Almost there. Just one more corridor to go.
I thought as I continued my breakneck sprint through the manor. Expertly dogging servants and other obstacles.. such as laundry carts. I knew that Stephanie had fallen far behind me about 3 corners ago. But I couldn't stop, my destiny was waiting.
What if they don't accept me? What if my birthparents lied? What if I'm not destined for greatness? What if I'm just an unwanted, abandoned child?
I repelled those unwelcome thoughts from my conscious and willed my burning legs to go even faster. I leapt over a large chest and slid under another as two servants were lugging it to the storage.
Just as I turned the last corner into the main entryway, from the top of a grand staircase, I saw my parents talking to a middle aged man with dark blond hair and a square face, wearing a large satchel and dressed head-to-toe in expensive riding gear decorated with a red crest of a roaring golden lion on his hind legs with magnificent golden wings located on the blonde-haired mans' chest. The royal crest of the Kingdom of Thoren! Therefore, this man must be the King of Thoren's messenger!
I lifted my body onto the elegant wooden railing of the lavish staircase, my legs dangling on the inside. With a slight push off the soft railing, I gracefully slid down it on my butt, my hair blowing from the speed as I glided in elegant circles.
When I reached the bottom I leapt off the railing, landing on both feet with a grunt and in 5 large bounds I was at the large, also wooden, door. I bent over, placing my hands on my thighs for support as I gasped for breath.
"Are you Miss Adelaide Fiore?" The messenger asked in a nasally voice.
"Y-Yes, hello." I wheezed, raising one hand and flicking my wrist in my attempt to greet him.
"I'm the King's messenger, um... Are you alright Miss.?" He leaned sideways to glance at me as I took deep breaths. I held my thumb and index finger in a circle, indicating that "I'm just peachy".
"Well, I believe that this is for you." I straightened my posture - with much difficulty - as the messenger pulled a white, rectangular envelope with my name and address written in elegant cursive letters out of his brown satchel. My eyes widened. He handed me the envelope with a small smile, I gingerly took it in my hands afraid to damage it.
"Thank you Sir..."
"Thomas, the name's Thomas mi 'lady." He bowed deeply, his head nearly grazing the floor.
"Thank you Sir Thomas, for delivering me this precious package. " I smiled gratefully at him.
"Why yes, it must have been a tremendously long journey from the King's castle to our remote manor. You are most welcome to rest at our home for a while." My mother, Daniella Fiore, smiled warmly at him. Today she wore a lovely red velvet gown with gold lining, highlighting her tanned cheeks and hazel eyes. Her waist length golden hair was braided over her shoulder and she wore a golden circlet on her forehead. Her hands were intertwined respectfully above her stomach. People all over the kingdom talk of my mother's beauty, many argue that she is more beautiful than the queen herself.
Meanwhile my wise and noble father, Henry Fiore, donned a tightly fitted red tunic that matched my mother's gown and black trousers. His sandy hair smoothed away from his face and his signature grey eyes shinning as they looked at his beautiful wife. He wrapped one muscular arm around her waist protectively as he saw Thomas' eyes darken when he took in Daniella's slender figure.
Thomas looked down, blushing.
"Um, no, thank you mi 'lady. I'd best be getting on my way, lots of messages to deliver!" He laughed nervously. My parents nodded.
"Well then, adieu Sir Thomas." My mother replied. My father bowed his head in farewell. Thomas bowed impressively deeply once again, this time the tip of his hair grazing the floor.
"Adieu Lady Daniella, Lord Henry, Miss Adelaide." I bowed my head as he skipped down the steps, swung onto his black stallion and galloped away.
"WHAT DID I MISS? WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT DID THEY SAY?" Stephanie hollered from the top of the grand staircase. I turned around, waving the envelope in the air. She squealed, clapping her hands, and bounded down the stairs. In a matter of seconds she was by my side, bobbing up and down on the heels of her feet excitedly. I could feel my parents watching me expectantly. I gripped the envelope in my two hands and examined the letters until they no longer looked like words.
