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  There was a brief silence between the two of them while the others continued to speculate on the outcome of different events.

  “When we face each other in our competition, I wonder who will win?”

  Rowan remained silent. A part of him was unable to answer the boy’s query. He knew that Andrew was one of the few close to him in terms of blade-work. Andrew seemed to accept Rowan’s silence and he turned back to the group.

  “It’s starting,” Heath suddenly shouted.

  Trumpets blared, announcing the official beginning of the Revel competition. All heads turned towards the fields where a procession of competitors were being marched out in group formations led by trainers. Each of the boys had changed into matching blue and silver tunics.

  Leading the whole procession was Darius. He confidently strode out to the middle of the field and halted, waiting for the boys following to halt and come to attention. Once everyone appeared to be in place, Darius turned towards the crowd to face King Alden, who sat in a throne upon the temporary platform that had been raised. Eliza was at his side, sitting in a smaller version of her father’s seat. She was dressed for the occasion and a golden ringlet sat upon her brow. Behind them, Rowan spotted Baird.

  “I present to all, the first competitors of this year’s Revel Competition,” Darius shouted, his voice straining to reach the ears of each and every listener. A round of clapping and cheering broke out for the boys who were about to compete, which Rowan joined wholeheartedly. Together as one, the boys bowed first to the crowd, then to the king, and finally to Darius, who beamed with pride.

  “Thank you, Trainer Darius, for your introduction,” King Alden said. A hush descended over the fields as the people quieted down to hear the words of their monarch. The king waited for complete silence before he continued. “This day is a very special one. On this day we celebrate the seventy five winters that have passed since the Revel first began. In light of this, I feel that it is important to say a few words regarding the history of our yearly competition before we begin the events of the day.

  “Our Revel is a traditional competition which allows our youth to test themselves against their peers. It is a tradition based on honor, pride, and courage. It is a test that requires hard work and diligence. But it is important to remember that the Revel competition is not simply about gaining glory, about winning and losing. It is about honor and growth and most importantly, it is about friendship. Seventy-five winters ago, this competition extended to any who wished to participate. Men of all ages and sizes would come from near and far in order to prove themselves. Some were more skilled than others, but all were honorable in both victory and defeat.

  “What was important, however, was that the Revel did not discriminate. Anyone was welcome to join, and people from all across the country came to do so. Our capitol even received several visitors from foreign nations. The third annual competition was won by a competitor from our sister country to the east, Lauratrea.

  “Over time, our country has grown. It is no longer possible to host an open competition. However, it is important to remember that the Revel was created in the spirit of honor and brotherhood. And with that in mind, I would like to officially begin this year’s Revel competition!”

  King Alden ended his speech and took his seat next to Eliza. The crowd broke into applause once more. Rowan could feel the excitement building as trainers rapidly began separating the boys on the field in order to begin the day’s events. Some, those whose events would not begin until later in the day, were herded off to the side to make way for the earlier events. Erik was competing in hand-to-hand combat wrestling, which was one of the first events of the day. Rowan watched and cheered alongside the others as Erik advanced through the preliminary rounds.

  As Rowan watched, he began to learn the customs of Estoria. Contests of physical prowess were taken most seriously; they were the marks by which boys earned respect. For this reason, the wrestling competition was focused on very heavily. Some of the lesser events were ignored entirely.

  Hours passed as Rowan and the others observed Erik’s progress in the wrestling competition. The staggering number of competitors caused the competition to progress slowly, even though the trainers had several matches happening at the same time. In fact, much was happening. Many events were taking place at once and it was difficult to take it all in. Erik was doing well, though. Rowan cheered when it was announced that his friend had made it into the semi-finals. He noticed that Byron had advanced as well.

  The competition went on and in the end, Erik and Byron were the two remaining finalists. Rowan cheered from the sidelines as his friend fought. By the end, both were sweating heavily and panting with exhaustion. The match had extended almost twice as long as any other and both were being pushed beyond their limits, driven by a strong desire to win. Byron held the advantage after landing a heavy blow to Erik’s right leg that left the boy limping heavily, though Erik had delivered several damaging strikes as well. Pushing his advantage, Byron charged, aiming for Erik’s right side.

  Rowan tensed and held his breath. It was clear that the match was about to end; neither boy had much strength left and whoever came out on top in this struggle was going to be the winner. He worried for Erik.

  Rowan expected Erik to dodge at the last moment and attempt to take Byron’s back. It was a move that Byron would be expecting, but it was still the most effective given Erik’s limited mobility. Instead, Erik suddenly shifted his weight and met Byron’s rush, revealing that he had been exaggerating his injury. The move caught Byron off guard, allowing Erik to shove his opponent to the ground where they to grappled as Erik attempted to end their battle.

  Byron fought with fierce tenacity, but Erik’s ploy had given him the advantage and he was unyielding. Within a minute, Erik had Byron locked in a choke hold.

  The crowd grew wild as the battle reached its conclusion. Rowan heard Erik give the customary command for Byron to yield. It was an honorable offer, one made to allow an opponent to give up with grace and dignity. Byron responded by elbowing Erik in the ribs. Erik winced but did not let go. Byron struck him again and this time Erik’s grip loosened. Byron quickly slammed his head back into Erik’s face, causing Erik to stumble backwards and break his hold.

