"I heard Lord Breston's son has already expressed his intention to compete."
As Maxi descended a flight of stairs, flanked by her guards, this snippet of conversation reached her from the direction of the pavilion. Intrigued, she paused to listen.
"What of the Remdragon Knights? Surely, Sir Riftan is entering as well."
"Of course! He was the first to declare his participation. His entry alone has caused many lesser contenders to withdraw."
A young lady from Wedon leaped up from her seat, her voice brimming with admiration. "Without Sir Riftan, the tournament might have dragged on till next year. I bet the other participants already see him as Ascalon's new master."
"That's not a certainty," a fair-haired noblewoman, likely from the North, interjected with a smirk. "The commander of the Knights of Phil Aaron is said to be an even greater warrior than his father, Sir Geyhart Breston. And we cannot forget Sir Sejuleu Aren of the Bolosé Royal Knights."