"Well what are you waiting for? Open it!" Steph gently shook my shoulders. I chewed on my bottom lip nervously, the metallic taste of blood pricking my tongue.
The words written in this letter are my whole future, my destiny, my only purpose in this life. I think to myself, not trusting my voice at the moment.
Taking a deep breath I slowly tear open the envelope and carefully slip out two small pages of soft parchment. I feel a bead of sweat form on my upper lip as I unfold the pieces of paper. I let my eyes slowly process the elegant cursive words.
Dear Adalaide Fiore,
It read.
After many weeks of debate, the royal court has finally reached a decision concerning your request to join the King's services of Knighthood or Rangership despite the fact that no female has ever done so.
I sucked in a sharp breath. That isn't necessarily true. About 30 years ago the council changed the law to allow a female to become a knight. She had been the only child of a blacksmith, her name, Amelia Woodlock. She had also been one of the best knights in the 3 realms, if not the best. Amelia had been praised and idolized by thousands. It was said she had a way with words. Until one day she organized, executed and accomplished the assassination of the royal family of the kingdom of Thoren.
However, Amelia and her accomplices had all been captured and hanged the very next morning. It is said that very few people were fond of the old King. Apparently he was a cruel and selfish man.
It has also been said that Amelia's parents had been hung for the simple crime of not being able to pay their taxes while the King sat on his lavish throne drinking his expensive wine and that Amelia had watched the whole ordeal.
The stories are that the she-knight had laughed as she watched the old King drown in his own pool of blood knowing that he knew she had murdered his whole family, just as he had murdered hers. His knights had found him still alive but barely breathing, his heart already failing. His last words had been his declaration of the next King. His much younger brother, Jonathan, who had only been a young noble of age 18 at the time. Who turned out to be a just and noble king, adored by his people.
However, since that dark time the royal council has completely lost its trust in women and has refused to acknowledge that Amelia was in fact a Royal Knight. Which has given me a slim chance of pursuing my dreams to become the first female ranger.
I wrenched my easily distracted mind back to the more important task in hand.
However, by the King's personal request, it has been hereby decreed that you will partake in our first annual tournament for all those who wish to become knights or rangers. Therefore having a chance to become such.
I squealed in glee.
"I could become a knight or ranger!" My parents embraced each other in relief and Steph whooped, they urged me to continue reading.
There will be 4 tournaments held throughout our large realm. Each in a different city. One in Pennington, another in Marsville, the others in Orik, Eubrador and Arkanas.
The monumental City of Arkanas - the royal city - being only a full two days ride from my secluded home.
During this five day tournament you, along with all the other contestants, will be given a chance to show your skills in swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, archery, horseback riding and team combat. You shall compete against other contestants and should you be beaten, you shall be eliminated from the tournament and thus losing the chance to join the King's services. Only the top 20 citizens from each tournament will be proceeding to begin their training in - for the most part - knighthood, while a select few will instead immediately begin their education in Rangership.
I swallowed the hard lump that was forming in my throat.
However, if you, Adalaide Fiore, exceed our expectations -
They obviously don't want me to succeed and are most likely going to make my 'audition' as difficult as humanly possible.
-and advance to one of the top 20, you will be given an extensive psychological examination. If you pass you shall be authorized to begin your orientation into the King's services immediately. However, if you fail you will never be permitted to serve in the King's services.
I steadied myself on Stephanie's shoulder. They regarded me quizzically. I quickly explained the conditions of my acceptance into the King's services to them. Declaring that I may not even be able to become a ranger or even a knight for that matter. They all watched me gravely.
The letter proceeded to tell me that the tournament is in 3 days time and wish me luck, should I choose to partake in it.
I'll most definitely need it. Especially with the royal court opposing me. I thought numbly.
I flipped to the second page, the thin paper rustling. It consisted of supplies that I would be required to bring with me to the tournament. The council decreed that they simple weapons and armor would be provided to avoid cases of fraud. However, the other necessities such as food, tents and clothing would not as there would be an immense set of mouths to feed.
I delicately returned the papers to their envelope, gingerly passed them to my anxious parents and Stephanie then proceeded to announce that I needed to find Ashwin.