  Byron’s blow had connected with Erik’s nose, leaving his face covered in blood. Unwilling to stop, Byron stood and shoved Erik to the ground and twisted his arm behind his back. Erik grunted and struggled to free himself, but Byron had his entire weight bearing down on him. Without offering a chance to yield, Byron leaned into the hold and Erik’s arm suddenly popped out of the socket with a sickening sound.

  Trainers immediately converged on the two boys and someone called a halt. A hush fell over those watching the match as healers came forward.

  “In order to avoid any further injury, I am ending this match,” Darius called. He pulled Byron off of Erik, who appeared to be struggling not to cry out in pain. Without thinking, Rowan hopped the barrier and ran towards Erik.

  “You can’t fake that one,” Rowan heard Byron say as Erik lay clutching his left shoulder.

  “Hold your tongue,” Darius spat. “I still have not declared you the winner of this match, so do not test my patience. It is already wearing thin and your actions have not reflected upon you favorably.”

  Rage filled Rowan as he strode towards Byron, but he suddenly felt a strong pair of hands grab him and hold him back. It was Baird.

  His master shook his head to indicate that Rowan would not be helping by attacking Byron. Rowan was not sure that was true, but he allowed Baird to lead him off to the side of the field where trainers had taken the wounded Erik after re-setting his shoulder.

  Polite applause brought Rowan’s attention back to the wrestling ring, where Darius had declared Byron the winner.

  Rowan scowled and turned away, choosing to focus instead on his injured friend. Erik was a mess. He sat propped up against a wall, his jaw clenched to subdue the pain in his shou
lder and the lower half of his face covered with a frightening amount of blood. Luckily it did not appear to Rowan as though his friend’s nose had been broken.

  Erik’s gaze was concentrated on the ground as he tried to avoid the shame of watching Byron be declared the victor.

  “Are you alright?” Rowan asked. He felt foolish for asking such a question, but he didn’t know what else to say.

  It took a moment before Erik responded.

  “I should have won.”

  “Everyone already knows that you can beat Byron nine times out of ten.”

  “But this was the only battle that truly mattered. I should have won. I know I can beat Byron. This is my strongest skill and I had gained the upper hand, but I still failed.”

  “You shouldn’t dwell on it,” Baird said from behind Rowan. “You did well and fought honorably. That is what counts. Dwelling on a loss will not turn it into a victory. It will only lead to more losses.”

  “Yes,” Rowan agreed. “Besides, you still have the swordsmanship competition tomorrow. That will give you the opportunity to face Byron again, and I already know from experience that you can beat Byron with one hand tied behind your back.”

  The two boys laughed.

  “We have practiced a lot,” Erik agreed.

  “I am going to return to my place by the throne,” Baird said abruptly. “The two of you seem fine on your own and I am reluctant to leave my station unattended.”

  Rowan bowed to his master and said farewell, allowing him to return to his place beside King Alden and Princess Eliza. Rowan guessed that Baird had chosen to watch over the two in order to provide protection, but he wondered why Baird seemed so focused on their security. However, it wasn’t his place to dwell upon such matters, so he dismissed that train of thought.

  Chapter 26

  The first day of the Revel ended with Erik joining Rowan on the sidelines. After Baird left them, the pair had been joined by the other boys that were not competing. Once Erik was able, the group returned to their spot near the stands to watch the remaining events and cheer on their other friends who were still participating.

  After the day of competition, a banquet was held to honor the day’s participants. It was a grand celebration. The king spoke and the victors were presented for the audience’s pleasure. Cooking fires roared and spat as the meat was roasted, filling the air with the smell of smoke and spices.

  Rowan was seated alongside Erik and his friends, a group which grew giddy and loud as the night wore on. Many of the boys stole cups of ale and wine that were meant for tables other than their own, but Rowan chose to avoid such things. He’d had experiences with alcohol in Corrinth and was in no mood for it at the moment. He was disappointed that he could not sit beside his master, but Baird had told him that he could not be shown any special treatment for the duration of the Revel.

  The banquet was followed by festivities and the celebrations spilled out into the city streets as the feasting turned to merriment. There was music and dancing. People sang. Those with empty pitchers sang the loudest, and Erik led the boys in a rousing chorus of “Lady Red’s Bed.”

  Rowan stayed for a short period to socialize, talking and laughing with the boys and accepting well wishes for the morrow’s competition, but he quickly left. He didn’t feel much in the mood for festivities. His stomach was beginning to knot in apprehension of the coming day and the other boys were poor company for one who was sober. Flushed faces and slurred speech told Rowan that a number of the boys had already overindulged. Their voices were loud, their opinions were strong, and the conversations had turned to meaningless babble. He did not envy those of them who would be competing the next day.

  Rowan knew that he would do well, but for some reason he could not calm his nerves, so he decided to be alone for a while. He considered seeking Baird, but his master was conversing with King Alden and some other nobles Rowan did not recognize, so he chose not to intrude.

