The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 637: Prelims Over

Fortunately for Dominic, everyone was in an incredible mood, and all that they wanted to talk about was the joust.

Even when they were still watching the last half dozen contestants, they were already talking about the best matches they had seen so far that day. It was a good sign for Dominic, an indication that there wouldn’t be as much of the tense awkwardness that had pervaded the dining room during the negotiations.

“Our lads really are on their game today. This is a better quality of match than most that I’ve seen in the last five years, and it’s only the preliminaries.” Alexis noted, talking to her brothers.

“They truly are. Perhaps having some senior Nobles show up at more of the events would improve the quality? It’s clear that they’re doing their best to impress both their Royals and the Duke.

Now they’re working to impress you as well.” Prince Claudius agreed.

Alexis laughed. “In case you had forgotten, I am actually somewhat famous myself. Nothing to do with my position in the Royal Family.”

Prince Russel laughed quietly at the banter between the two siblings.

One day, Claudius would accept that he had run out of soft and girly sisters that he could show off for his friends with sons. But today was definitely not that day.

The Crown Prince was pointedly ignoring the fact that Princess Elanor was mimicking the lance movements of the successful knights and taking notes. If he acknowledged it, he would be forced to face the reality that the last of his sisters had fallen to the way of the Paladin.

The sun had fallen behind the western wall of the arena by the time that the last joust began, and Dominic flicked the lights on, then adjusted the intensity of the magical bulbs.

They didn’t want to blind the contestants, but they did want the crowd to be able to see them properly.

It also made it safer for the beer and wine vendors walking the stands, who were working overtime today, selling out trays nearly as fast as they could reload them.

“You might as well leave the lights on all night. Is there a timer or something?” The Knight on Dominic’s left asked.

“No, but there isn’t any mana storage other than what’s inserted into the lights directly, so I can just put in enough to get them to morning, and they’ll shut off on their own unless someone charges them to keep them on.”

“See, I never thought about that. I had assumed that there was some safety mechanism, so that only certain people had control of the lights.”

Dominic nodded. “There is. The main lighting is controlled by a panel in the service room. But that’s a long walk, so I’m not going to go all the way down there to turn them off.”

The Knights chuckled at his laziness, when it was obvious that he didn’t have to be in the room to activate it.

If he did, he couldn’t have turned the lights on from his seat.

The final pair charged, lowering their lances, and a resounding crash echoed through the building as the lances connected.

Both knights rocked back in their saddles, and both lances broke, a draw that would see them both advance to the next round. Now, it was just two more lances, and they would be done with the preliminary round.

Again the knights charged, and again lances broke against shields.

It was an incredible spectacle for the crowd, who were here for the brutality of the whole thing.

The final charge of the evening began, and this time only one lance broke. The other slipped up the shield and directly into the visor of the knight’s helmet.

His head was knocked back into the bracing behind his head, and the Knight was knocked flat to his horse, but sat up only a moment later and reigned in his mechanical steed.

The two Knights moved to salute the Royals before departing, and Dominic laughed quietly as the knight cursed while trying and failing to open his visor. The impact had bent it enough that it wouldn’t open without outside assistance.

With the matches finished for the day, the King of Cygnia stood and moved to the referee’s stand, where everyone in the arena could see him.

“Thank you all for attending today. It’s been a true pleasure to see how far the Duchy of Wistover has come in such a short time, and the devotion of the people to their chosen champions.

The matches will resume tomorrow morning, two hours after dawn, and I look forward to seeing the gallantry of the knights.”

Then he waved to the crowd and turned to leave the building.

Everyone in the seats behind them was either a soldier or a Knight, so they didn’t rise immediately, they waited for all the Royals to depart the building, and then a bit longer because many found that their legs were a bit wobbly from an entire day of sitting and drinking.

Dominic waited as well, with the Royals all departing in the company of their Royal Guards, leaving Alexis and Prince Russel for the last, surrounded by her Royal Guard.

They both stopped to wave to the crowd, and got a resounding cheer in return.

“It looks like this event is a big hit. We’re going to have to make it a regular event. Perhaps even twice a year.” Alexis whispered.

“For sure. We will have to work on finding something to keep the stadium busy for at least one weekend every month, likely the holiday weekend.

The whole mood in town is improving, and we’re only one day into the joust.”

Alexis nodded. “It’s been good for the new arrivals as well. It’s building some sort of sense of community, even though they all came from different locations within the last few months.

Now, should we return home?

I have a feeling that Beth is going to make something good for dessert today, and we should check on your new Advisor before Jack corrupts him.”