The Grand Royal Equestrian Tournament had arrived, and it was one of the most anticipated events in all of Valtheris.
For many, it was more than a competition. It was a display of strength, courage, wealth, and horsemanship. Guards, knights, lords, dukes, and even members of the royal family were permitted to participate, all competing for one thing-a rewarding gift from His Majesty.
The tournament field was enormous.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of spectators surrounded the grounds, their voices filling the air with excitement. Nobles occupied decorated viewing stands overlooking the field, while colourful banners bearing the crests of different noble houses fluttered in the wind. The Valcrest banner hung proudly beside those of the Ashfords, Huckleberrys, Blackwoods, and several other noble families.
At the highest point of viewing stands was the royal platform, where King Alexander and Queen Lily sat side by side, watching the preparations below.
The moment the royal couple arrived, the entire crowd rose to their feet.
"Your Majesties!"
Everyone bowed.
The king acknowledged them with a slight nod while the queen smiled graciously before they took their seats.
Below them, the competitors waited with their horses. The animals stamped their hooves against the earth, some tossing their heads impatiently as servants made final adjustments to their saddles and reins. The riders wore helmets and protective armour, while their horses carried decorated cloths displaying the colours of their respective houses.
Then-
BOOM!
A trumpet sounded across the field, and the crowd immediately fell silent.
A second trumpet followed.
BOOM!
The announcer stepped forward, a wide smile on his face as he looked around at the enormous crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the whole of Valtheris has gathered today to witness the Grand Royal Equestrian Tournament!"
The crowd erupted, and cheers came from every direction.
"Valtheris!"
"Long live the King!"
The announcer raised his hand, waiting for the noise to settle.
"This year is no different! Competitors have travelled from different parts of Valtheris to compete for one thing-the honour and reward bestowed by His Majesty!"
The crowd cheered again.
"So, without further delay, let us welcome our competitors!"
The trumpets sounded once more, and then the first rider entered the field.
"Please welcome... Lord Duncan Valcrest!"
The crowd exploded with cheers.
"Lord Duncan!"
Ruby and Althaia immediately stood, clapping proudly, while Lord Skender smiled from his seat.
Duncan rode into the centre of the field with his back straight and his hands firmly holding the reins. His horse moved confidently beneath him, its polished coat shining beneath the sunlight.
Duncan looked toward the royal platform and bowed his head respectfully.
The crowd cheered even louder. He was representing the Valcrest family, and he intended to make them proud.
The announcer raised his voice again.
"Representing the royal family and bearing the blood of the crown himself... Lord William Sterling!"
The crowd erupted again. King Alexander smiled proudly while Queen Lily clapped enthusiastically.
William entered the field, acknowledging the crowd with a confident smile.
"And now... Lord Stephen Huckleberry!"
The Huckleberry family immediately erupted in celebration. Sandra stood among them, clapping excitedly.
"That's my fiancé!" she shouted happily. Those around her laughed as she continued cheering.
"Come on, Lord Stephen!"
The announcer continued. "Duke Marion Ashford!"
The Ashford family rose to their feet, cheering loudly. Clara and Helen clapped as Marion rode into the field with a calm expression.
One after another, the remaining competitors were announced.
"Duke Aldric Stoneheaven!"
Cheers.
"Knight Cedric Blackthorn!"
More cheers.
"Lord Gereth Ironwood!"
The crowd roared.
"Duke Rowan Whitmore!"
Another wave of applause swept through the stands.
"And last but certainly not least... Chief Jeremiah Greymore!"
The crowd erupted as his supporters shouted his name.
The competitors lined up across the field. Then, the announcer suddenly received a message from one of the attendants.
He looked surprised.
"Well, it seems we have one more competitor joining us today."
The crowd immediately began murmuring.
"One more?"
"Who?"
The announcer smiled.
"Please welcome... Duke Nathaniel Clifford, the Duke of Aerathia!"
The atmosphere changed instantly, whispers travelled through the crowd.
Nathaniel entered the field.
He sat tall upon his horse, his dark hair moving slightly in the wind as he looked around at the spectators. He gave a small smile and inclined his head toward the royal platform.
Maya's expression immediately changed. Her smile disappeared. She frowned deeply as she watched him.
"What is he doing here?"
Her disappointment was obvious.
Duncan noticed Nathaniel as well. His eyebrows lowered.
"What is he doing here?" he muttered.
For a moment, his attention remained on Nathaniel, but Duncan quickly pushed the thought aside. There was no time for distractions. He had come here to win.
The competitors moved into position, and then the announcer raised his voice.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the tournament shall consist of five stages!"
The crowd quieted down.
Stage One-the Speed and Pole Course.
Stage Two-the Jumping Course.
Stage Three-the Ring Challenge.
Stage Four-the Target Run.
Stage Five-the Mounted Obstacle Challenge.
The crowd erupted.
Duncan tightened his grip on the reins. His eyes remained fixed on the course ahead. He had trained for this, and he wasn't going to lose.
STAGE ONE.
The first stage tested speed, control, and the rider's ability to command his horse under pressure.
Several rows of poles had been placed across the field, creating narrow passages that the riders had to race through. They would need to maintain their speed while weaving between them without knocking anything over.
