From the Ashes: Book One of the In Blood and Fire Series by Kristina Gruell

Author:Kristina Gruell [Gruell, Kristina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MKG Publishing
Published: 2021-03-10T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 59

Lady Ellaemarhie Lindal, Mael’Hivar Naheame

The Arena, Endomir: Lithonia

26th of Youn

Ellae had slept in the sitting room with Galwyn. A female member of the guard had to be on duty at all times, and when Blood General Riland had figured out that there were no attached sleeping chambers to the High Princess’ rooms, she had told Ellae that she would be on night duty until they hit the train. She knew Galwyn and Ellae were attached, and that the Prince liked her, so it made sense, but Ellae wouldn’t have minded a proper bed before the games.

Ten of the Red Shields, the High King’s guard, and ten Gold Swords, the Prince’s, were signed up to compete in various events in the games to honor High Prince Gavantar and High Princess Lenathaina’s wedding. High Prince Gavantar, Prince Taemos, and High Princess Merra were signed up as well. The High King had been bullied out of joining in by Queen Maelynn and his Mael’Hivar, but was taking it in his usual stride.

When the day guard, Naheame Jeana Rainier, switched off with her, Ellae grabbed a quick bath, some breakfast, and a nap. Riland woke her in time to stretch, dress, and get down to the arena, which lay between the city and the castle.

King Charles, Queen Mellina, the Queen Mother, High King Gavan, High Queen Maelynn, High Prince Gavantar, High Princess Lenathaina, her ladies, and Masters Tam and Lan were all in the royal box. Across from them, the rest of the Morthans and Codens and their entourages were in another box. All the high lords had boxes on the same level, just above the action. Lesser lords were on the next level up, and then wealthy citizens. Finally, the rest of the city’s inhabitants—and anyone else who cared to watch—were on the top level.

The noise was deafening.

There were four female naheame participating in the sword event, and they got a few looks from the Lithonian lordlings who were getting ready alongside them. One man muttered a comment about where women belonged, and one of the Red Shields and Ellae exchanged a look and laughed.

The lordling got paired with the Red Shield in the first round, and she made quick work of him. Embarrassingly quick work.

The arena was divided in two at the start, and each half into quarters. The sword was the main event and would go on through the day on the left side of the arena. There were fifty entries, and everyone was randomly paired with a partner: the first to score five touches was the winner and moved on. Between the adult rounds, young boys took their turns; there were twenty of them, including the young Morthan princeling.

On the right side of the arena, the events changed throughout the day from wrestling, to quarterstaff matches, to the short bow—which Princess Merra took by a hair from Lord Garrett, who bowed gracefully to her—and finally, to the long bow. By the time Prince Taemos took second in the long

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