When at last our procession reaches the arena, I can’t believe the people that are jam packed into the stands. The roar from so many people conversing pounds against my ears like a drum.

A trumpet sounds from the royal box set on the far side of the stadium. The people quiet down until nary a baby is heard. From where I'm located, I can barely see the royal and noble cubbies. They have some grand name I'm sure, but they look like cubbies to me, just boxes painted golden around the edges and padded seats within.

“Fair people of this great nation, welcome to the beginning of the Royal Games!” The cheer from the crowd makes me wince. Ran pins her ears and shakes her mane, prancing beneath me. Other horses snort and stomp hooves, prancing in place and tossing heads.

“Easy girl,” I whisper as I set a hand on her flank.

I'm just glad the Cursed Gift of mine is staying quiet and not making me feel emotions.

“All these fine folks here just to see me? I am deeply honored.” The announcer bows deeply at the waist.

Someone comes over to whisper in the man’s ear. His eyes widen in shock and he gasps. “Surely they aren’t here to see our fine competitors, as my good friend just informed me!” A few cheers and catcalls come from the crowd.

“No!” he gasps into the speaker in his hand. “We shall take a vote. Those in favor of seeing my talents shall call on the count of three. One... two... three!”

There are some ladies who cheer quite loudly but... this does not make up for the poor reception from the rest of the folks.

He clutches a hand to his heart. “You wound me. My very soul shall never be the same.” He wipes a tear from his eye. “Seeing as how you all seem to think so highly of these challengers, what say you? Should I become one?”

Laughter and a wide range of feet stomping plague the stands. I laugh along with them. I couldn’t see this dandy of a fellow with bells on his red top hat competing. He’s skinny as a lark.

He brings up an arm to show off sorely lacking muscles. “See? I’d fit right in. Just call me Siirrrrr... what’s my stage name again?” he whispers loudly to the prince. “Right. Drumroll, please.” Loud banging comes from all around as he people join in. “Siiiirrrr... Handsomlot!”

Laughter erupts as he preens.

“A’right, 'nuff said. The esteemed Royal family has allowed me the honor of introducing the brave challengers of this fair season's Games. But more than this, did you hear?” He looks around and whispers into the speaker, “The winner will be PRINCE PROTECTOR!”

A roar reaches into the heavens from the multitude. He quiets them down after a few moments. “Exactly! My fair folks. Friends and family. Please welcome our challengers as they enter the ring. Give a warm welcome to those who are soon to battle themselves bloody for the chance to protect our beloved Crown Prince Arin!”

His last words are drowned out when the crowd goes berserk. The doors to the arena are opened. The horses and riders around me surge forward. The banners of the Challengers flow in a mighty wave as the horses gallop beneath their riders.

I urge Ran forward, keeping my position on the outside flank of Sir Robert. I hold my banner high as I lean forward on Ran’s mighty form. Though she be small compared to these sixteen and seventeen hand giants, she is mighty. She surges forward, keeping pace with horses many hands taller.

The colored flags held by the congregation are amazing. Reds, blacks, purples, emeralds, turquoise, orange, and even my blue are waved by the people. It looks like a rainbow threw up on the plain brown stands.

I clench tighter to Ran’s mane and urge her forward. The crowds chant and cheer, but it's lost in the galloping clop of the horses all round. I hold my blue banner high, letting it ripple above my head. A huge smile graces my face as the closest thing I have ever felt to flying invades my being with peace.

The arena is huge and takes time for the horses to gallop along the center.

As we were instructed, when we reach the center, we turn off from our partner to circle around. I smile and nod at Sir Robert before departing after the horse in front of me. Oohs and ahhs come from the crowd as we circle in a dance of flying dirt and hooves. I imagine from above we look like round butterfly wings, parting from the body and flowing back in a tide of black, buckskin, white, grey, blue roan and bay horses.

We meet back with our partners for but a split second before parting again into one more circle. The next time I see Sir Robert, we join the body that coils like a snake before straightening out once more as we trot forward.

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The line of horses continues on for a few minutes longer as the others fall in behind us. Then all motion stops. The crowd is silent as the creak and groan of leather and the click of metal armor can be heard from one side of the arena to the other from the horses snorting and shaking their heads.

“At long last, great king, queen, crown prince, young prince and princesses, royals, and all manner of folk young and old: here are your challengers!” A roar comes from the stands that makes the pebbles along the sandy arena quake.

The king rises, making his way to the edge of the royal box. He accepts the speaker from the hands of the bowing announcer.

He looks out at the vast people in the stands, then down to the arena upon which we stand. “Honorable Challengers. You stand here today for a chance. A chance to change the world as we know it. You fight for honor. You fight for pride. You fight to prove your worth to me and all the brave men and women in the stands. Most importantly, you fight for yourselves. To prove your worthiness to stand before us today.

"Challengers, I can choose but one to give the honor of protecting my very son. My heart and my soul will be yours to guard. But standing before me here this day, I see brave men I am proud to call my people. I believe in you, in your presence and strength of will. Prove me right, my people. Prove me right.”