A mistake could cost precious seconds.
The trumpets sounded.
BOOM!
The riders leaned forward, and the horses exploded into motion. Hooves thundered against the earth as eight riders raced across the field.
The crowd went wild.
"Come on!"
"Faster!"
"Lord Duncan!"
Duncan leaned slightly forward, his eyes focused on the narrow passage ahead.
Left.
Right.
Left again.
His horse responded immediately to every movement of the reins. One rider nearly collided with a pole.
The crowd gasped.
Duncan passed through the first narrow gate without slowing. He heard the roar of the spectators around him, but he refused to look toward them.
Another turn.
Another gate.
He pulled the reins slightly while his horse shifted direction perfectly.
Then they crossed the finish line.
The crowd erupted.
Duncan looked back, and Nathaniel had also finished successfully, so had William, Marion, Stephen, Aldric, Cedric, and Gereth.
Then-
CRASH!
Two riders who had been slightly behind lost control.
One horse veered sharply, sending its rider tumbling onto the grass. Another rider struck one of the poles and fell moments later.
The crowd gasped.
Their families looked horrified, and some supporters shouted the competitors' names in disappointment.
The first stage was over.
Eight riders remained.
Duncan glanced toward Nathaniel. Nathaniel was already looking at him, their eyes met briefly.
Neither smiled. Duncan turned away.
"I will beat him." He assured himself.
STAGE TWO.
The second stage was designed to test courage, balance, and obedience to the horse. The course contained several obstacles.
A low wooden barrier.
A higher wooden fence.
A shallow ditch.
Two barriers were placed close together, and finally, the largest obstacle of them all.
One by one, the riders approached the first four obstacles.
Thud!
Horses landed cleanly.
Thud!
Another barrier was cleared.
The crowd cheered each successful jump. Duncan moved through the course smoothly meanwhile Nathaniel followed close behind.
William and Marion also performed well. Stephen cleared the first few obstacles, but his horse stumbled slightly after landing.
Gereth managed to recover his balance.
Then came the final obstacle. Two long wooden poles had been joined together, creating a wide and intimidating barrier.
The crowd became noticeably quieter.
Duncan stared at it. His horse shifted nervously beneath him. Slowly, he took a deep breath.
"I've trained for this," he murmured. He tightened his grip on the reins, "Come on."
The horse began to accelerate as the obstacle grew closer. Duncan didn't hesitate, and then.
BOOM!
The horse leapt.
For a moment, they were completely airborne.
THUD!
They landed safely on the other side. The crowd exploded.
"LORD DUNCAN!"
Duncan couldn't stop the small smile that appeared on his face. He had done it.
One by one, the other competitors attempted the obstacle. Nathaniel cleared it effortlessly.
William followed.
Marion succeeded.
But Aldric's horse refused at the last moment, and the crowd gasped as Aldric struggled to regain control.
Cedric wasn't so lucky either. His horse clipped the obstacle, forcing him to dismount and eliminate him from the stage.
The cheers turned into disappointed groans from their supporters.
Duncan watched the remaining competitors. He smiled to himself.
"No one can beat me," he murmured confidently.
STAGE THREE.
The third stage was where things became much more difficult. Three metal rings hung from wooden frames at different points along the course.
The rider had to gallop toward each ring with a lance and catch it on the tip without slowing down.
The first ring was small.
The second was slightly larger.
The third was small again. The crowd watched with anticipation.
Duncan moved forward. He lowered his lance, and his horse began to gallop. The first ring approached quickly.
Duncan's eyes narrowed.
He adjusted the position of the lance. Too early, and he would miss. Too late, and the ring would pass him.
He waited.
Then-
CLINK!
The lance caught the ring, and the crowd erupted.
Duncan continued without stopping. The second ring approached, which was larger, making it slightly easier.
He positioned the lance.
CLINK!
Another success. The crowd became even louder, but the final ring was smaller.
Duncan's confidence disappeared for a moment.He took a deep breath.
"Easy."
His horse suddenly jerked. Duncan then tightened his grip.
"Easy," he repeated, calming the animal.
The horse settled as the ring was getting closer. Duncan lowered his lance. His eyes never left the target.
Closer.
Closer.
Now!
CLINK!
The ring landed perfectly on the tip of his lance, and the crowd erupted. People jumped from their seats, and Ruby screamed in excitement. Althaia clapped while Skender smiled proudly.
Duncan lifted the lance slightly, displaying the ring to the crowd. For a moment, the noise washed over him.
He felt proud.
Very proud.
But then another rider entered the course.
Nathaniel.
Duncan's smile faded.
Nathaniel approached the first ring.
Perfect.
Followed by the second ring.
Perfect.
And then, finally, the third ring.
Nathaniel didn't even hesitate. The crowd erupted.
"Duke Nathaniel!"
Duncan stared at him. Nathaniel simply lowered his lance and continued riding as though it had been effortless.
Then came Stephen. He missed the first ring, while Gereth missed the second.
The crowd groaned.
And just like that, the number of competitors had been reduced again.
Only four remained.
Duncan.
Nathaniel.
William.
Marion.
Duncan looked at the three men still standing between him and victory. His grip tightened around the reins. The tournament was far from over, and now, the real competition was beginning.