The prince looked to be yelling at Luther at this point in the competition. the score was 4 to nothing with only 3 challenges left. Zilo smiled and looked to Maldrek and said,
"Going as planned bud?"
"Absolutely, but don't count those chickens yet. So far the prince has only been doing the challenges to entertain the crowd. There is one more left that would entertain, unarmed combat, but I think he's learned his lesson and if he has to tries that he's run out of options."
"Then we've won! Dis deserves a drink!" shouts Jin as he takes a drink.
Leo crosses his arms and says, "No you idiot, Maldrek said there are no more entertaining challenges, not no more."
"Maldrek motions to Leo and says, "It's as he says, there are two challenges that the prince excels at that Zilo will have to adapt to. I did more than just do my research in the library, a bit of time was dedicated to learning about our prince."
Aria tilts her head and asked, "What should we expect?"
"Depends on who the prince calls for, the next two require two third parties to take part, it will depend on which one he calls for."
The prince hangs his head and shoos away Luther and the tutor gives a curt bow and motions for a guard to speak to Maldrek as Luther himself retreats into the main keep. The guard approaches Maldrek and tells him,
"First will be a matter of courtly etiquette. Do you wish fo-"
"I recall the rules of this challenge, don't worry I'll take over for Luther." Says Maldrek as he motions the guard away. The tiefling returns to his position and addresses the crowd.
"Next challenge will be a matter of courtly etiquette. Both duelists will be judged on how they conduct themselves in addressing a member of nobility. They will be judged not just on their manners and conduct, but on the impressions taken by a member of the court who ranks higher than them. The contest will begin the moment that the member of court arrives and will end when that member decides on a victor."
Aria furrows her brows and speaks, "Higher? There are only two people who rank higher than a prince. Are we really calling on them for a little spat like this?"
Zilo turns to his human companion and asks, "Who's them?"
"You don't even know!?"
"Should I?"
Luther scurries back into the court. Maldrek casts Message, saying "Hey get in line, she's coming." Zilo quickly dash over to line up with the prince facing the door that Luther keeps his back to. Zilo quickly straightens his shirt and fixes his hat in a more secured position with a twist.
Luther shouts to the crowd now viewing from the far sidelines of the courtyard.
"Now presenting, the Constable of the standing army of the Kingdom of Deneval. Mistress of the Fields of the South. Breaker of Wills, and Slayer of Vanguards. The Queen Consort Sheila Deneval." Luther throws open the door behind him without looking and hustles to the side, and two guards to both sides of the door hold the doors in place.
Out walks a fiercely composed woman wearing a regal straight purple and gold trim dress that extended down to just above her knees. Under the dress were red leggings that matched the coloration with knee high boots. her top looked to be immaculately frilly but with a contained less bombastic fraying style than a typical courtly outfit.
her face was lightly made up with her hair tied back tight with noticeable graying hair. Her face was that of a woman in her late 40's maybe early 50's with as three times as many wrinkles as she had scars lightly noticeable on her eye left eye and across her right cheek. Over top of her short dress she had purple stained leather straps with embedded golden buttons. The straps held in place a masterwork lance on her back and a matching sword to her side as high as her waste.
As the Queen walked her steps were exacting and powerful, while also graceful in equal parts. The entire courtyard bowed and curtsied as the woman approached. The Queen's gait stopped a short 4 feet from the two duelists. She spoke with a deep authoritative tone that would make you feel as though you had made a grave error.
"Remove your hat bard, you are in the presences of royalty." Zilo tenses, and realizes his error. He moves his arm to quickly throw his hat away to his companions. His grey hair frays a bit no longer held in it's place by the hat.
The Queen nods and says, "You all may rise, no sense in a contest without witnesses to view it." the court stands and the queen looks to her two subjects before her.
"Prince excellent form as always." Kranoc gives a quick curt head nod, and responds, "You are too kind, your Majesty."
"Bard, Zilo Realms as I have been informed."
"Zilo Realms, the Master of Strings, m'lady." Interrupted the fetchling.
"I'm to be addressed as her Majesty, then m'lady. you must show an understanding of my position before speaking in a familiar fashion."
"Familiar? That's the most formality I have!" Thinks the bard.
"Secondly, do not interrupt me simply to speak your own titles. My husband may buck such tradition, but I had to adhere to them in my days in court." Zilo begins to sweat as she tears into him.
"And lastly for introductions, your bowing form was deplorable, not only did you keep your hat on but your head didn't seem lowered to be in line with the ground and your return to a standing position was far too far spread. One must remain in full control of their body at all times."
Zilo breath heavy and spoke,"My apologizes, your majesty."
She continues to look at them both and then speaks, "I have no intention of keeping this meeting going very long. I was in the middle of planning out a military mission to find and remove the remainders of a defunct goblinoid faction a few days march from here."
The prince gives a quick bow and says, "I hope for a successful and swift mission m'lady."
Zilo's eyes widen and he says, "Oh are they the ones who were led by the wizard Artak?"
The Queen squints and takes a moment before speaking, "Beg pardon?"
"They lived in a cave network in the mountain range. My companions and I hunted them a few months back." Zilo motions over to Maldrek and Aria before continuing.
"It was a close one too, there was a bugbear swordsman among them who nearly killed me as well, I still have the scar." Zilo pulls up his shirt from the bottom, To show his large scar across his waist from the attack that nearly ended his life. As he did so the entire courtyard gasped, either from the gruesome look of the wound, or the gal to show his midriff to the Queen.
The Queen remains stone faced and she shouts, "I have made my decision."
She looks to the prince and speaks. "Sir Kranoc is well mannered, doesn't speak out of turn, has a practiced natural air to him while still showing his fealty."The prince fights hard to hold back a smile.
She looks to Zilo and speaks, "Sir Realms has violated at least 10 customs of the court with his attire alone and seems as though he has never stepped into a court in his life." Zilo face drains and his gray skin looks to turn white.
"That being said. there are two things that make my decision easy."
The Queen glares at the prince, "This competition, as I have been told, has been called by the prince. In addition he is the one who called me to be here today as I have a higher position than he and have the president to judge both duelists equally."
She turns back to the crowd and behind her the prince winces and mutters a silent curse. She speaks, "To presume that your petty squabbles are more vital than the operation of the realm could be considered treason, and the prince should have considered this as I was working for the good of the realm at the time of this event."
The Queen looks to Zilo and continues, "Further more, in a courtly arena your past works to your advantage as much as your present. And the bard, despite his present, seems to be truly loyal to the realm, spilling blood and risking his life for the sake of the citizens."
The prince and Zilo swap roles, with Zilo holding in a smile and the prince losing his coloration. The Queen follows up, "No amount of Etiquette can affect the reputation one fosters with the nobility, otherwise I would never have made it from a foot solider to a Queen."
She finishes, "I deem The Master of Strings, Zilo Relams, victor of this challenge.
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