Tournament of the Pegasus (open to all!)

[Kender Bard]

Lya smiled as she walked towards the pavilion where her and Shadow's seats would be. Of course there was a ring of guards about them but that didn't detract from the festiveness of the occasion. She had longed to bring about the Tournament of the Winds - but with her new people incorporated. So the name had been changed and it would be hosted in Maelstrom this year. Which, she decided, was just as well. She wasn't quite sure where it would have been held in Talen'sul at any rate, the former tourney grounds having been given over to new housing.

At the moment it was simply a free and open entertainment. People could come and go as they pleased. Many people were trying to stake out good seating for themselves. The wide, open space where the fighting would take place when it began was now free for anyone to use. People were taking the opportunity to show off whatever they wished - from the arts to displays of power. Not everyone wished to join the fierce competition of the tournament, and so would do minor dueling here for viewing pleasure.

Vendors and merchants also took the opportunity to ply their wares, loudly. Indeed, despite the winter cold, it was going to be a profitable event. Lya had debated holding the tournament in winter, as she had ultimately chosen, but there were so few events in the cold months. She thought it would lift the people's spirits. The prize was tempting enough to bring in people from beyond Anarlina and Talen'sul as well - a promised spot in the knighthood for the winner or a prize in silver.

Lya just wanted to get a feel for the crowd and to see the pre-tournament entertainment. Her fears of her own people had abated steadily over the years as no more crises arose (besides that wreaked by the Earths of the Thieves.. but they had not been Storms!) and now she felt more at home here. She was at ease, happy, and looked about for her husband.

[Northen Light36]

Shadow isn't hard to find, just head for the largest crowd. No one knows quite how the idea came up, but it seems Amaro and Shadow have given into the old Brightmore/Melissan family rivallary and challenged each other to a spar - blunted weapons only, of course, since Elemental sparring would have been unfair.

Acqua and Tres are both nearby, watching their friend/brother spar with the tolerant amusement of women who know better then the men in their lives. Bas and Flame have already lost interrest in the spar and taken to getting to know each other, but Pas is watching in fasination.

[Kender Bard]

Lya came to stand beside Tres, looking amused at the match, and vaguely interested. "Good day to you, Tres," she greeted the other woman. She gave a slight nod to Acqua as well. "Lady Melissan-Ronoh. How long have these two been at it?"

[Northen Light36]

"Not too long, your Majesty," Acqua replies, deciding not to correct the queen on her last name. She and Tres barely take their eyes off the match, each of them watching with the fasination the warrior-minded have for those who are masters of the art. "Amaro's enjoying this," Acqua mutters. "I just hope he doesn't wear himself out."

Amaro and Shadow seem completely unaware of anything but each other as they trade blows. Acqua gives a slight gasp as Shadow manages a clever move and comes very close to disarming Amaro.

"Nice move, Shade," Tres mumbles.

"Not nice enough to beat my brother," Acqua counters with a touch of pride.

Bas looks up at Lya and annouces, "Pretty! You have wings like Auntie Cass!"

[Kender Bard]

Lya glances at Bas and smiles. "Well hello there," she coos. "Aren't you a cute one? Don't get lost from your parents now. It's going to get very busy here soon."

---

Sashi nudged affectionately against Lukas as she looked all about. "Think we'll get some good competition up here?"

[Darastrix]

Zira and Midnight were in attendance as well. Both Winds planned to participate, though Zira thought Midnight's chances might be a little better than his own. But then, one never really knew. A misstep on a the part of a more experienced fighter could still mean defeat.

Midnight was still feeling guilt, but he had to admit, being able to spend time at home without dreading the coming night where he might try (and again fail) to be with Snowflake had helped. So had being able to unburden himself to Kleio's sympathetic ear. He'd talked with Zira some as well, but the other Wind lacked Kleio's ability to be frank about some things. It was easier when the one he spoke to wasn't squirming in his seat with embarrassment. Still, he was good company in his own way, and Midnight found himself joining the man when he just wanted to be quiet, but not alone. Silence with Zira wasn't awkward.

