4 Party of the King

The party was held in the great hall, a great architectural accomplishment of the old kingdom. At the very end was a great staircase with an empty throne. There were tables upon tables of food, enough to feed a village for days and too much for the few partaking in it. The hall was filled with the voices of nobles and the laughs of there mistresses. There were a number of attending guest, generals from the battle field, ambassadors, rich men, and other unsavory guest.

you could tell the gropes from each other. You have your generals in the corner of the room seemingly content with there drinks and there own company. You rich men gathered around the eating tables there wife's and dates hanging off there hips like jewelry. Flint lead him to the corner with the other generals, clearly inpatient with his lack of drink.

"I will be over hear with the rest of my kind. You may go and do what you do best."

"And that would be?"

"Gather information. When you get enough come back to me and give me a report. I know how uneasy you can get with out doing something with your hands."

Alex nodded and walked off, the old man was right. Alex acted like he was getting some food from one of the tables with an entire roasted pig on top. The food consisted of fish, deserts, bread, cake, and multiple cuts and types of meat. He grabbed a plate and got some bread and cheese and pretended to fiddle with some meat as he listened on into a nobles conversation with the guard captain.

"So, Henrik, what do you think about the attempt of the kings live. You were there correct, what happened. "

He grunted and looked around and slid closer, but Alex's ears were too keen and he could hear every word.

"Apparently the underground had something to do with it. There were four assassins, and it took nearly twenty men to hold them off for the king to escape. When we searched the bodies they carried insignia with the likely hood of dragons. I know nearly every criminal background in the city, but I have never seen the likes of these."

Elias new the insignia they talked about but his concentration was broke when someone bumped into him causing him to spill his plate.

"Oh, sorry bout that, it seems iv'e had just one too many."

A younger man, nearly his age turned around. The amounts of jewelry hanging off his necks suggested this was a wealthy individual, and that he'll probably develop back problems in the future. Alex could tell he wasn't very sorry as the smirk on his face seemed to grow. Alex could barely contain his threatening aura before he could draw it back in. He simply smiled as cheerfully as he could muster.

"No my lord, the fault is mine. Please excuse me."

He walked quickly away stepping through the crowd of growing people as he made his way back to the General. It was then he noticed everyone looking at the stair case. He turned to see the king being escorted up the steps and too his throne. Besides his six guards there was also another smaller figure besides him. It was the girl from before now wearing a grand blue dress and a gold and gem encrusted tiara. Alex was stopped dead in his tracks as he saw her, but he didn't know why.

An announcer than began his introduction.

"All hail King Rupert, and his Daughter, Princess Vanessa!"

Everyone put there hands on there chest and lowered there heads in silent respect. The king held up his hand and his Raspy voice rang out over the crowed.

"No doubt the rumors have already spread, and I will address them promptly. There was an attempt on my live just days ago. The assailants as of now, our unknown. But let it be known, that I am still hear, unhurt and unimpeded in my rule. They failed and if they try again they will fail again. The tournament is still in order and will be hosted in the next upcoming days."

Every one got exited and created a hubbub of sound. It seems these games were important to their entertainment, the king raised his hand and the room grew silent. Alex could sense the tension in the room as they waited for the true announcement.

"Hand picked warriors from my most trusted generals will fight in these games. These warriors have protected and secured our borders. They have tested their metal on the battlefield and proven themselves, and because of this your reward will be handsome."

All the nobles got deathly quiet, it seems this reward was a grand one indeed. The king grew a bright smile.

"The winner will be dubbed a royal night and given the fine opportunity to safe guard that witch is most important to me, my daughter."

The room was filled with gasps and whispers. Alex however was dumbfounded and he immediately started to push through the cowed until arrived at the General. He was sitting in silent concentration, he was as surprised as he.

"General, if that is true than I cannot participate!"

He continued to sit in silence as Alex shacked his shoulder.

"Your name is already in the roster to take you out now will take more sweet talk and favors than I can get my hands on."

He gave a small laugh and cursed under his breath as he leaned back into the chair.

"I could not have guessed such a thing would happen but you will compete in the tournament, that is set in stone. Hah Hah, your fighting for the princesses hand."

"This is no joke!"

As Flint continued to laugh drunkenly the king started again.

"Good luck my champions, may fortune smile on the skilled tomorrow. But for now, party and act merry. Tonight you are friends, tomorrow, bitter rivals. I drink to you."

The man took a long swig out of a golden chalice handed to him. The party went back to normal and Alex found that the general had already drank his fill. He could no longer stand any of the nobles and walked out side through a back hall.