caused me to blush even more. Vahn lightly shook his head as he tried to keep Kye occupied from flirting with Aurelia. I wasn't sure if we were about to watch a tournament or see a movie with arranged dates, though I had a feeling either would get the same kind of reactions.

“So, uh, what do you guys think of the fighters? Like who has the best chances and all?” I couldn't help stumble with the questions, as both girls managed to get a hold of each hand possessively.

“I'd worry about Andrew.” Kye answered back long enough to interrupt his split attention between Aurelia and Vahn.

“You would say that.” Kelicia argued back, her fingers wrapped into my those of my left hand.

“Just like I bet that Vahn would say Wesley has the best chance, or James here would cheer for Jace.” Chey held my right hand with a devilish smirk, staring down Kelicia for a moment. “My point is that everybody has favorites.”

“In all honesty, Biha does have the advantage.” Vahn cleared his throat, as Kat wiggled between Kye and Aurelia.

I couldn't help but laugh a little, which earned glares from both of the princesses sitting at my sides.

“I'll consent to that.” Kelicia replied lightly. “Andrew probably is the best that we've seen as of yet.”

“As of yet?” I couldn't help but ask, then my eyes drifted to the short black haired girl with frosted sky blue eyes. “You mean Kokin?”

“Yep. Nobody but Vahn has seen her actually fight.” Kelicia glared at the Altamiran prince.

“You've seen her fight?” The surprise caught in my voice as I looked in a mixture of amazement and wonder at the idea.

“It's not exactly something we can discuss..” He started to say, but was urged on to go ahead and divulge it quietly. “Well.. she sorta held off Naren a couple of times by herself.”

We all sat there stunned, before Kye smiled and whistled. “Bet that took the piss right outta him, eh?”

“She's something else alright.” Kelicia smiled lightly towards the two men who were preparing themselves for the first match.

“Looks like it's about to start. Jace and Wesley get to kick it off too, talk about your irony.” Kathryn laughed at the idea of the opening contest, as we all turned our focus to Zale in the middle of courtyard as he started the fights.