"I wonder where the others from Anarlina are," Midnight commented.

"We'll see them around, I'm sure," Zira said, looking about. He wished Zack had wanted to come, too, but the bard had absolutely no interest in watching duels and fights.

[Northen Light36]

"Muma there," Bas assures Lya, pointing to Acqua. "Are you a birdy?" Acqua chuckles at her oldest.

"One day we'll find some beasts for you to play with, Bas," she promises. "Queen Lya is a Wind though. Like Talon, Spice and Crentha."

"You forgot Muma!" Bas scolds. "Aria and Auntie Cass! And Uncle Zack and Uncle Zira."

"I didn't forget," Acqua murmurs. "I just didn't want to spend all day listing the family." Tres chuckles as Flame looks curiously at Lya.

"What's a Queen?" the little Fire asks.

"I wanna know too," Bas adds, relieved the other girl didn't know either. "What's a queen?"

[Kender Bard]

Lya glanced at the children. Bas was a tad overwhelming. The Queen was very glad that her own daughter was generally reserved when not feeling adventurous. She wondered at the relation between Acqua and the little Beast girl but didn't ask. It wasn't her place to intrude, really.

"I'll come back after a bit - to catch the end of the match," the Queen stated and wandered off to go find some old Talen'sul acquaintances that might have come to visit.

[tuo]

Lukas smiles and puts an arm around Sashi's waist fondly. "Well, I'm kind of hoping we don't get TOO many challenges..a high ranking here would be great for the guild after all. But I imagine there will be plenty of challenges."

[Kender Bard]

"I like a good challenge," Sashi remarked. "I'd rather enjoy myself than advertise for the guild. Ah well but we'll try our best regardless. Of course, you realize if I wind up going against you, I'll not hold back even a little." She smirked.

---

"Zira! Midnight!" Jonathan's voice rang out and he approached the two at a quick stride. Erik kept up alongside him. Despite his more mature appearance, he was looking around and grinning with all the delight of a younger man.

[Northen Light36]

"A queen is like an Elder," Tres explains. Flame's satisfied with that but Bas still looks confused.

"What's an elder?"

"Mummy's an Elder," Flame explains. With the usual logic of would-be-ADD-children-if-such-existed-in-this-time, Bas accepts that information and instantly loses interest.

"Uncle Amaro's winning, Muma," Pas annouces suddenly. "Isn't he?" Acqua and Tres both turn their attention back to the match. It's hard to be certain, but it does look like Amaro is slowly gaining the upper hand.

Ten minutes later it's clear Shadow's starting to struggle.

[Darastrix]

Both men turned at the same time and smiled, waving to greet the pair. "We were just wondering when we might run into a countryman," Midnight said. "You look like you've been having fun already."

[tuo]

Lukas chuckles a little. "I know dear. I'll try not to hold back either but you know how perfect I think you look already."

[Kender Bard]

"It's interesting seeing this land again," Jonathan said simply.

"I'm going to participate in a tournament!" Erik exclaimed with glee. "Maybe I'll even dazzle a few ladies with my impressive skills!"

---

Lya wandered back by then, curious to how the fight fared. She frowned thoughtfully as she saw her husband struggling. "Come now, Shadow, fight!" she called, laughing a little, trying to encourage her beloved.

---

"Pish," Sashi snorted, but smiled anyway. "If I find you using kid gloves with me, I'll beat you black and blue for the insult." She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "You think you could lay a single sword stroke to me? Fah."

[Northen Light36]

Hearing his wife's voice, Shadow renews his efforts to win against Amaro. He forces the mercenary back a few steps before Amaro grimly presses back. The fight goes back and forth for a bit longer, until the pair are both dripping with sweat. By muteral agreement, the men strip off their tunics and continue to spar.

"It's a shame we can't get Lord Melissan-Ronoh into the palace guard," Flash remarks, coming up behind Lya.