I bow with a fist over my heart. I see the rest doing the same from the corner of my eye. The king nods then steps back. “How’d I do?” he whispers to his wife. She gives him a time-honed glance filled with exasperated love. We don’t hear whatever is said next for the speaker is cut off.

Sir Handsomlot coughs uncomfortably into his fist. “You heard the king, brave challengers! Step forward, and prepare yourselves.”

He goes down the list, introducing every challenger... with a quip. “Sir Geryld Hammerfist, he must’ve got that nose from his momma.” The poor guy has a nose twice the size it should be. He glares at the announcer.

“Lord Harand Gee Manup Felipe. What a name. Almost as much of a mouthful as the Royal Family.”

“Duke Alec Astrotch Trueity. He has the legs of an ostrich. Do you suppose he runs so truly?”

And my personal favorite... “Sir Revere Cross Grendon. How long do you suppose it took him on that hair, ladies?” Sir Revere just gives a respectful nod with a slight grin. His light blonde locks trail halfway down his back in a braid most girls would kill for. Why did I even bother shortening my hair if this man can pull it off?

Sir Revere plays the crowd. He places a hand under his chin as he thinks. Then he holds up two fingers.

“Two days, ladies! Great job, Sir Revere. That hair looks amazing.”

When at last he comes to me, he perks up. “Oohhh, what do we have here? A boy with no saddle. How does one come to have a steed so well trained, might I ask?”

I shrug my shoulders, but he won’t let me get away that easy. “Come here. I am sure the audience would love to hear.”

I look at Sir Robin who just shrugs. I tap my heels into Ran’s flank and she trots forward with a huff. My heart beats wildly inside my chest. All I want to do is blend in and find that stupid assassin. What is so hard about that?

“So, Sir... ohhh, you’re the youngster everyone is in a rave about. Everyone, this is Sir Rinaldo Timberwolf! Took down old Wolfsbane with a fell swoop. Modern day Grend and the Giant the masses are saying.” A cheer goes up in the stands. I blush slightly and nothing misses this announcer's eyes.

“Seems we have embarrassed the lad, ladies and gentlemen.” He chuckles lightheartedly into the speaker. “So then, Sir Ri, we’re all dying to know. How did it feel to take down the dreaded Wolfsbane?”

He walks down a short staircase to stand about Ran's height on a platform just beneath the royal cubby. I imagine this is where trophies or tokens are handed out.

He puts the speaker down next to my mouth, and I open my mouth but have no idea what to say. My tongue feels too big in my mouth and my palms sweat where I'm clinging to Ran's mane.

The announcer gives me a slight grin and leans down, covering the mage charged speaker with his hand. “Just speak from the heart, lad. You can do it.”

He puts it down again and I clear my throat. I jump as the sound reverberates across the arena. “Uhh... I’m not really used to speaking in front of so many folks.” My voice is shaky, but the people in the stands across from the Royal Family box smile and nod encouragingly. “Relief, I s-suppose. I was too focused on surviving in the moment to feel much else.”

“Is it true that Wolfsbane attempted to stab you in the back, and you killed him?”

I chuckle. His eyes grow wide, and I can see the powdered paint on his face from this close. “Are you so callous with death?”

“Oh, no. Not that. I didn’t kill him. Life is too precious to take when one doesn’t need to. But he did try to stab me, and he probably won’t be feeling too great this morning.”

The announcer chuckles along with the audience. “Well, our young prodigy, you have certainly impressed us with your riding skills this day and won our hearts by taking down our dreaded Giant. May I present Sir Ri.”

The people clap and whistle and cheer. My cheeks grow red once again, but I wave shyly and the crowd goes bonkers. Ran stands there and doesn’t take the cue to leave. Instead, she backs up until she is directly before the royals and nobles. She bends forward in a graceful bow to the Royal Family. I nod my head in a bow from her back.

“Showoff,” I mutter as we trot back to Sir Robin's side. She wickers happily, but it has a little too much of a growl in it for a horse.

He leans in. “I think they done forgotten about the rest of us.”

I chuckle. “Naw. Then who would the great Sir Ri have to fight?”

He belts out a laugh. “I like ye, kid. Stay strong.” He slaps my shoulder with enough force to jar me off my horse. I use Ran’s mane to pull myself back up. Laughter abounds from the stands at the display.

As I get settled, Sir Handsomlot speaks. “And beside Sir Ri is an illustrious and most distinguished warrior. Duke Robin Jeryldson has guarded the prince before when he was but a wee babe during an assassination attempt. Could this most experienced knight become Prince Protector?” The crowd grows wild and I look over at Sir Robin with new eyes.

“A DUKE?” I whisper at him loudly as he waves.

“Later,” he mouths back. With a nod, he turns his horse to gallop off.

Ran, the stinker, rears high on her hind legs, pawing the air before her with massive hooves. I clench tight to her mane to keep from landing in the dust, mumbling about crazy, stupid, and daring creatures who aren’t getting any deer.

She chuffs and I feel her humor as she tears off down the arena to the thunderous applause of the stands.