Chapter 11

The desire to beat the old cavalry man became a driving force in her life, and she didn't notice the days passing. Until she woke up one morning and her maid had put out a new dress for the princess. The contestants for the tournament were arriving today.

Squeezed into the pale blue gown, and with hair piled in an arrangement which the maid had taken hours to make look casual, Alexandra made a mental note to tell the royal seamstress to take new measurements. She was not the same shape as she was a few months ago.

She sat in the great hall nodding and smiling at an unending line of hopeful young and noble sons. It was strange how they all looked at her as if she was some kind of prize. As the day passed, she noticed that all these eager young men were single and un-fiancéd. During one break in the afternoon, Alexandra asked the chancellor about this. She was surprised at the guilty look on the chancellor's face. The chancellor swallowed, then explained that they had wanted to give unproven young men the chance to make a name for themselves. Alexandra decided that the guilty look must have been her imagination. It became harder and harder to force herself to be pleasant. Her back ached and her neck muscles were tied in knots. The sun was sinking to the horizon when the last visitor arrived.

He entered the hall with the light of the setting sun behind him. The princess peered at him as he walked toward her. The few others in the hall stared at the new arrival. A buzz of conversation filled the hall. Then Alexandra recognized him.

"Herbert!" She jumped to her feet, and stumbled as her legs complained at the sudden movement. Alexandra recovered quickly and met Herbert at the foot of the dais. She took his hands and opened her mouth to speak, but found herself bereft of words. She took refuge in the formula of welcome that she had been reciting all day.

"Welcome, good prince. I wish you well in these games. Strive with honor to win the prize." Somehow they came out with warmer feeling than any earlier recitation. Herbert swallowed and tried to say something through a suddenly dry throat. Who knows how long they would have stood holding hands if the chancellor hadn't come and whisked Herbert away whispering furiously in his ear. Alexandra sighed and headed up to her room to change for dinner, with luck into a dress that fit better.

Meanwhile, Herbert had been shown into the presence of the King and Queen.

"Just what do you think you are doing here, young man?" the Queen snapped. "You are to be kissed by the Princess Alithias. So you are effectively affianced. You cannot compete."

"It would cause horrific problems, not to mention the insult to Princess Alithias," added the King.

"With all due respect, your Majesties," Herbert bowed slightly, "you are a little out of date. Alithias's father's kingdom borders on the Kingdom of Sopo. It appears that they have given in to pressure and found an excuse to question the wisdom of the agreement. Something about there being a too close relationship on my mother's side of the family."

"We looked at that at King's Council and decided that it wasn't a problem."

"Well, it is a problem now, sir. Until it is resolved I view myself as being free of any commitment to wed." The King and Queen looked at each other. From what they knew of Herbert and the other princes of Poond, this quiet, confident young man was quite unexpected.

"Besides," he continued, "if you throw me out of the competition I will make sure that Princess Alexandra knows the exact nature of the prize that you intend to award at the end of the tournament."

"I think we can see our way to allowing you to take part. Do not expect any favoritism, however." The King shrugged and dismissed the prince with a wave of his hand. As Herbert reached the door the Queen commented, "I remember you as a young boy. You wouldn't have said 'Boo' to a mouse. The school isn't that bad if it made you into this confident and diplomatic prince. I almost wish you could win this tournament."

Herbert turned in the door, "Not the school, your Majesty. I learned this from your daughter." Then he closed the door and fled. It was only after he had reached the courtyard once more that Herbert realized that he had committed himself, along with all the other contestants, to not telling Alexandra the nature of this tournament. Keeping that secret from her could only mean trouble for him, yet to tell her would mean even more trouble from her parents. He would have to find some way of warning her that wouldn't break his word. Shaking his head he headed toward the Great Hall to find a servant to show him his room. Dinner was rapidly approaching, and he needed to change.