Melmony Kingdom of Reluch

I closed my eyes and smiled, the pleasant warmth of the early morning sun caressing my face. It was a perfect day to celebrate the beginning of the annual Summer Festival. Thousands traveled from all corners of the kingdom to participate in the three days of festivities and mirth.

A chorus of distant cheers broke my thoughts.

I opened my eyes, and leaned over the balcony of my chambers located in the palace's tallest tower.

Far below, a throng of people, resembling colorful insects, congregated in the Square of Champions, outside the Royal Palace. Although the Summer Festival took place throughout the city, the highlight of the celebrations was the Grand Knighting Tournament at the Square of Champions.

From my vantage point the entire yellow-stoned city of Melmony, the great capital of Reluch, spread to the horizon. Majestic trees and blooming chrysanthemums splashed the city with vibrant greens and yellows. At the top of every tower, spire and dome, flags adorning the king's seal—a golden water dragon surrounded by waves—fluttered in the warm summer breeze. Plums, lemons, melons, oranges, peaches, mangoes and grapes dotted countless courtyard gardens and roof-tops. The sweet fragrance flooded my senses. With the city located in a temperate region of the continent, Melmonians' love for gardening was practiced for much of the year.

Where is he? I wondered, searching the sky.

I looked to my right, above the towers and dragon temples that jutted into the cloudless sky, and beyond the outer walls that encircled the city, towards Lake Reluch. Half of the outer walls were strategically built beside the banks of the lake to further increase the city's defenses.

My eyes hurt from the sunlight reflecting off the lake's surface. I squinted as I continued to search the impossibly blue heavens.

I smiled as I saw a small shape the size of a crow flying high above the waters.

Shaye, my falcon.

He soared gracefully in tight circles, his wings fully extended, his tail fanned out, searching for prey.

Shaye suddenly dove with incredible speed. Wings folded, he struck an unsuspecting pigeon like a missile. The impact sent the stunned pigeon tumbling towards the lake. In one fluent move, Shaye caught the pigeon with his deadly talons and severed its spine with his upper notched beak.

Magnificent, I thought, my chest swelling with pride.

I extracted a hand-held mirror and aimed it towards the sun.

The flashing reflection caught Shaye's attention. The falcon screeched, dropped his catch into the lake, and flew towards me.

I pulled on my gauntlet, a long leather glove that allowed Shaye's talons to wrap around my arm without cutting flesh.

With rapid, powerful wing strokes the raptor zoomed towards me.

Shaye gracefully landed on my outstretched arm. He bobbed his dark brown head and pumped his long narrow tail up and down, signifying excitement.

I gently stroked and admired him. Shaye's chest and the underside of his wings were covered in soft white feathers. The top of his wings, tail and head were dark brown. The contrast between his chest and head created an illusion that Shaye wore an executioner's hood. A splash of bright yellow on the top of his deadly beak curved into a solid black. His large, shiny black eyes sparkled with intelligence.

Three years ago, I had found Shaye lying injured at the base of a tree in the palace's royal garden. He had been a chick then. I had nursed him back to health and freed him once he regained his strength. Much to my delight, he returned every few days. Soon a mutual understanding, a bond that I did not completely comprehend, yet cherished, formed between us.

"Most ladies have tamed falcons as pets, my love, but not I," I murmured softly. "You are my perfect companion, gentle and intelligent, fast and fierce. You're as free and powerful as the wind."

There was a knock at the bedchamber's door.

"Come," I said, turning.

Marta entered and curtsied. "Pardon me, Your Majesty, but the hour approaches, and you have still to dress."

Although only five years older than me, Marta had been my nursemaid when I arrived to Melmony as an orphan. The narrow age difference and her maternal kindness had instantly binded us. Although I was royalty and Marta a servant, I had always looked at her as my older sister. Growing up, many members of the court often remarked at our similar appearance and mannerisms, often mistaking us as siblings. Marta had played my childish games, tended to my grooming, listened to my fears and dreams, and took care of me whenever I was ill. Even after I was too old to have a nursemaid, I made certain Marta continued to stay by my side. She was my best friend and I loved her dearly.

"O Marta, isn't it wonderful?" I exclaimed. "It is a perfect day for the Summer Festival!"

"This perfect day passes as you daydream in this tower, Your Majesty. You shall miss the opening of the tournament if you do not make haste."

Despite our friendship, Marta had stubbornly refused to call me by my first name once I had been crowned.

"Hush, Marta. They cannot begin without me."

"The king has summoned you twice, and swears on Klaniss that he shall begin the tournament without you."

"Do not jest, Marta. Magnus would not dare."

"In all our years have I ever teased of such matters, my queen?"

My mouth fell open as Marta's eyes twinkled with truth.

Shaye screeched, his head bobbing.

"Marta, what are you standing there for? Help me dress!"

* * *

The King of Reluch was carefully scrutinizing the knights when Marta and I entered the Regal Balcony overlooking the Square of Champions. Before each Grand Knighting Tournament, Magnus and I would carefully choose which knight to wager on.

As I took a seat beside my husband, Magnus cordially greeted me and enthusiastically declared his choice: Sir Jacob, a ferocious warrior who had barely lost to Sir Markus the previous year.

Eight trumpeteers, dressed in purple silk tunics with Reluch's coat of arms stiched in gold across their chests, stood on the ramparts of the square prepared to signal the opening of the tournament.

As I fingered my dragon tooth necklace, I surveyed the bustling activity throughout the square with mounting apprehension; I had little time to select a knight.

The Square of Champions was a huge dirt opening in the center of the city. Chiselled stone faces of previous champions of the Grand Knighting Tournament bordered the top of the stone walls that enclosed the square. A thick layer of green ivy masked the walls, creating an illusion of being in a clearing of a dense forest. The wooden bleachers that surrounded three sides of the square teemed with people, excited for the tournament to begin. On the fourth side was the Regal Balcony and stables.

Joyful whinnying drew my attention towards the stables. A sinewy man in plain clothes fed carrots to a magnificant black stallion. The horse stomped its hooves and tossed its head with delight, bringing a boyish grin to the young man's handsome face.

He seems old to be a squire, I thought.

I turned to my mentor and advisor, who stood stiffly by my side. "Jayden?"

Jayden's clean-shaven face leaned towards me. His long, blond hair was tied smartly with a purple ribbon. Since the untimely death of my mother, Queen Ava, Jayden had become my guardian, zealously...