  Rowan walked along a dirt path lit by the glowing paper lanterns that seemed to hang across the entire grounds. They provided only dim light, but Rowan did not need much in order to see. He made his way along the grounds, slowly distancing himself from the festivities and the crowds, the buzz of the music and the many conversations steadily fading away. Rowan meandered around, leaving the pathway and slowly making his way towards the tree line that was a short distance away marking the beginning of the kingswood.

  The night air was brisk and the light was dimmed as Rowan walked among the trees. He enjoyed the chance to be alone, free to reflect and think about the next day's coming events. He wandered for a short while until a muffled pair of voices caught his attention. Curiosity drove Rowan towards the sound. He wondered who else would have left the festivities so early.

  Rowan made his way towards the voices, making an effort to remain quiet so that he would not be intruding.

  “What news have you?”

  The voice came from directly to Rowan’s left, startling him. He quickly darted behind some brush. He knew that he should leave, that eavesdropping was wrong, but curiosity held him in place. Curiosity and the knowledge that his departure would be heard. The voice that had spoken sounded familiar, though he could not identify it.

  “There is little more to report, my liege. He has continued his duties as usual, though he has been going out of his way to watch over the king and the young lady.”

  “Yes. He has become quite a thorn in my side. His presence is a hindrance and an insult and I will be glad to be rid of him.” There was a pause before the first voice continued. “Does he know that he is being watched?”

  “I have not made my presence known, so he knows nothing for certain. But he is a suspicious man and is extremely careful. He most certainly suspects that he is being watched. He has managed to elude my watch several times.”

  “Then you will need to watch him more closely from now on.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  Rowan decided he was willing to risk a glance to see who was talking. He knelt low to the ground and carefully glanced through the brush. He could see a man dressed in the linens of a lord bowing to a man who stood with his back turned. The man with his back turned motioned for the lordly man to stand.

  “Continue to watch him and report back if he does anything suspicious or out of the ordinary. I know that he does not trust me, but I also believe that he is still largely unaware of what I intend to do. Since I cannot deal with him directly, not yet at least, we must keep him occupied and under observation.”

  “Agreed, my liege. Shall I have someone watch the boy as well?”

  “There will be no need for that; the boy is of no consequence. Now, I must return to the festivities before my absence is noticed.”

  With that, the man turned, allowing Rowan to glimpse his face. Rowan instantly recognized Gannon. He experienced a jolt of fear as Gannon strode past the spot where he was crouched. He held his breath and pressed himself to the ground to remain out of sight, but Gannon and the other man strode past. Rowan waited for several moments, listening to the footsteps fading away, before breathing a sigh of relief and standing up.

  What business did Gannon have that required him to hold a secret meeting while everyone else was celebrating the beginning of the Revel? Gannon’s discussion had revealed very little about what he was doing or who he was having watched. It sounded suspicious, but Rowan could not be certain that what he had overheard actually meant anything. He just had a feeling in his gut that told him that Gannon was up to no good.

  With this event weighing on his mind, Rowan walked away in the direction of the barracks. Few of the boys would be back there so early in the evening, especially while the festivities were still going on. This would allow Rowan to rest without having to worry about company.

  Chapter 27

  The following day brought with it an increased level of excitement and tension. Rowan awoke early, while the morning mists still clouded the air. He was restless, as he had been all n
ight. Today was his first day of competition and apprehension was a knot in his stomach.

  Knowing he would be unable to sleep, Rowan abandoned the barracks and chose to take a walk outside in the morning darkness, until first light signaled the beginning of the second day of the Revel. As he left out, he checked to make sure that no one else was awake. Erik was still resting, but another bed was empty.

  The air outside was thick with morning fog, adding a dampness to the already brisk air. The sound of distant thuds told Rowan that someone was practicing for the day’s events. Rowan walked towards the sound, marveling that the empty fields would soon be filled with throngs of people. The ground now bore large patches where the grass had been trampled and dirt was showing.

  A short distance away, Rowan could see Andrew practicing with a blade against a striking post. Rowan wondered how long the other boy had been awake. He recalled Andrew’s words from the day before. Rowan admired the boy’s dedication, wondering what it was that drove him to work so hard. Next to Rowan, Andrew was the most proficient swordsman. He recalled Erik having mentioned that Andrew came from a family of retainers, and that he had only been able to come to the capitol as a result of the generosity of some lord.

  Not wanting to disturb Andrew, Rowan kept his distance. After a few minutes, he turned away and headed back towards the barracks. The first rays of the sun’s light were creeping over the horizon, brightening the dawn and breaking up the morning fog.

  The other boys would be waking by now and Rowan wanted to prepare himself for the day.

  * * *

  By the end of the hour, Rowan was assembled with the rest of the boys for the day's events.

  Darius had ordered everyone who was competing to don the formal silver and blue competition tunics. When they assembled, it immediately became clear that many more boys were competing that day. The barracks filled with the blue and silver colors of the Revel uniforms. Rowan wore his own tunic, which had been given to him the previous week. He tugged at it until it rested comfortably on his body. The tunics were made to look nice, but they were made of a rough material that irritated the skin.